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. 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.

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 and final 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 fourth most active March on record (behind 2026, 2022 and 2025). There were also 46 tornadic fatalities during the month, which was double the number of tornadic fatalities that occurred throughout all of 2022.

March

March 1 event

March 2 event

March 3 event

March 11 event

+ List of confirmed tornadoes – Saturday, March 11, 2023EF#LocationCounty / parishStateStart coord.Time (UTC)Path lengthMax. width EF1NW of Chinese CampTuolumneCA22:52–22:53A 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 documented in Tuolumne County.

March 12 event + List of confirmed tornadoes – Sunday, March 12, 2023EF#LocationCounty / parishStateStart coord.Time (UTC)Path lengthMax. width EF0SE of Alexander CityTallapoosaAL13:17–13:18Several 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.

March 13 event + List of confirmed tornadoes – Monday, March 13, 2023EF#LocationCounty / parishStateStart coord.Time (UTC)Path lengthMax. width EFUSSW of EdgarPutnamFL07:32unknownunknownA tornado produced a TDS on radar.

March 16 event + List of confirmed tornadoes – Thursday, March 16, 2023EF#LocationCounty / parishStateStart coord.Time (UTC)Path lengthMax. width EF0N of VelmaStephensOK19:57Multiple people observed a brief tornado. EF0Las PiedrasLas PiedrasPR19:10–19:16A 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. EF1Northern Grand Prairie to IrvingDallasTX21:47–21:55This tornado touched down in the northern part of Grand Prairie, where the tornado peeled sections of roofing from a warehouse and caused scattered tree damage. It moved southeast and then east into southern Irving, where it struck an apartment complex and removed portions of the roof. Continuing eastward, the tornado caused intermittent tree damage and light shingle loss across several neighborhoods. Near the end of its path, it produced minor structural damage to a discount store and an adjacent city building before dissipating. EF1Northern IrvingDallasTX21:52–21:56A brief tornado formed in central Irving near SH 183, where an auto dealership suffered roof and front façade damage and a nearby power pole was pushed over. The tornado then moved northeast through nearby apartment complexes and residential areas, causing scattered tree damage and occasional minor roof impacts. It weakened as it progressed and dissipated near the end of its path. EF1Northern CorsicanaNavarroTX00:58–01:04This tornado formed on the northern outskirts of Corsicana, initially producing tree damage across open fields. It then moved southeast into the northern part of the city, where it caused significant damage to a single-family home, removing sections of shingles and roof sheathing and inflicting substantial tree damage. Nearby, a large trailer was rolled multiple times, resulting in serious injuries to two occupants. As the tornado continued southeast, damage became more intermittent and weaker, consisting mainly of tree damage. In its final stage, the tornado turned east, crossed I-45-F, produced another area of more concentrated tree damage, and dissipated shortly before reaching I-45.

March 17 event + List of confirmed tornadoes – Friday, March 17, 2023EF#LocationCounty / parishStateStart coord.Time (UTC)Path lengthMax. width EF0ESE of Grayton BeachWaltonFL00:20–00:21A 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. EF0SE of EbroBayFL00:49–00:57A tornado caused tree damage around the Panama City airport.

March 21 event

+ List of confirmed tornadoes – Tuesday, March 21, 2023EF#LocationCounty / parishStateStart coord.Time (UTC)Path lengthMax. width EF0CarpinteriaSanta BarbaraCA00:45–00:47A likely waterspout moved onshore as a brief, weak tornado. A total of twenty-six homes in a mobile home park were damaged and trees suffered minor damage. One person was injured.

March 22 event

+ List of confirmed tornadoes – Wednesday, March 22, 2023EF#LocationCounty / parishStateStart coord.Time (UTC)Path lengthMax. width EF1MontebelloLos AngelesCA18:14–18:18This 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.

March 24 event

March 25 event

March 26 event

March 27 event

March 31 event

See also Tornadoes of 2023 List of United States tornadoes from January to February 2023 List of United States tornadoes from April to May 2023

Notes

References