This page documents all tornadoes confirmed by various weather forecast offices of the National Weather Service in the United States for March 2023. Tornado counts are considered preliminary until final publication in the database of the National Centers for Environmental Information. Based on the 1991–2020 average, about 80 tornadoes are recorded in March.[1] These tornadoes are commonly focused across the Southern United States due to their proximity to the unstable airmass and warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico, as well as California in association with winter storms, although with the arrival of springtime the activity begins to shift northward especially later in the month.[2]
After a moderately active start to the month, the middle portion of March was quiet in terms of tornadic activity. However, activity increased dramatically late in the month with two major outbreaks, each of which produced a violent tornado and many strong tornadoes. This was the fifth consecutive year to include a violent tornado in March, tying the record longest streak of five from 1963 to 1967. The outbreak on the last day of March, which continued into April 1, was especially large with 116 tornadoes, which represented just over 60% of the tornadoes from the entire month. March finished significantly above average as a result with 197 confirmed tornadoes, making it the second most active March on record (behind 2022). There were also 46 tornadic fatalities during the month, which was double the number of tornadic fatalities that occurred throughout all of 2022.[3]
See also: 2022–2023 California floods.
| Location | County / Parish | State | Start Coord. | Time (UTC) | Path length | Max width | Summary | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EF1 | NNW of Yosemite Junction | Tuolumne | CA | 22:52–22:53 | 0.8abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 100abbr=onNaNabbr=on | A brief low-end EF1 tornado caused extensive damage to oak and pine trees, including some trees that were uprooted. At least two power poles were snapped in half as well. This was the first tornado ever recorded in Tuolumne County.[4] [5] | |
| Location | County / Parish | State | Start Coord. | Time (UTC) | Path length | Max width | Summary | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EF0 | SE of Alexander City | Tallapoosa | AL | 13:17–13:18 | 0.59abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 100abbr=onNaNabbr=on | Several trees and tree limbs were downed by a weak tornado that touched down just north of US 280. A small church sign was blown over in a cemetery as well.[6] | |
| Location | County / Parish | State | Start Coord. | Time (UTC) | Path length | Max width | Summary | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EFU | SSW of Edgar | Putnam | FL | 07:32 | unknown | unknown | A tornado produced a TDS on radar.[7] | |
| Location | County / Parish | State | Start Coord. | Time (UTC) | Path length | Max width | Summary | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EF0 | S of Lake Fuqua | Stephens | OK | 19:57 | 0.1abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 20abbr=onNaNabbr=on | Multiple people observed a brief tornado.[8] | |
| EF0 | Las Piedras | Las Piedras | PR | 19:10–19:16 | 0.25abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 7abbr=onNaNabbr=on | A landspout tornado was spotted over PR-30 as it moved south-southeast. Business signs and awnings were damaged at a strip mall, a free-standing light pole fell over, and small tree branches were snapped.[9] | |
| EF1 | Northern Grand Prairie to Irving | Dallas | TX | 21:47–21:55 | 6.37abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 100abbr=onNaNabbr=on | A tornado began in northern Grand Prairie, ripping a section of roofing off a warehouse. It continued east into Irving, causing additional roof damage to homes and an apartment building. A discount store and a nearby city building, as well as trees, were also damaged.[10] | |
| EF1 | Northern Irving | Dallas | TX | 21:52–21:56 | 0.71abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 100abbr=onNaNabbr=on | After the previous tornado dissipated, this brief tornado touched down in the northern part of Irving. The roof and front facade of the main showroom building at an auto dealership were damaged and a nearby power pole was pushed over. Sporadic tree and roof damage occurred elsewhere along the tornado's track.[11] | |
| EF1 | Northern Corsicana | Navarro | TX | 00:58–01:04 | 2.77abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 50abbr=onNaNabbr=on | A tornado developed at the north edge of Corsicana, tearing shingles and wood roof sheathing from a single-family home. Considerable tree damage occurred along this initial part of the path and a large RV trailer was rolled twice, causing severe injury to two adult occupants. The tornado continued through additional residential areas, downing tree branches before dissipating.[12] | |
| Location | County / Parish | State | Start Coord. | Time (UTC) | Path length | Max width | Summary | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EF0 | ESE of Grayton Beach | Walton | FL | 00:20–00:21 | 0.12abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 25abbr=onNaNabbr=on | A brief tornado developed near SR 30A at Grayton Beach State Park, uprooting and snapping several trees in and near a parking area. The tornado then moved into an inaccessible wetland where it dissipated.[13] | |
| EF0 | SE of Ebro | Bay | FL | 00:49–00:57 | 5.2abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 25abbr=onNaNabbr=on | A tornado caused tree damage around the Panama City airport.[14] | |
See also: 2022–2023 California floods.
| Location | County / Parish | State | Start Coord. | Time (UTC) | Path length | Max width | Summary | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EF0 | Carpinteria | Santa Barbara | CA | 00:45–00:47 | 0.24abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 25abbr=onNaNabbr=on | A likely waterspout moved onshore as a brief, weak tornado. A total of 26 homes in a mobile home park were damaged and trees suffered minor damage. One person was injured.[15] [16] | |
See also: 2022–2023 California floods.
| Location | County / Parish | State | Start Coord. | Time (UTC) | Path length | Max width | Summary | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EF1 | Montebello | Los Angeles | CA | 18:14–18:18 | 0.47abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 50abbr=onNaNabbr=on | This high-end EF1 tornado impacted an industrial area in Montebello, damaging multiple warehouses, some of which had a significant amount of roofing removed. One warehouse sustained almost total collapse of its roof, and an HVAC unit was torn off as well. Skylights were broken, wooden cross beams collapsed, numerous vehicles were damaged by flying debris, and a power pole was snapped with a transformer blown off. A semi-trailer and fences were toppled over, windows were shattered, and signs were damaged or destroyed as well. A healthy pine tree was uprooted, and a few smaller trees were also downed. In total, 17 structures were damaged, 11 of which sustained significant damage. One person was injured. This was the strongest tornado to strike the Greater Los Angeles metro area since March 1983.[17] [18] [19] [20] | |