This page documents notable tornadoes and tornado outbreaks worldwide in 2023. Strong, destructive tornadoes form most frequently in the United States, Argentina, Brazil, Bangladesh and East India, but can occur almost anywhere. Tornadoes develop occasionally in southern Canada during the Northern Hemisphere's summer, and at other times of the year across Europe, Asia, Argentina, Australia and New Zealand. They are often accompanied by other forms of severe weather, including thunderstorms, strong winds, and large hail. Worldwide, 117 tornado-related deaths were confirmed83 in the United States, 12 in China, nine in Indonesia, eight in Myanmar, three in Turkey, and one each in Brazil and Saudi Arabia.
January had the third-highest number of tornado watches and confirmed tornadoes of any January on record in the United States, behind 2017 and 1999. The first two months of the year had the fourth-highest number of confirmed tornadoes for the first 59 days of any year on record.
The year was deadlier than average, with a number of fatal tornadoes. By April 5, 63 tornado-related deaths were recorded in the United States; this was almost three times higher than 2022's total of 23 fatalities, approaching the annual average of roughly 70 deaths (17 of which came from a single EF4 tornado in Mississippi on March 24). Below-average tornadic activity occurred in May; however, active weather patterns spawned damaging tornado outbreaks throughout the summer, resulting in 12 additional fatalities. Damaging tornadoes also affected parts of Canada during that time, including the country's first violent tornado since 2018 (on July 1). Tornadic activity decreased abruptly in September, and tornadoes were almost non-existent during much of the autumn. Most Atlantic tropical cyclones missed the United States during the peak of hurricane season, with few early-season frontal systems; however, an intense outbreak in December produced 18 tornadoes, causing seven fatalities, all 7 of which occurred in Tennessee.
Several European organizations, including the European Severe Storms Laboratory and Deutscher Wetterdienst, officially began publishing and using the new International Fujita scale in late July 2023. The first major tornado outbreak using the scale occurred three months later, when Storm Ciarán affected much of Europe.
Events United States
There were 1,423 reported tornadoes and 1,379 confirmed tornadoes in the United States in 2023.
Note: An EFU tornado from the United States crossed into Canada, where that portion of the track was rated EF1. This is counted as an EF1 tornado since it is one continuous tornado. </onlyinclude>
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January January 2–4 (United States)
In early January, a three-day severe-weather outbreak brought damaging winds, large hail, and a number of tornadoes to the Southern United States and impacted the Midwest to a lesser extent. On January 2, the Storm Prediction Center issued an enhanced risk for Arkansas and parts of surrounding states, with a 10% risk for tornadoes. An EF1 tornado damaged homes and the high school in Jessieville, Arkansas, injuring two people. A large EF2 tornado caused severe damage near Jonesboro, Louisiana, snapping large trees, significantly damaging several residences, and injuring three people. Another strong EF2 tornado knocked down metal-truss electrical-transmission towers near Haile and destroyed an outbuilding. A third large, long-tracked EF2 tornado damaged or destroyed houses, vehicles, and a mobile home in Montrose, Arkansas, and snapped or uprooted many trees and power poles along its path. Another enhanced risk was issued the following day farther east in the Gulf Coast region, with 10% risk for tornadoes in parts of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. An EF2 tornado downed many large trees, tore most of the roof off a house, caused roof damage to other homes, and destroyed boathouses and outbuildings at the Jordan Lake Reservoir near Deatsville, Alabama. Several tornadoes touched down as far north as Illinois, including two EF0 and EF1 tornadoes that damaged outbuildings and farm equipment near Maroa. Another pair of EF1 and EF0 tornadoes briefly touched down in Decatur, with the EF1 tornado damaging a vacant bowling alley and the EF0 tornado causing minor damage at Richland Community College. Tornadoes continued touching down into the morning of January 4, including a high-end EF1 tornado that damaged several homes, flipped cars, and severely injured a person on the east side of Montgomery, Alabama. An EF1 tornado struck the small community of Roosterville, Georgia, destroying a barn and a mobile home. An EF1 tornado also struck Sandersville, where homes and a warehouse were damaged and many trees were downed, some of which landed on structures. A semi-truck was overturned in Sandersville, injuring the driver. Additional weak tornadoes touched down across parts of the Carolinas later that day before the outbreak ended. Fifty-eight tornadoes were confirmed.
Widespread flooding also occurred as a result of the storm system, with of rain in DeWitt, Arkansas, and in Greenville, Kentucky. Cane Creek State Park recorded of rain, its largest 24-hour total on record.'I've never seen anything like it': Severe weather plagues South with flooding rainfall, tornadoes , AccuWeather, January 4, 2023 Daily rainfall records were also set in Memphis, Tennessee, and Jackson, Mississippi, with Amtrak's northbound City of New Orleans delayed due to flooding and debris on the tracks between the cities.Damaging weather menaces the Southeast as a 'brutal' storm system threatens California with fresh flooding , WSVN, January 4, 2023 Further north, Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport imposed a ground stop due to snow and iceGround stop at MSP Airport now lifted after heavy snow and ice Tuesday, Fox 9 Minneapolis, January 3, 2023 in the region's fourth-largest January snowstorm.Minnesota weather: Huge January snowstorm among the largest on record for Twin Cities, Fox 9 Minneapolis, January 5, 2023 One fatality occurred due to the snowstorm as the result of a car crash in Clearwater Township, Minnesota.1 killed in Wright County crash; driving conditions remain slick for much of the state, Kare1, January 3, 2023 Snowfall totals reached as high as in parts of South Dakota.January 2-4, 2023 Heavy Snow and Mixed Precipitation, NWS Sioux Falls
January 12 (United States)
A significant tornado outbreak impacted the southeastern United States, with several strong and long-tracked tornadoes touching down and causing a number of fatalities. The SPC issued an enhanced risk for severe weather on January 12, including a 10% risk area for tornadoes. Multiple supercell thunderstorms formed in the threat area later that day, and significant tornadoes began touching down. The small towns of Emelle, Eutaw, and Movico, Alabama, were impacted by EF2 tornadoes, with extensive damage. A large, high-end EF2 tornado caused severe structural damage in Selma, Alabama. Many homes and businesses sustained major damage in Selma, and a daycare with 70 children and workers was destroyed; only one minor injury occurred inside. The storm that produced the Selma tornado later produced a long-tracked EF3 tornado that prompted tornado emergencies for Autauga, Elmore, Chilton, Coosa, and northern Tallapoosa counties. The tornado caused seven fatalities in the Old Kingston community of Autauga County as it obliterated mobile homes, tossed vehicles and caused massive timber damage. Strong tornadoes which were spawned by the Selma supercell also impacted parts of Georgia, including an EF2 tornado that inflicted major damage to homes and industrial buildings in LaGrange. A large EF3 tornado struck western Griffin and Experiment, severely damaging or destroying homes and businesses and flipping cars. This tornado was accompanied by three other tornadoes at the beginning of its track near Griffin, including a high-end EF2 tornado that caused severe damage to homes and trees. Another high-end EF2 tornado also caused significant damage in Jenkinsburg and near Jackson Lake, resulting in one fatality when a tree fell on a car, along with an indirect fatality the following day when a falling tree limb fell on a transportation worker who was working to restore power, knocking him out of his bucket truck. A high-end EF1 tornado touched down in the Atlanta suburb of Mableton, damaging an industrial business and downing many trees, some of which fell on homes. Other weak tornadoes were confirmed in parts of Mississippi, Tennessee, Kentucky, Illinois, and the Carolinas. The outbreak produced 42 tornadoes, killed eight people, and injured at least 53 others.
January 17 (Italy) A brief but strong tornado struck Valmontone (a comune in the Metropolitan City of Rome Capital) on January 17, causing significant damage and injuring two people. The tornado was spawned by an embedded "comma head" circulation, and was captured by a surveillance camera. Multiple homes, apartment buildings, and other structures had severe roof damage, and the top floor of one residence was completely destroyed. Trees, gates, and fences were knocked down, and debris was strewn across yards and roads. The European Severe Storms Laboratory rated the tornado IF2 on the Fujita Scale, with a path length of and a maximum width of . After the tornado, Valmontone declared a state of disaster.
January 24–25 (United States)
A small but significant tornado outbreak impacted the southern United States throughout the day, primarily from Southeast Texas to southern Louisiana. The Storm Prediction Center issued an enhanced risk for much of the Gulf Coast region on January 24, including a 10% risk area for tornadoes. Multiple strong tornadoes were confirmed which included a large and destructive low-end EF3 tornado that moved through the southeastern sections of the Houston metropolitan area, impacting the suburbs of Pasadena and Deer Park. This prompted the issuance of a tornado emergency, the first ever issued by the National Weather Service forecast office in Houston. The intense, rain-wrapped tornado inflicted major structural damage to many homes, apartment buildings, churches and businesses, and downed many trees and power lines. Cars were thrown and mangled, a metal building was destroyed, a senior center sustained major damage, and metal-truss electrical-transmission towers were blown to the ground. There were no fatalities as a result of the EF3 Houston metro tornado, although a few minor injuries were reported. The tornado caused $6.6 million in damage. The storm also produced two EF0 tornadoes which caused minor damage in the Houston suburbs of Sienna and Pearland before spawning the EF3 tornado. Elsewhere, a brief EF2 tornado unroofed a house and destroyed a barn near Nome. Three people were injured by another EF2 tornado that touched down near Orangefield before striking the outskirts of Orange, causing major damage to mobile homes, houses, and outbuildings before crossing into Louisiana and inflicting additional severe damage to a number of structures north of Vinton. Several metal buildings were also damaged, and many large trees were snapped or uprooted by this tornado. In Louisiana, another EF2 tornado struck the small community of Gaytine, where houses had their roofs torn off, a mobile home was destroyed, a metal building was heavily damaged, and a fifth-wheel RV trailer was flipped. In Ventress, three people were injured by an EF1 tornado that destroyed a few mobile homes. Three weak tornadoes touched down in Florida on January 25 before the outbreak ended, and a total of 15 tornadoes were confirmed. The storms also produced flash flooding, and a one-day rainfall record of was set in Houston. Flash flooding temporarily closed SH 99.Road closed due to flood waters hours after heavy rain, CW39, January 25, 2023
February February 1 (Germany)