Tornadoes of 2003
This page documents notable tornadoes and tornado outbreaks worldwide in 2003. Strong and destructive tornadoes form most frequently in the United States, Bangladesh, and Eastern India, but they can occur almost anywhere under the right conditions. Tornadoes also develop occasionally in southern Canada during the Northern Hemisphere's summer and somewhat regularly at other times of the year across Europe, Asia, and Australia. Tornadic events are often accompanied with other forms of severe weather, including strong thunderstorms, strong winds, and hail.
An F4 tornado near Franklin, Kansas during the May 2003 tornado outbreak sequence | |
| Timespan | February 14 – December 23, 2003 |
|---|---|
| Maximum rated tornado | F4 tornado
|
| Tornadoes in U.S. | 1,374 |
| Damage (U.S.) | ≥$1.2 billion (2006 USD) |
| Fatalities (U.S.) | 54 |
| Fatalities (worldwide) | ≥108 |
There were 1,395 tornadoes reported in the United States in 2003, of which 1,374 were confirmed. 2003 is currently the seventh-most active year for tornadoes in the United States since reliable record-keeping began in 1950.