Judsonia (White County)

Tornado damage in Judsonia (1952)

March 21st, 1952, had all the makings of a routine Friday in Judsonia, Arkansas. As the town’s residents would soon learn, Mother Nature had other plans. The atmosphere was preparing to unleash a fury that would forever link the words “tornado” and “Judsonia” in the annuals of White County history.

As the residents of Judsonia went throughout their day, nothing seemed out of the ordinary.

As citizens read the Little Rock newspapers printed that day, nothing alarming was published. The weather forecast was as bland and insignificant as it could have been, it read: "For Arkansas - mostly cloudy this afternoon, tonight & Saturday. Occasional thundershowers this afternoon & tonight. Colder tonight & Saturday."

Shortly after 5:30 PM, a large and extremely violent EF-4 tornado ripped through the business district of Judsonia, destroying everything in its path. It is noted in several accounts that residents heard what sounded like a large steam engine roaring through the town.

It is documented that an outbreak of tornadoes caused several deaths, injuries, and catastrophic damage in the severe season of 1952. The EF-4 tornado that passed through Judsonia on March 21st, 1952, sadly claimed the lives of 30 people.