The Largest Tornado Outbreak in State History (January 21-22, 1999)

It is a common practice for some to completely forget of the danger of severe weather during the winter months. It should be cold with a blanket of snow across the ground, not in Arkansas. We have a nasty history of deadly tornadoes occurring during the winter months, specifically February and January. The busiest year for tornadoes on record is 1999, during that year 107 tornadoes ravaged the state. Two days stand alone during the course of that year, January 21st through the 22nd; the largest tornado outbreak in state history.

During the course of the two days 56 tornadoes in total formed and moved across portions of the state. The storms formed mostly across the southwest then through central into northeast sections of the state. With the only recorded tornado in west central Arkansas occurring in eastern Sebastian County.

Of the 56 tornadoes in Arkansas, seven were rated F-3 and one was rated F-4. Of the seven F-3 tornadoes, one hit the downtown area of Little Rock making it one of the few recorded to hit a downtown area of a major city in recent history. In Little Rock, 235 buildings were severely damaged or destroyed. Over 500 other buildings in Little Rock sustained lesser damage.

During the course of the outbreak the National Weather Service in Little Rock issued 48 tornado warnings, 80 severe thunderstorm warnings and 22 flash flood warnings during the event. Tragically, the tornadoes were responsible for 8 fatalities and nearly 150 injuries. Most of the tornadoes formed during the afternoon hours, and continued into the evening hours of the 21st.

One of the most dangerous tornadoes (EF-3) during the outbreak resulted in devastation for the town of Beebe (White County). The storm initialized southwest of town and struck Beebe at approximately 7:30 PM, the tornado tracked for eight miles before eventually dissipating. Two citizens of Beebe were sadly killed in result of the storm. 

  

White County was not the only county to be devastated by tornadoes. Just to the northwest in Independence County six tornadoes tracked across different portions of the county. Two very powerful EF-2 rated tornadoes tracked near Pleasant Plains and Newark. Sadly, one person lost their life near Pleasant Plaints in result of the tornadoes. 

You may ask yourself why did this occur? This was a La Niña year. During a La Niña cooler than average waters exist along the equator in the pacific ocean. This then results in a tendency for more tornadoes locally when such conditions exist. 

This outbreak also broke the following records:

• Most tornadoes in a state on any day in January (previous record was 13 tornadoes on Jan. 10, 1975 in Alabama and on Jan. 24, 1997 in Tennessee).
• Most tornadoes on one day in January across the United States (previous record was 39 tornadoes on Jan. 10, 1975).
• Most tornadoes in any state in the month of January (previous record was 25 tornadoes in Texas in 1998).

Take the time to remember all involved during this tragic event. Our thoughts and prayers go out to those affected by these deadly storms.

Image and information credits: 

NWS (Little Rock)