1944 — April 10, AR Tornadoes, especially Duncan area (14) Monroe County, AR     —     39

Compiled by Wayne Blanchard; last edit 4-8-2024 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/

 –39  Grazulis.  Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991. 1993, pp. 242, 503, 911.

—  01  Boone County, AR.  (Grazulis 1993, p. 242, 503.)

—  01  Ouachita County, AR.                                      “

—  03  Jefferson County, AR.                                     “

—  05  Grant, Jefferson and Pulaski Counties, AR.    “

—  20  Arkansas and Monroe Counties, AR.              “

—  05  Lee and St. Francis Counties, AR.                   “

—  04  Cross and Crittenden Counties, AR.                “

—  3  Anthony-Jones mill community, Jefferson County. 21:10 F2 tornado.

—  2  Casscoe, north of. 22:35 F4 tornado.

–14  Duncan, in and around; Monroe County. 22:35 F4 tornado.

—  3  Forest City area, St. Francis County. 23:23 F4 tornado.

—  2  Gill, Lee County; 23:23 F 4 tornado

—  1  Harrison; a mother at home. 17:15 F2 Boone County tornado.

—  1  Holly Grove. 22:35 F4 tornado.

—  1  Ouachita River; man in tower house blown into the river; 19:10 Ouachita County F2.

—  4  Parkin area (2M SE of); Cross County; 23:30 F2 tornado.

—  4  Stuttgart to Casscoe vicinity, Arkansas County; mother and three children; F4. 

—  4  Woodson vicinity; 4 people in one family home; 21:30 Grant County F4 tornado.

–38  Encyclopedia of Arkansas. Tornadoes. “April 10, 1944.”

 Narrative Information

 Grazulis:

“AR  Apr 10, 1944  1715  1k  15inj  200y  8m  F2. Boone [county].

“Moved NE across the NW and north edge of Harrison. Several homes were blown apart, barns were destroyed and livestock was killed. A mother was killed in one home, while an older son protected her new-born infant. $35,000.” (p. 911)

“AR  Apr 10, 1944  1910  1k  35inj  150y  27m  F2  Ouachita [county] – Moved NE from the SE edge of Stevens, passing near Buena Vista, through Camden, and ending at Harmony Grove. One man died when a tower house on the Ouachita River was blown into the water. Five people were injured in homes at Stevens, and 30 were injured at Camden, where 150 homes were unroofed or damaged. $150,000” (p. 911)

“AR  Apr 10, 1944  2110  3k  50inj  100y  10m  F2  Jefferson [county]. – Moved NNE, hitting a saw mill community 2m NW of Pine Bluff. Nine homes were destroyed at the Anthony-Jones mill community. Three people in one family were killed. Seventeen people were hospitalized. Some were in critical condition, and may have died later. All homes were newly built to accommodate the war-time expansion of the mill. The tornado first hit at Sulphur Sprins, 6m SW of Pine Bluff. $50,000.” (p. 911)

“AR  Apr 10, 1944  2130 5k 28inj  500y  10m  F4  Grant/Jefferson/Pulaski [counties] — Moved NE from extreme NE Grant County, passing 4m E of Woodson. The tornado hit an FSA housing project, and seven of the homes virtually disappeared. Four people died in one family and one body was carried nearly a half mile. $20,000.” (p. 911)

“AR  Apr 10, 1944  2235  21k 50inj  200y  30m  F4  Arkansas/Monroe/Lee [counties] – Moved NE from 6m E of Stuttgart, passing north of Casscoe. Several large homes were leveled. A mother and three children were killed near the start of the path. A wealthy planter was killed as his home, said to be ‘the finest in town’ was destroyed north of Casscoe. One person died in a nearby home, and one other was killed near Holly Grove. Continuing to the NE, the tornado passed through Duncan and 1m E. of Monroe. Fourteen people died in and near Duncan, where losses were $100,000. Up to six people were killed in one home. Both large and small farm homes were leveled and swept away. $140,000.” (p. 911)

“AR  Apr 10, 1944  2323  5k  40inj  500y  20m  F4  Lee/St. Francis [counties] – Moved NNE from near Gill, passing 2m W of Forrest City. Two people died in two separate tenant homes near Gill. In the Forest City area, three people died as apparently well-constructed farm homes were swept away. The funnel lifted 10m NNE of Forest City. $50,000.” (p. 911)

“AR  Apr 10, 1944  2330  4k  21inj  200y  15m  F2  Cross/Crittenden [counties] – Moved NNE from 7m S of Parkin to 6m NE of Parkin. Abut 50 tenant homes were damaged or destroyed, with the deaths on plantations, 2m SE of town. $42,000.” (p. 911)

Encyclopedia of Arkansas. Tornadoes. “April 10, 1944.” Accessed 4-8-2024:

“Monroe, Jefferson, Boone, Ouachita, Columbia, Pulaski, Montgomery, Arkansas, Lee, Cross” counties. 38 killed.

Sources

Encyclopedia of Arkansas. Tornadoes. “April 10, 1944.” Accessed 4-8-2024 at: https://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/entries/tornadoes-2377/

Grazulis, Thomas P. Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991: A Chronology and Analysis of Events. St. Johnsbury, VE: Environmental Films, 1993, 1,326 pages.