Benton Residents Brace for Easter Tornado Memories

Devastating 1999 F4 tornado still looms large over community every spring holiday

Apr. 3, 2026 at 1:34pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A sweeping, atmospheric landscape painting in muted tones of gray, blue, and green, capturing the overwhelming scale of a tornado-ravaged countryside under a dramatic, foreboding sky. The scene uses deep perspective and dramatic lighting to convey the sublime power of the natural disaster, with any physical structures or objects dwarfed by the storm.The haunting memory of a devastating tornado still looms large over the Benton community each Easter weekend, a somber reminder of the region's vulnerability to severe weather.Benton Today

While Easter is a joyous time for many, the holiday weekend also brings painful memories for residents of Benton, Louisiana, who were impacted by a devastating F4 tornado that struck the area on April 3, 1999. The powerful twister, which was part of a larger outbreak of 17 tornadoes across the region, caused an estimated $6.7 million in damage and claimed 6 lives in Bossier Parish alone.

Why it matters

The 1999 Easter weekend tornado is a traumatic event that still weighs heavily on the Benton community, with many residents continuing to watch the skies nervously each spring as the anniversary approaches. The disaster highlighted the region's vulnerability to severe weather and the need for improved tornado preparedness and early warning systems.

The details

The F4 tornado, with winds between 158-206 mph, formed over Cross Lake and moved northeast, striking 66 buildings in Caddo Parish before entering Bossier Parish at around 4:01 pm. Eyewitnesses reported horses being thrown across the highway as the tornado caused an estimated $6.7 million in damage, destroying or damaging a total of 389 structures, including 227 homes and businesses. It was Louisiana's deadliest tornado since 1971, when 10 people were killed east of Delhi.

  • The tornado struck on Saturday, April 3, 1999 at 3:52 pm.
  • The tornado entered Bossier Parish at approximately 4:01 pm on the same day.

The players

Benton, Louisiana

A community in Bossier Parish that was heavily impacted by the devastating 1999 Easter weekend tornado.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

The takeaway

The traumatic memories of the 1999 Easter tornado continue to weigh heavily on the Benton community, serving as a stark reminder of the region's vulnerability to severe weather and the need for improved tornado preparedness. As the anniversary approaches each spring, many residents still look to the skies with trepidation, underscoring the lasting impact of this tragic event.