This page documents all tornadoes confirmed by various weather forecast offices of the National Weather Service in the United States for January and February 2023. Based on the 1991–2020 average, about 39 tornadoes are typically recorded across the United States during January and about 36 tornadoes are recorded in February. 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.

In January 2023, 130 tornadoes were confirmed across the United States, the third highest count on record in that month behind 1999 and 2017. It likewise featured the third most tornado watches on record, at 25. A total of 793 severe weather reports were received by the Storm Prediction Center, which is more than double the 10-year average of 348 reports. Five days featured a level 3/Enhanced risk of severe weather, the most in a January since the implementation of that risk category in 2014. Well above average activity was likely enhanced by the ongoing La Niña. Although the brunt of the tornadic activity was concentrated across the Southern United States, particularly in Alabama which saw its highest number of January tornadoes on record, Iowa saw its first January tornadoes since 1967, and Illinois recorded its highest number of January tornadoes in a single day in 34 years.

February did not see as many tornadoes, but was still above average with 56 tornadoes, making it the 10th most of active February on record. Most of the tornadoes touched down in a moderate outbreak at the end of the month; the outbreak produced 12 tornadoes in Oklahoma, setting the record for the most tornadoes ever recorded in Oklahoma during the month.

January

January 2 event + List of confirmed tornadoes – Monday, January 2, 2023EF#LocationCounty / ParishStateStart Coord.Time (UTC)Path lengthMax width EF1SW of NorphletUnionAR17:47–17:48A brief tornado destroyed an outbuilding, damaged a home, and snapped some trees. EF1JessievilleGarlandAR20:38–20:41This tornado began just to the southwest of Jessieville, causing tree damage near an Arkansas Forestry Commission building. The tornado then moved northeast into Jessieville and damaged a few homes in town. Most notably, damage was inflicted to multiple buildings on the campus of Jessieville High School and several metal light poles at the football field were bent over. The tornado continued to move northeast, damaging a pole barn just north of town before dissipating. Two people were injured by the tornado at the high school. EF1E of Pleasant HillSabineLA21:11–21:19Metal panels were ripped from a home, a swing set was flipped, and several trees were uprooted or snapped. A small metal outbuilding was damaged as well. EF0ENE of EdgefieldRed RiverLA21:43–21:44Large tree branches were downed and shingles were ripped from a gazebo. A metal covering was removed from the porch of a manufactured home and its metal skirting was damaged. EFUSE of ShidlerOsageOK22:37–22:38A brief tornado occurred in an open field. No damage occurred. EF2S of Jonesboro to E of QuitmanJacksonLA22:46–23:09This large and strong tornado was over a mile wide at times. It touched down south of Jonesboro and moved through areas east of town where many trees were downed. Two mobile homes were pushed off their foundations, one of which was rolled over and was largely destroyed. A house had part of its metal roof blown off, a power pole was downed, and a few other mobile homes and a chicken house also sustained damage to their roofs. Continuing to the north-northeast, the tornado reached its peak intensity just southeast of the Beech Springs community. Numerous large trees were snapped. A brick home had much of its roof torn off and the walls of the garage collapsed. Another brick house and a manufactured home had a significant amount of roofing torn off and a few other residences had more minor damage, including a destroyed carport. Several outbuildings were also damaged or destroyed. The tornado weakened and caused additional minor tree and roof damage near Quitman before dissipating. Three people were injured. EF0NNE of PryorMayesOK23:32–23:43This high-end EF0 tornado destroyed an outbuilding and damaged two others shortly after it touched down. The tornado then moved over the Oklahoma Mesonet Pryor station, which measured an wind gust. The tornado continued moving northeast where a house sustained roof and siding damage before it dissipated. EF1TexannaMcIntoshOK23:52–00:05Trees and tree limbs were downed in and around Texanna and a few homes sustained roof and window damage. Storage buildings and outbuildings were damaged or destroyed. EF2NW of Sterlington to SE of MarionUnionLA00:19–00:25A strong tornado knocked down several metal truss electrical transmission towers, destroyed an outbuilding, and snapped or uprooted dozens of trees. EF1SSW of FairlandOttawaOK00:23–00:25Several outbuildings were damaged or destroyed and large tree limbs were snapped. EF1N of BastropMorehouseLA00:36–00:37Some trees were snapped along the path of this tornado. EF1WNW of BonitaMorehouseLA00:40–00:49Numerous trees, some farm outbuildings, and a few residences were damaged. Metal roofing panels were removed from a gas production facility. EF2W of Wilmot to Montrose to SE of HalleyAshley, Chicot, DeshaAR00:54–01:45This large, strong, and long-tracked tornado first touched down to the west of Wilmot before moving to the northeast, snapping or uprooting numerous trees and downing tree limbs. A few outbuildings were damaged or destroyed west of Portland before the tornado reached its peak intensity and struck the town of Montrose, where a small guest home on concrete blocks was pushed off its foundation and destroyed. A nearby mobile home was destroyed when it was rolled across three parked cars, which were also destroyed. Several sheds and outbuildings were demolished and numerous homes in town suffered roof damage; a few of which had a considerable amount of roofing removed. One older home had an exterior wall torn off as well. Elsewhere along the path, a center pivot irrigation system was destroyed, power poles were downed, and a home and several outbuildings lost roofing and paneling. Hundreds of trees were uprooted, snapped, or damaged along the path. EFUNNE of TamahaSequoyahOK01:25–01:30A tornado was observed moving over the Robert S. Kerr Reservoir along the Arkansas River. No damage was found. EF0W of Kilbourne, LAWest Carroll (LA), Chicot (AR)LA, AR03:02–03:08One shed was destroyed and several others were damaged or tossed. A few homes sustained minor roof damage, a barn was collapsed, and a trampoline was tossed. A few trees were snapped and several tree limbs were downed as well.

January 3 event + List of confirmed tornadoes – Tuesday, January 3, 2023EF#LocationCounty / ParishStateStart Coord.Time (UTC)Path lengthMax width EF0Southern BrownsvilleHaywoodTN08:24–08:27Trees and the roof of a home suffered minor damage. EF0Southwestern HopkinsvilleChristianKY10:35–10:36A high-end EF0 tornado tore the roof off of a cinder block garage attached to a home. The home itself had a small portion of its roof removed. A large carport at another residence was lifted and tossed . Numerous tree limbs were downed in residential areas. EF0E of Olive BranchDeSotoMS12:05–12:07A brief tornado damaged gutters and shingles on homes near Olive Branch. Some minor tree damage also occurred. EF1ENE of EttaUnionMS15:07–15:10Numerous tree branches were snapped in and around Etta and a few trees were uprooted. Several homes also sustained roof damage. EF1WNW of RussellvilleFranklinAL16:48–16:50Several farm outbuildings were damaged and trees were snapped or uprooted. EF1SSE of Demopolis to NW of FaunsdaleMarengo, HaleAL17:21–17:33A low-end EF1 tornado snapped, damaged, or uprooted numerous trees along its path. Metal roof panels were torn from outbuildings and lofted into trees. Some tree limbs were downed in Prairieville before the tornado dissipated. EF1NNW of MarionPerryAL18:10–18:11A manufactured home was shifted off its foundation and had a large amount of its roofing material ripped off as a result of this brief tornado. Metal panels were tossed into nearby trees and additional trees were snapped or uprooted. EF0SE of CentrevilleBibbAL18:41–18:45Several large trees were uprooted in the Talladega National Forest. EF0NW of PrattvilleAutaugaAL19:18–19:26A few manufactured homes sustained damage, one of which had a porch torn off. Damage to fascia and metal panels occurred as well and a metal carport structure was thrown downwind. Tree branches were broken as well. EF1SE of ShelbyChilton, CoosaAL19:39–19:43Several dozen trees were snapped or uprooted. Several homes and boat houses sustained roof and siding damage. EF2N of Deatsville to Jordan LakeElmoreAL19:42–19:59A strong tornado snapped or uprooted numerous large trees along its path and some trees fell on residences. Dozens of homes sustained damage, including a few that suffered considerable roof damage, and one home that had most of its roof ripped off. Some houseboats at the Jordan Lake Reservoir along the Coosa River were destroyed and some outbuildings were damaged or destroyed as well. EF0NE of Sylacauga to W of AshlandClayAL20:31–20:45This high-end EF0 tornado touched down on the eastern slopes of Horne Mountain in the Talladega National Forest, causing damage to trees, one of which fell onto a barn. EF0NE of LinevilleRandolphAL21:17–21:19Trees were damaged along the path. EF0SW of RoanokeChambersAL21:27–21:37The roof of a home and several trees were damaged by this tornado. EFUNW of IlliopolisSangamonIL21:52–21:53A trained storm spotter reported a brief tornado; it caused no damage. EF0Eastern NewnanCowetaGA21:42–21:44Homes in the eastern part of town suffered minor roof and structural damage and trees were snapped or uprooted. EFUSW of LathamLoganIL22:05–22:06A trained storm spotter reported a brief tornado; it caused no damage. EF0StonecrestDeKalbGA22:25–22:26A brief high-end EF0 tornado snapped or uprooted dozens of trees and inflicted minor roof and siding damage to several homes. EF0SW of MaroaMaconIL22:33–22:34A power pole and an irrigation unit were damaged. EF1NW of MaroaMaconIL22:35–22:38A high-end EF1 tornado demolished a barn, with its remnants tossed into a grain bin, and destroyed a fence. EFUENE of Mount AuburnChristianIL23:05–23:06Law enforcement reported a brief tornado; it caused no damage. EF1SE of BellflowerMcLeanIL23:38–23:42A high-end EF1 tornado destroyed a farm outbuilding with the resulting debris being carried over away. The east-facing side of the house on the farm was splattered with dirt and grass as well. EF1SE of Gibson CityFordIL23:56–00:02An outbuilding was completely destroyed while other outbuildings and homes were damaged. EF1DecaturMaconIL00:00–00:01A vacant bowling alley building had several of its wall panels blown out and debris was scattered across a road as a result of this brief low-end EF1 tornado. EF0Northeastern DecaturMaconIL00:05–00:08A brief tornado struck the southern and eastern parts of Richland Community College, damaging trees and fences and moving multiple car parts around. Additionally, insulation and debris from the abandoned bowling alley that was damaged by the previous tornado was found in a tree and out in some fields to the east of the campus. This was the ninth and final tornado to occur in Illinois on January 3, the highest number of January tornadoes in the state in 34 years. EF1NNE of Laurel to SW of SandersvilleJonesMS04:47–04:52Multiple trees were snapped or uprooted. A home suffered minor roof damage and a cyclone fence was knocked down. The tornado dissipated after crossing Tallahala Creek.

January 4 event