On April 10,1929,a large and extremely destructive multiple-vortex tornado impacted several communities in north-central portions of the U.S. state of Arkansas. The tornado,commonly known as the Sneed Tornado after the community of Sneed which it destroyed,[1] killed 23 people and injured 80 others. It was the only F5-rated tornado to ever hit Arkansas and heavily damaged the communities of Swifton,Guion,Sneed and areas near Alicia.
The tornado first touched down 3 miles (4.8km) south of Batesville,tracking to the east and northeast.[2] Three people and a further 60 were injured as the tornado tracked through portions of Independence County.[3] The funnel "hovered" over the Black Mountain area near Batesville;it retained a multiple-vortex structure before impacting the town of Guion.[4] The town was completely destroyed,with only a few buildings remaining standing. In Moorefield,the tornado heavily damaged more homes and injured several residents.[3]
In Jackson County,the tornado was reported in the Diaz area,where three people suffered injuries. At around 6:00 p.m. CST,the tornado entered into the town of Swifton;a funnel cloud was visible as the tornado impacted town. According to an April 1929 publication of The Daily World,the tornado had an audible roar and was "sweeping everything be-heed it's warning" as it was in Swifton.[5] Several people were picked up and tossed by the tornado;others were killed as their homes collapsed on top of them.[5] A home in Swifton was set aloft by the tornado and dropped in a creek;three of the occupants were killed.[6]
The tornado then exhibited a phenomenon known as "skipping",where it produced an inconsistent damage path for an estimated 2 miles (3.2km).[5]
The tornado produced its most extreme damage as it neared Sneed,where it "crumbled" 35 homes on the Possum Trot Highway. Most families that owned residences on the highway lost at least one family member as a direct result of the tornado.[7] It then impacted the Mount Pleasant area,[8] before dissipating after crossing railroad tracks near Alicia.[7]
At least 10 homes that had originally stood in Guion were later rebuilt on a new site.[13]
Fatalities
Bodies of the people killed in Guion were brought to Batesville via a freight train that was operated by the Missouri Pacific Railroad. In addition to fatalities,the train also transported the injured to hospitals in the area.[3] On April 19,two more bodies of tornado victims were found in residences near the White River in Guion.[8]
↑ While 24 victims are listed, the National Weather Service retains a final and official death toll of 23.
Footnotes
↑ National Weather Service Little Rock, Arkansas. "Severe Weather in Arkansas"(PDF). National Weather Service. Retrieved May 23, 2025. "It occurred on April 10, 1929, in northern Jackson County, and is known as the "Sneed Tornado".{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: postscript (link)
↑ "Town on White River, Destroyed Recently By Tornado, Will be Rebuilt on New Site". Springfield News-Leader. May 2, 1929. p.1.
Sources
Grazulis, Thomas P. (November 1990). Significant Tornadoes 1880–1989. Vol.2. St. Johnsbury, Vermont: The Tornado Project of Environmental Films. ISBN1-879362-02-3.
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