Tornadoes of 2023

This is a list of 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, 116 tornado-related deaths were confirmed – 83 in the United States, 12 in China, nine in Indonesia, eight in Myanmar, three in Turkey, and one in Saudi Arabia.

January had the third-highest number of tornado watches and confirmed tornadoes of any January on record in the United States. 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. Below-average tornadic activity occurred in May, but active weather patterns spawned damaging tornado outbreaks throughout the summer and 12 more people died. Damaging tornadoes also affected parts of Canada during that time, including the country's first violent tornado since 2018. Tornadic activity decreased dramatically in September, and was 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; an intense outbreak in December produced 18 tornadoes, causing seven fatalities.

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.