The top 10 most impactful #weather events of 2023

From powerful #hurricanes and #tornadoes to drought-busting storms and the deadliest #wildfire in the US in a century, here is a look back at the most unforgettable weather events of 2023.

By Monica Danielle, AccuWeather senior producer

Published Dec 26, 2023

1. Record-breaking January tornado outbreak

In a month typically clocking inches of snow, there were a whopping 168 tornadoes reported over two outbreaks, more than triple the historical average for January, setting a new record for the month.

An outbreak on January 12 produced 70 tornado reports across seven states. This date included two EF3 tornadoes that resulted in at least 9 deaths and 34 injuries across #Alabama and #Georgia. An EF2 tornado also caused devastation in the historic city of #SelmaAlabama, about 40 miles west of Montgomery.

2. Violent EF4 tornado rips through #Mississippi, killing 17

On March 24, two dozen twisters touched down across the Southeast, including the deadliest and one of the year’s most violent tornadoes. The EF4 tornado ripped through #Rolling ForkMississippi, and claimed the lives of 17 people, including a couple killed by a large semi-truck that was tossed into their home.

3. The most notable tornado outbreak of the year

The most notable tornado outbreak of 2023 was the deadly and now historic outbreak that impacted large portions of the Midwest, South, and East U.S. on March 31 and April 1. The year's second and final EF4 tornado was one of 122 twisters reported across multiple states. AccuWeather's own storm tracker and meteorologist, Tony Laubach, captured incredible footage of one of the strongest tornadoes of the year when he intercepted the twister in southeast #Iowa near the city of #Ottumwa.

4. Drought-busting #AtmosphericRivers unload record-breaking #snow

Coming into 2023, drought was a major concern for #California and other parts of the West. "This is a #megadrought," California Governor Gavin Newsom said. "Some scientists argue it's the most significant in 1200 years of human history." But it wouldn't be long until the #drought was wiped out completely.

5. Smoke from #Canada's worst-ever wildfire season blankets US cities

Canada experienced its worst wildfire season on record, obliterating all other years in terms of area burned. Over the course of the fire season, flames scorched an estimated 18.4 million hectares—an area roughly the size of North Dakota. According to NASA, on average, just 2.5 million hectares burn in Canada each year.

6. Deadliest US wildfire in more than a century sweeps through #Maui, #Hawaii

The wildfire that ignited in Maui on August 8 was the deadliest in the U.S. in more than a century, killing at least 106 people and all but incinerating #Lahaina, destroying every building in the town of 13,000.

7. #HurricaneIdalia slams #Florida's Nature Coast

The above-normal 2023 Atlantic hurricane season was characterized by record-warm #AtlanticSeaSurfaceTemperatures and a strong #ElNiño. A total of 20 storms were named in 2023, along with a tropical depression and an unnamed subtropical storm. This ranks fourth for the most-named storms in a year since 1950 and the most on record during an El Niño-influenced season. Seven storms were hurricanes, three intensifying to major #hurricanes.

8. #HurricaneLee stirs up rough surf, and dangerous rip currents along East Coast

Before making landfall in far western #NovaScotia, Hurricane Lee caused dangerous surf and rip currents along the Atlantic Coast of the United States. Lee claimed two victims, a 51-year-old man who was killed by a falling tree branch in #Maine and a teenager who drowned off the coast of Florida amid rough seas churned up by the hurricane. The monstrous storm cut power to more than 280,000 electric customers across Maine, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick as it roared ashore.

9. The hottest year in recorded history

Six record-breaking months and two seasons – summer and autumn – were recorded in 2023, making it the hottest year ever recorded.

10. El Niño nears historic strength

The global weather phenomenon El Niño, in which surface waters are abnormally warm in the eastern tropical Pacific, was a major player in many of the top weather events in 2023. The major shift to El Niño following three years of La Niña, could evolve into one of the strongest El Niño events observed over the past 75 years, new data shows.

https://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/the-top-10-most-impactful-weather-events-of-2023/1603146