Benton Residents Brace for Easter Tornado Memories

Devastating 1999 F4 tornado still haunts community during holiday weekend.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 11:05am

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A dramatic landscape painting in the style of Caspar David Friedrich, depicting a tornado-ravaged countryside under a heavy, ominous sky. The scene uses deep atmospheric perspective and dramatic backlighting to convey the overwhelming, sublime scale of the natural disaster, with any remaining structures or objects dwarfed by the powerful weather system.The haunting memory of a devastating tornado that struck during Easter weekend continues to loom over the Benton community.Shreveport Today

While Easter is a joyous time of celebration, many in the Benton, Louisiana area are reminded of the tragic Easter weekend in 1999 when a powerful F4 tornado ripped through the region, causing widespread destruction and claiming six lives. The tornado, which formed over Cross Lake and moved northeast through Caddo and Bossier Parishes, left a path of devastation in its wake, damaging or destroying hundreds of structures and causing millions in damages.

Why it matters

The 1999 Easter tornado is a painful memory that continues to loom over the Benton community each spring, as residents brace for severe weather during the holiday weekend. The event highlighted the region's vulnerability to powerful storms and the lasting trauma that natural disasters can inflict on a community.

The details

On April 3, 1999, a 200-yard-wide F4 tornado with winds between 158-206 mph touched down over Cross Lake and moved northeast through Caddo and Bossier Parishes. The tornado caused an estimated $1.6 million in damages in Caddo Parish alone, destroying 66 buildings. As it entered Bossier Parish, the tornado caused an additional $6.7 million in damages, destroying or damaging a total of 389 structures, including 227 houses and businesses. The tornado was Louisiana's deadliest since 1971, claiming six lives just south of Benton.

  • The devastating 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

Cross Lake

The location where the powerful F4 tornado first formed before moving northeast through the region.

Caddo Parish

The parish where the tornado caused an estimated $1.6 million in damages, destroying 66 buildings.

Bossier Parish

The parish where the tornado caused an additional $6.7 million in damages, destroying or damaging a total of 389 structures.

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What’s next

As severe weather forecasts loom for the upcoming Easter weekend, Benton residents will be closely monitoring the weather and preparing for the possibility of another devastating tornado.

The takeaway

The 1999 Easter tornado remains a painful memory for the Benton community, serving as a stark reminder of the region's vulnerability to powerful storms during the spring holiday season. The event underscores the lasting impact that natural disasters can have on a local population and the importance of disaster preparedness and resilience.