Over 400 recorded: Record start to year for US tornadoes

The United States have seen a record number of tornadoes to begin 2023 resulting in significant casualties and damages.

From January to March, at least 410 tornadoes were recorded across the States, primarily in the southern and Midwest regions.

According to the NOAA’s Storm Prediction Centre, this is more than double the average number for the first quarter.

The previous record high was a total of 398 tornadoes in 2017.

At least 63 people were killed by the tornadoes in that time, far surpassing the final total of 23 in the same period last year.

Of the 410 seen, a total of 122 tornadoes were reported on a single day, during a 24-hour period on March 31st.

The two strongest tornadoes of the quarter measured a strength of EF4, this indicates wind gusts of 166 to 200 mph.

Of these, the first impacted western Mississippi on March 24th resulting in the loss of 16 lives while the second hit Keota, Iowa seven days later during the mass outbreak on the 31st.

Reliable data for tornadoes dates back to 1950 though advances in technology has resulted in greater numbers of tornadoes in recent years with hundreds previously being missed when records began.