Tornado outbreak of January 17–18, 1999 explained

Tornado outbreak of January 17–18, 1999
Type:Tornado outbreak
Active:January 17–18, 1999
Tornadoes:24 confirmed
Fujitascale:F4
Fatalities:8 fatalities, 149 injuries
Damages:$40.2 million
Enhanced:no
Partof:Tornadoes of 1999

The Tornado outbreak of January 17–18, 1999 was the second of three major tornado outbreaks in January 1999. It was followed several days later by the largest January outbreak on record.

Confirmed tornadoes

January 17 event

F#LocationCountyTime (UTC)Path lengthDamage
Arkansas
bgcolor=# F2SE of Oil TroughIndependence, Jackson20517 miles
(11 km)
First tornado of the outbreak. Heavy damage to at least one house, plus extensive tree and power line damage.
bgcolor=# F1Diaz (1st tornado)Jackson21062 miles
(3.2 km)
Damage mostly to trees.
bgcolor=# F0Diaz (2nd tornado)Jackson2108unknownWeak, short-lived tornado with no damage.
bgcolor=# F1Tuckerman areaJackson21239 miles
(15 km)
Significant damage reported in a residential subdivision and at a sewer plant. One person was injured.
bgcolor=# F0NE of TuckermanJackson21281 mile
(1.6 km)
Weak tornado with damage limited to trees.
bgcolor=# F1Grubbs areaJackson21286 miles
(9.6 km)
Damage reported to about 12 houses, with a mobile home destroyed. Several barns were also damaged.
bgcolor=# F0N of GrubbsJackson2138unknownBrief tornado with only minor tree damage.
bgcolor=# F0Risher areaCraighead214516 miles
(26 km)
Weak, long-tracked tornado. Damage limited to trees and power lines along its path.
bgcolor=# F0E of LafeGreene22308 miles
(13 km)
Minor tree damage along the path.
bgcolor=# F1Schug areaGreene22356 miles
(9.6 km)
Several mobile homes damaged. A substance abuse center lost its roof.
bgcolor=# F0NW of WeinerPoinsett22458 miles
(13 km)
Tornado remained north of town. Minor damage reported.
bgcolor=# F2Lake City areaCraighead214511 miles
(17 km)
Two houses were destroyed and five others damage. Severe damage to an electrical substation.
Tennessee
bgcolor=# F2Halls areaLauderdale23554 miles
(6.4 km)
Severe damage reported in Halls. Two businesses were flattened along with several mobile homes. Major damage to a church as well. In total, 49 structures were damaged or destroyed and 11 people were injured.
bgcolor=# F3Alamo areaCrockett000910 miles
(16 km)
Heavy damage in the south side of Alamo. 16 houses (including several mobile homes) and one business were destroyed and 73 others were damaged. Four people were injured.
bgcolor=# F3Jackson area (1st tornado)Haywood, Madison001522 miles
(35 km)
The first tornado began south of Eurekaton in Haywood County at about 6:15 pm CST (0015 UTC) and tracked across rural areas towards the Madison County line. In Haywood County, there were 12 houses destroyed along with several farm buildings. The damage picked up more as it passed through Mercer and Denmark, where several more houses were destroyed. Severe damage was also reported at the McKellar-Sipes Regional Airport where several buildings were flattened and equipment was destroyed. The tornado heavily damaged numerous brick buildings in downtown Jackson before moving into residential areas of the city, where severe damage was reported to 38 houses and apartments; most of which were destroyed. The first tornado dissipated at about 6:25 pm CST (0025 UTC). Two people were injured by the first tornado, which was rated as an F3 on the Fujita scale.
bgcolor=# F4Jackson area (2nd tornado)Madison002516 miles
(26 km)
6 deaths – The second tornado developed east of Bemis at 6:25 pm as the first tornado dissipated, moving directly through Bemis and causing F4 damage. The tornado crossed into the southeastern part of Jackson, causing additional F4 damage in residential areas. Over 200 homes and numerous businesses were destroyed or flattened and hundreds of others were damaged. Some of the demolished buildings include portions of a shopping center, the athletic fields of a high school, a school bus garage, half of an apartment building and a funeral home. Six people were killed and 106 were injured by this tornado.
bgcolor=# F1Saulsbury areaFayette, Hardeman003512 miles
(20 km)
1 death – NaNmiles wide tornado destroyed 14 houses (most of them mobile homes) and damaged 27 others. Extensive tree and power line damage also reported. Four others were injured.
bgcolor=# F1Atwood areaCarroll010510 miles
(16 km)
1 death – Four mobile homes were destroyed and eight others were damaged. Numerous trees and power lines were damaged. One other person was injured.
bgcolor=# F1W of DoverStewart0106unknownShort-lived tornado damaged the roof of a grocery store.
bgcolor=# F1E of WoodlawnMontgomery01281 mile
(1.6 km)
Damage was reported on several farms, with several barns destroyed.
bgcolor=# F1SE of AdamsRobertson02001 mile
(1.6 km)
One farm was damaged, with moderate damage to the house and the barn and greenhouse destroyed.
Mississippi
bgcolor=# F0SlaydenMarshall00451 mile
(1.6 km)
Two mobile homes were destroyed and a house under construction was flattened. Two people were injured.
Sources: National Climatic Data Center

January 18 event

See also