Tornadoes of 2017 (Jarrell)

This page documents the tornadoes and tornado outbreaks of 2017, primarily (but not entirely) in the United States. Most tornadoes form in the U.S., although some events may take place internationally, particularly in parts of neighboring southern Canada during the Northern Hemisphere's summer season. Some tornadoes also take place in Europe, e. g. in the United Kingdom or in Germany. Tornadic events are often accompanied with other forms of severe weather, including strong thunderstorms, strong winds, and hail.

There were at least 1,095 reports of tornadoes in the United States in 2017, of which at least 931 have been confirmed. A total of 489 tornado-related deaths have occurred worldwide as of June 30: all in the United States (10 fatalities occurred due to other severe weather conditions; 5 during winter storm conditions during a winter storm in early January, and another 5 during a widespread outbreak in mid-April). 2017 became the most active first quarter since records began in 1950, beating out the previous record holder of 2008 for the most tornadoes from January to March; and one of the fastest starting years in recorded history.

United States

 * This is a work in progress that was long on hold. More events will be added in due time

January 5-7
On the evening of January 5, a series of destructive tornadoes impacted areas in Mississippi and Alabama, resulting in multiple fatalities and major damage across densely populated areas. During that evening, a large EF4 wedge tornado touched down in extreme western Lee County with major damage occurring in Tupelo. The Tupelo tornado completely destroyed numerous homes and vehicles along its path and killed 19 people. The parent storm system went on to produce several other tornadoes across the Southern United States into the next two days. Overall, the storm system produced 31 tornadoes, along with significant snowfall and flooding.

May 23
A significant and unusual tornado outbreak developed across central Florida in the afternoon of May 23, 2017. In the early hours that day, the Storm Prediction Center issued a slight risk of severe thunderstorms for May 23 over central Florida. Although a highly unstable environment was in place through the morning, it was initially expected that little more than quick bursts of convection and resulting brief thunderstorms would occur due to little wind shear near the dry line. However, the influence of a passing gravity wave released by a dissipating storm system from the previous evening caused the highly unstable air to rush upward when it intersected a stalled cold front and sustain what quickly became a supercell along the surface boundary. This storm drifted unexpectedly to the southwest, as did many of the tornadoes that day. That afternoon, 18 tornadoes were reported across south and central Florida, including a large, violent tornado that touched down in the extreme southern city limits of Eustis, Florida and went on to rapidly intensify before impacting the northern half of the town of Mount Dora; inflicting some of the most extreme tornado damage ever photographed. The American Red Cross confirmed 245 fatalities from this tornado. After being initially assigned a preliminary high-end EF4 rating, it was increased, and the tornado was given a final rating of EF5. This tornado became the first EF5 tornado in over four years; as well as the first ever recorded in Florida.