LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — January 21, 1999, is a day most Arkansans will never forget.
While tornadoes can happen any month of the year, they mainly occur in the spring, but this January day was much different.
We knew there was a risk of severe weather that day, but what unfolded was historic.
56 tornadoes touched down that day, surpassing our then-yearly average of 33. Most of the tornadoes were very strong, with several F2 and F3 reported and one F4 in Clay County.
Eight people were killed, while 150 suffered injuries in the outbreak.
31 of our 75 counties were affected, and 272 warnings were issued over the 17-hour event, including 113 tornado warnings.
Some kind of warning was issued on average every 2 minutes and 12 seconds.
Sunday marks 25 years since that tragic day. Here's to hoping there won't ever be another outbreak like it.
