Tornadoes of 1999
This page documents the tornadoes and tornado outbreaks of 1999, primarily in the United States. Most tornadoes form in the U.S., although some events may take place internationally, particularly in parts of neighboring southern Canada during the Northern Hemisphere's summer season, as well as Europe. One particular event, the Bridge Creek-Moore, Oklahoma F5 tornado, produced the highest wind speed ever recorded on Earth, which was.
Events
United States
During 1999, a total of 1,341 tornadoes touched down across the United States, ranking it as the eighth-most active year since reliable records began to be kept in 1950; at the time, 1999 was the fourth-most active year on record. The year began with the most active January on record, featuring 216 tornadoes. Culminating with the largest outbreak in the month, with over 100 tornadoes touching down on January 21 and 22, many records were broken. Due in large part to this outbreak, Arkansas saw more tornadoes in 1999 than any other year, with 107 recorded, and its most active January. The state also broke the record for most tornadoes in January of any state.Europe
The European Severe Storms Laboratory maintains a database of all severe weather events across the continent. The vast majority of tornadoes go unrated due to a lack of surveys; however, some nations, such as France, provide detailed reports on these events. Of the 87 reported tornadoes during 1999, 45 were rated.January
Exceptional tornado activity took place across the United States in January, with 216 tornadoes touching down, more than ten times the average of 20. This set the record for most tornadoes recorded in the month, and more than quadrupled the previous record of 52 set in 1975. The extreme activity during the month was attributed to an unusually spring-like setup, with a warm, moist air mass from the Gulf of Mexico flowing northward into an area with strong upper-level westerlies. The synoptic set up of these factors was typical of March or April rather than mid-winter. January 1999 was the most active month for tornado activity in meteorological winter until it was later surpassed by December 2021, which had a total of 227 tornadoes in a similarly hyperactive month.January 1–3
On January 1, a strong upper-level low moved over Southeast Texas, while an accompanying surface low formed over North Texas. A cold front extended southward from this surface low into the Gulf of Mexico. Ahead of this front, a strong low level jet formed, bringing a surge of warm, moist air from the Gulf northward. The combination of these factors resulted in an unstable environment favoring the development of rotating supercell thunderstorms. The sole fatality of the outbreak was from an F2 in East Texas.January 17–18
This was the second of three major tornado outbreaks in January 1999. First set of tornado warnings were issued in eastern Arkansas where 2 tornadoes were confirmed, the first being near Wynne, Arkansas as an F1, and the second one spawned in Jonesboro, Arkansas, as a short lived F0, Also, 2 strong to violent tornadoes hit the Jackson, Tennessee areas. A total of 8 people were killed in this outbreak.January 18 (South Africa)
On January 18, a violent F4 tornado struck Mount Ayliff and Tabankulu in Eastern Cape, South Africa. The majority of the towns were destroyed, with 95 percent of residents left homeless. Numerous vehicles were lofted significant distances by the storm, with one traveling. This was the deadliest tornado on record in South Africa. 25 people were killed and approximately 500 others were injured.January 21–23
January 21 saw 87 tornadoes touch down, making it the most active tornado day ever recorded in that month. In all, 128 tornadoes touched down and 9 people were killed. 56 tornadoes were confirmed in Arkansas, making this the largest tornado outbreak in Arkansas history. Many of the tornadoes were spawned along and to the east of the Interstate 30 and US Highway 67 corridor impacting many communities. including 2 strong tornadoes, one F3 in Newark, and an F4 near Corning. 6 weak short lived tornadoes passed through Craighead and Greene counties. The southern edge of the community of Manila in Mississippi County was also hit with an F2. Other tornadoes were reported near the vicinities of West Memphis, Helena, and Pine Bluff, Arkansas.February
There were 22 tornadoes confirmed in the US in the month of February.February 13
One person was killed and another was injured when a tornado struck Serik, Turkey.March
There were 56 tornadoes confirmed in the US in the month of March.March 2
8 tornadoes touched down during the evening hours of March 2 over southeast Texas and southwest Louisiana. The strongest tornado was an F3 which touched down in Jasper and Newton counties in Texas, which caused 25 homes and a church to sustain severe damage, with one confirmed fatality. Another tornado, rated F2, touched down in Beauregard and Calcasieu parishes in Louisiana, with many trees falling down and causing a home to be destroyed 12 miles northwest of Sulphur.April
There were 177 tornadoes confirmed in the US in the month of April.April 2–3
A series of tornado touchdowns struck from Kansas to Louisiana at the beginning of April. The most powerful tornado occurred in Caddo Parish and Bossier Parish in northwestern Louisiana where an F4 tornado killed 7 people and injured 107 others. The final outbreak tally was 17 tornadoes.April 8–9
A widespread tornado outbreak affected the United States in early April 1999. It is best known for producing an F4 that killed four people in the Blue Ash and Montgomery, Ohio, areas.May
There were 310 confirmed tornadoes in the US in the month of May.May 2–8
A massive tornado outbreak first struck the Southern Plains on May 2–4. The worst tornado was an extremely violent F5 tornado that tore through the Southern Oklahoma City metro area, killing 36. It produced a wind gust of 321 mph, the highest winds ever recorded on Earth. The outbreak then produced at least seven tornadoes in Tennessee on May 5.One F4 tornado struck Linden in Perry County, killing three people, while an F2 tornado struck Gallatin in Sumner County injuring 17.
May 9 (Cuba)
The town of Cruces in Cuba sustained major damage from a violent tornado. Hundreds of brick, block and tile homes were completely destroyed, with 40 being destroyed and 224 others sustaining damage. Other damage included eight five-ton water tanks being thrown. This tornado was originally rated F4 on the Fujita scale, however, in 2023, it was rated EF4 on the Enhanced Fujita scale by the University of Havana.May 9–12
A slow-moving cold front produced several days of severe weather and tornadoes across the Central U.S. From May 9 to 10, mostly weak tornadoes touched down from South Dakota to Texas. The most notable tornadoes occurred on May 11 as multiple supercells developed along the cold front in Oklahoma and Texas. Shortly after 6:00 p.m. CDT, a wide multiple-vortex tornado struck Mason County, Texas. Remaining on the ground for, the F4 tornado cleanly swept away two homes and scattered debris over great distances. In one of the homes, six people sought refuge in a car within their garage; debris smashed through the car, killing one and injuring the other five. A pick-up truck was torn apart and pieces of it were found away. 16 other homes were damaged by the tornado in addition to numerous barns and outbuildings. Numerous head of cattle and deer were killed and badly mangled. Trees were completely debarked, and a stretch of asphalt was ripped out by the tornado as well. A few hours later, an F3 tornado touched down in Gillespie County, Texas. The tornado damaged or destroyed 70 structures and tossed vehicles up to. Damage from the storm reached $1 million. On May 12, activity was again limited to a few weak tornadoes.May 15–17
On May 15, some tornadoes were reported including one near Stockton, Kansas.The next day, several tornadoes touched down in Iowa. Two F3 tornadoes struck Harrison County, one of which struck a bus, killing two people on board and injuring several others.