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Here is a blurb from an article in the Climatological Service on the Meridian Tornado of March 2, 1906.
The tornado that visited Meridian on the evening of March 2nd was the most destructive local disturbance ever observed
in eastern Mississippi. Twenty-three people were killed, and it is estimated that the loss on property, damaged or
destroyed, was about four hundred thousand dollars.
The sky had been cloudy all day and occasional light showers occurred, the temperature being above normal with a
maximum 69 degrees shortly after noon. A fresh breeze from the south and southeast prevailed,but notwithstanding the
breeze, the atmosphere became oppressive, and toward evening a heavy bank of dark strato-cumulus clouds was observed
in the southwest,from the front of which occasional small streaks of lightning issued. Distant rumbling thunder was
heard at 5:40 pm. At 6:00 pm the clouds had assumed a very threatening state, and rain began to fall at 6:05 pm. There
were frequent flashes of sheet lightning. About 6:20 pm a sound resembling the noise made by a fast moving freight train
came from the southwest. The sound became louder and louder, reaching a terrific roar as the disturbance passed. All
was quiet again at 6:30 pm. The center of the storm passed 250 yards south of the local office of the Weather Bureau,
moving a little north of east; time, 6:26 pm. The barometer dipped .16 inch and recovered immediately; and the greatest
wind velocity was 64 mph from the east as the storm passed.
The following description has been carefully taken from a number of reliable witnesses who observed the storm from points
within 100 yds of the track:"A funnel-shaped, bounding cloud, seem to rise and fall with a darting, irregular forward
movement. The lower end of the funnel reached within ten feet of the ground and appeared to be no more than 6 inches
in diameter at a distance of 100 yds; but the upper portion was much larger. Many streaks of lightning were working inside
like snakes of fire. The funnel appeared to be open at the top and a distinct glow was cast upward." Several persons on
both the north and south sides of the path state that they saw "small balls of fire" thrown out of the front and sides of
the funnel, but none were observed in the rear. Many small houses were destroyed in which large fireplaces were used. It
may be that the "balls of fire" were due to burning debris lifted up and thrown off by the storm.
The path of the tornado was traced about eleven miles. Its average width was one hundred and fifty yards, but the width
wherein buildings were destroyed and trees uprooted in large number, was not over one hundred yards, except at a few
places. The general direction was east northeast. Beginning at at point about seven miles southwest of Meridian, the
disturbance damaged and uprooted trees along a path of one to two hundred yards wide for one mile. It then lifted and
was observed a mile west of Arundel Springs, in the form of a dark cloud, moving northeastward. Approaching the city
the cloud assumed a distinct funnel shape after destroying a few barns along the way. Six buildings at the Meridian
Fertilizer Works were severely damaged. A tank holding 30,000 gallons of water, supported by an eight-inch iron pipe,
100 ft high was also destroyed. A block of brick buildings on the north side of Second Street,facing the open space,
was unroofed. After unroofing the next three buildings between Second Street and the railroad, the tornado reached the
point of greatest destruction, completely demolishing every building in the next two blocks extending eastward. It
was this point that the largest number of casualties occurred. From Twenty-Second Avenue the disturbance moved along
Second Street, unroofing practically every structure and destroying a large number of small houses in the next five
blocks. The ruins caught fire in places at this point, and two persons were burned to death.
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