Tornadoes of 2026

The year 2026 bore witness to a compelling, often devastating, display of nature's raw power as tornadoes touched down across continents, reminding us that these violent atmospheric vortices are truly a global phenomenon. From the heart of America's plains to the olive groves of Greece and the distant shores of Fiji, communities faced the whirlwind's fury. This account chronicles the most remarkable of these events, revealing both the scientific forces at play and the profound human impact left in their wake. Tornadoes in 2026 demonstrated a significant global reach, with notable events impacting North America, Europe, South America, and Asia. The year recorded at least 14 tornado-related fatalities worldwide, highlighting the severe human cost associated with these powerful storms. Several outbreaks in the United States, particularly in March, featured powerful, long-tracked supercells producing high-end EF2 and EF3 tornadoes, alongside a controversial absence of timely warning systems in some affected areas.

Source: Wikipedia

AI Summary

Tornadoes in 2026 demonstrated a significant global reach, with notable events impacting North America, Europe, South America, and Asia.
The year recorded at least 14 tornado-related fatalities worldwide, highlighting the severe human cost associated with these powerful storms.
Several outbreaks in the United States, particularly in March, featured powerful, long-tracked supercells producing high-end EF2 and EF3 tornadoes, alongside a controversial absence of timely warning systems in some affected areas.

The Global Whirlwind of 2026

While many associate tornadoes primarily with the American Midwest, the year 2026 served as a stark reminder of their worldwide reach. These powerful, rotating columns of air — spawned by severe thunderstorms — emerged in unexpected corners of the globe, bringing destruction and claiming lives. In total, 14 tornado-related deaths were confirmed across the year, with victims in the United States, India, and Israel.

Measuring Nature's Fury: The Tornado Scales

To understand the intensity of these events, meteorologists use rating scales. In the United States, the Enhanced Fujita Scale, or EF-Scale, classifies tornadoes from EF0 to EF5 based on estimated wind speeds and associated damage. For most other parts of the world, the International Fujita Scale, or IF-Scale, is commonly used, applying similar damage-based criteria to classify storms from IF0 to IF5. Both scales provide a critical benchmark for assessing a tornado's destructive power.

January's Global Gusts

Greece: The Kalpaki IF2

January began with a powerful IF2 tornado sweeping through Kalpaki, Greece, on the 7th. This formidable storm significantly damaged numerous structures, including a church and a military camp. Most tragically, a large poultry farm was utterly destroyed, resulting in the deaths of 30,000 to 40,000 chickens.

Turkey: Mediterranean Mayhem

Just a day later, on January 8, an IF2 tornado carved a path through villages in Turkey's Mediterranean region. This destructive twister ripped roofs from six buildings, obliterated numerous greenhouses, and uprooted countless trees. In a harrowing incident, a Fiat car was thrown into a tractor, injuring a 20-year-old woman.

United States: Oklahoma's Early Start

Meanwhile, in the United States, a small tornado event unfolded in Oklahoma. On January 8, an EF2 tornado tore the roof off a house southwest of Purcell, causing one injury when it rolled a semi-truck on Interstate 35. The associated storms also unleashed intense wind gusts, reaching 88 mph in Wynona, Oklahoma, and 81 mph in Independence, Kansas.

Fiji: A Rare Coastal Encounter

The Pacific island nation of Fiji experienced a rare event on January 9 when a waterspout—a tornado over water—formed offshore near Sigatoka. This waterspout transitioned into a tornado upon making landfall, damaging at least one home. Fortunately, the family inside found shelter, and no injuries were reported from this unusual phenomenon.

Israel: Kitesurfer Tragedy

Later that same day, tragedy struck off the coast of Bat Yam, Israel. A powerful waterspout ensnared three kitesurfers, expelling them towards the shore at high speeds. One kitesurfer sustained severe injuries and tragically died, while another suffered light injuries. The waterspout briefly made landfall but caused no further damage.

Brazil: São José dos Pinhais Hit

South America also felt the impact of tornadoes in January. On the 10th, an F2 tornado, with estimated peak winds of 180 km/h (110 mph), struck São José dos Pinhais, Brazil. This potent storm affected an estimated 1,200 people, displaced two families, and damaged 350 homes. Two individuals sustained minor injuries.

Turkey: A Second Outbreak

Toward the end of January, from the 26th to the 27th, Turkey experienced a small tornado outbreak in its Mediterranean region. Several tornadoes caused infrastructural and tree damage, including an IF1.5 tornado that dramatically collapsed a mosque tower in Denizyaka. Two separate tornadoes, an IF2 in Aksu and an IF1 in Manavgat, each caused one injury.

Spain: Plasencia's Parking Peril

On January 30, a strong IF2 tornado struck Plasencia, Spain. Near the Virgen del Puerto Hospital, the tornado ripped off the roof of a parking structure, damaging more than 50 cars. Damage was also reported in nearby avenues and neighborhoods, though thankfully no injuries were confirmed.

France: Mios Devastated

The final day of January saw a formidable IF2 tornado sweep through Mios in France's Gironde Department. This tornado damaged between 200 and 300 homes, tearing off roofs, collapsing walls, and uprooting power poles. Its 20-kilometer (12-mile) path also brought down numerous trees, forcing the closure of several lanes on the A63 autoroute for debris clearance.

February: Ohio River Valley Fury

February's most significant event unfolded on the 19th across the Ohio River Valley in the United States. Forecasters had issued an 'enhanced risk' of severe weather, as rich moisture converged with a low-pressure system over southern Illinois and Indiana, setting the stage for strong tornadoes. This system also brought wintry conditions to Nebraska, tragically leading to two fatalities from a car crash.

Supercell's Path of Destruction

During the evening, a powerful cyclic supercell emerged, tracking over 150 miles and producing multiple damaging tornadoes. A high-end EF1 tornado in Crawford County, Illinois, injured several people and rolled over a mobile home, trapping a woman inside. Minutes later, an EF2 tornado struck Bloomington, Indiana, prompting a 'particularly dangerous situation' (PDS) tornado warning for the city, leaving widespread devastation in its wake.

March: Deadly Outbreaks in the US

March 5-7: Oklahoma and Michigan Devastation

March ushered in a period of intense tornado activity, highlighted by a significant and deadly outbreak across the United States from the 5th to the 7th, claiming eight lives and injuring 29. A powerful storm system fueled these tornadoes, which first ravaged northwestern Oklahoma.

In Oklahoma, the first significant tornado, an EF2, tragically killed a mother and daughter in Major County when it struck their vehicle near US 60. This was followed by an EF1 and another long-tracked EF2, which prompted multiple PDS tornado warnings, causing extensive damage near Jet and Helena, and an EF1 tornado near Wakita.

The storm system then spawned an isolated supercell that unleashed four tornadoes in Michigan. An EF1 tornado in Cass County, tracking over 13 miles, caused one fatality when it destroyed the front of a home. A strong EF2 in Three Rivers injured 10 people and significantly damaged businesses, including a Menards, after a PDS tornado warning was issued.

The cyclic supercell continued its destructive journey, producing a devastating high-end EF3 tornado near Union City, Michigan. This monstrous twister killed three people and injured 12 others, sweeping several homes completely off their foundations near Union Lake. Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer swiftly declared a state of emergency for the affected counties.

Meanwhile, back in Oklahoma, more tornadoes touched down. A powerful EF2 struck communities north of Tulsa, and a low-end EF3 tornado tragically killed two people in Beggs, damaging numerous homes and businesses. Tornadic activity persisted overnight, extending into Texas and Arkansas, with EF2 tornadoes causing injuries and significant damage to property and infrastructure in Marion County, Texas, and near Willisville, Arkansas.

A notable controversy arose from this outbreak: neither a tornado watch nor a severe thunderstorm watch was issued for Michigan. Federal weather officials attributed this to the storm's concentration in a small, three-county area, making it difficult to detect in advance. Governor Whitmer's office called for a probe, questioning if the absence of a warning could be linked to federal funding cutbacks to the National Weather Service.

March 10-12: Midwest Carnage and Record Hail

Just days later, another major tornado outbreak tore across the central United States, resulting in 99 confirmed tornadoes, three fatalities, and 16 injuries. Parts of northern Illinois and northwest Indiana were under a moderate risk of severe weather, leading to tornado watches spanning from Texas to Indiana.

A particularly devastating, long-tracked EF3 tornado ripped through southern Kankakee, Illinois, and its suburb of Aroma Park, damaging over 500 buildings and killing one person. It then crossed into Indiana, striking Lake Village, where it tragically killed two more people and damaged an additional 106 buildings. This supercell also produced potentially record-breaking hail, with reports of 5–6-inch hailstones in Kankakee, which would surpass Illinois's previous state record.

The relentless supercell continued its rampage, generating an EF1 tornado near Wheatfield, Indiana, causing three injuries, and an EF2 tornado for which a tornado emergency was issued in Knox, Indiana. Beyond the tornadoes, a series of hailstorms battered the Kansas City metropolitan area, pelting Parkville, Missouri, with baseball-sized hailstones.

March: India's Unforeseen Impact

Far from the American plains, on March 15, an EF2 tornado struck the Mayurbhanj district in Odisha, eastern India. This powerful storm caused significant damage to over 100 homes, many of them traditional mud and thatched structures. Roofs were flattened, and debris was scattered across Kia village. Tragically, two people were killed and at least 29 others were injured as electric poles were knocked down, trees uprooted, and vehicles swept off roads.

April: A Brief Respite

After a tumultuous first quarter, April brought a temporary lull in significant tornado activity, with no notable tornado events recorded globally during the month.

The Year in Numbers: A Global Tally

As 2026 progressed, the sheer number and intensity of tornadoes recorded across various regions painted a vivid picture of the year's meteorological challenges. Here's a look at the confirmed tornado counts by scale for some of the most impacted regions:

Region	IFU/EFU	IF0/EF0	IF0.5/EF0.5	IF1/EF1	IF1.5/EF1.5	IF2/EF2	IF2.5/EF2.5	IF3/EF3	IF4/EF4	IF5/EF5	Total
United States	16	99		128		12		3	0	0	258
Europe	11	2	7	9	11	5	0	0	0	0	46

Article

Tornadoes of 2026

This page documents notable tornadoes and tornado outbreaks worldwide in 2026. Strong and destructive tornadoes form most frequently in the United States, China, the Pampas, the European Plain, South Africa, and Bengal, 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 by other forms of severe weather, including strong thunderstorms, winds, and hail. Worldwide, 14 tornado-related deaths have been confirmed – 11 in the United States, two in India and one in Israel.

Events

United States

<table><thead><tr><th>EFU</th><th>EF0</th><th>EF1</th><th>EF2</th><th>EF3</th><th>EF4</th><th>EF5</th><th>Total</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>16</td><td>99</td><td>128</td><td>12</td><td>3</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>258</td></tr></tbody></table>

Europe

Confirmed tornadoes by International Fujita Rating

<table><thead><tr><th>IFU</th><th>IF0</th><th>IF0.5</th><th>IF1</th><th>IF1.5</th><th>IF2</th><th>IF2.5</th><th>IF3</th><th>IF4</th><th>IF5</th><th>Total</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>11</td><td>2</td><td>7</td><td>9</td><td>11</td><td>5</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>46</td></tr></tbody></table>

• Note: Some tornadoes have been rated using different scales. They are counted as their closest IF-Scale equivalent on this table. • Note: One tornado has been confirmed, but has not been rated yet.

South America

<table><thead><tr><th>FU</th><th>F0</th><th>F1</th><th>F2</th><th>F3</th><th>F4</th><th>F5</th><th>Total</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>9</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>15</td></tr></tbody></table>

• Note: Three tornadoes have been confirmed but not yet been rated. • Note: Some tornadoes have been rated using different scales. They are counted as their closest F-Scale equivalent on this table.

January

January 7 (Greece)

In the evening hours of January 7, a strong tornado tracked through Kalpaki, Greece, significantly damaging to numerous structures. A large poultry farm was destroyed, killing 30,000–40,000 chickens inside. A church and a military camp were also damaged. The tornado was rated IF2 on the International Fujita Scale.

January 8–10 (United States)

A small tornado event occurred in Oklahoma early on January 8, with five tornadoes being confirmed, one of which was rated low-end EF2 after it tore the roof off of a house southwest of Purcell. This tornado caused one injury along its path when it rolled a semi-truck as it crossed I-35 and also caused considerable damage in the town itself. The storms also brought an 88 mph (142 km/h) wind gust to Wynona, Oklahoma and an 81 mph (130 km/h) wind gust to Independence, Kansas. There were five tornadoes each on January 9 and 10.

January 8 (Turkey)

In the early evening of January 8, an IF2-rated tornado tracked through the villages of Kızılağaç, Karacalar, and Sülek in the Mediterranean region of Turkey. The roofs of six buildings were ripped away and numerous greenhouses were destroyed. The walls of various barns collapsed and trees along the tornado's path were uprooted and splintered. Several vehicles were damaged by the tornado, including a Fiat that was thrown into a nearby tractor, which struck a 20-year-old woman who sustained non-life-threatening injuries from the impact.

January 9 (Fiji)

On January 9, a waterspout formed offshore along the Coral Coast near Sigatoka, Fiji and became a tornado as it made landfall. The rare tornado caused damage to at least one home after part of its roof was torn off. The affected family took shelter inside the structure, and no injuries were reported. The Fiji Meteorological Service described the event as an isolated waterspout associated with thunderstorm activity. No formal tornado rating was assigned.

January 9 (Israel)

A waterspout off the coast of Bat Yam caught three kitesurfers and expelled them at high speeds towards the shore. One kitesurfer died after sustaining severe injuries, and another was lightly injured. The waterspout went on to briefly make landfall on the beach but caused no further damage.

January 10 (Brazil)

On the afternoon of January 10, an F2 tornado struck the city of São José dos Pinhais in the Metropolitan Region of Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil, with peak winds estimated at 180 km/h (110 mph). An estimated 1,200 people were affected, including two people sustaining minor injuries and two families displaced. At least 350 homes were impacted, several trees were overturned, and a warehouse was wrecked. In addition, multiple utility poles were toppled by the winds, causing some damage to the electrical grid.

January 26–27 (Turkey)

A small tornado outbreak occurred across two days in the Mediterranean Region of Turkey. Two of these tornadoes, one IF2 in Aksu District and the other IF1 Manavgat District each caused one injury. Infrastructural and tree damage was also reported and some boats were damaged or destroyed. A few other tornadoes were confirmed, mostly damaging roofs, greenhouses, and farms, although one, rated IF1.5, collapsed a Mosque tower in Denizyaka.

January 30 (Spain)

A strong IF2 tornado struck the city of Plasencia, Spain in Province of Cáceres. In the vicinity of the Virgen del Puerto Hospital, the roof of the parking structure was torn off, and more than 50 cars were damaged. Damage was also reported on Dolores Ibárruri Avenue and in the Ciudad Jardín neighborhood. No injuries were reported.

January 31 (France)

A strong IF2 tornado affected Mios in Gironde Department, damaging 200–300 homes. The tornado ripped roofs off houses, collapsed walls, and uprooted power poles. It also downed many trees along its 20-kilometre (12-mile) path. No injuries were reported, but more than 100 firefighters were called in to assist in clearing debris, including on several lanes of the A63 autoroute that were closed after trees blocked the road.

February

February 19 (United States)

EF2 damage to a home in Bloomington, Indiana

On the morning of February 19, the Storm Prediction Center issued an enhanced risk of severe weather due to the overlap of unseasonably rich moisture with a pronounced low-pressure system over southern Illinois and southern Indiana resulting in a chance for strong tornadoes. During the evening hours, several tornadoes touched down across the Ohio River Valley. A high-end EF1 tornado in Crawford County, Illinois damaged 12–15 homes and injured multiple people. One mobile home was rolled over by the tornado, trapping a woman inside. An EF2 tornado in Bloomington, Indiana prompted a "particularly dangerous situation" tornado warning for the city, with widespread damage being reported. Both damaging tornadoes were produced by the same cyclic supercell, which tracked more than 150 miles through the risk area. The storm system also led to two fatalities in Nebraska due to a car crash from the wintry conditions it brought.

March

March 5–7 (United States)

A multi-story home in Union City, Michigan, that was completely demolished at high-end EF3 intensity

A small but significant and deadly tornado outbreak occurred between March 5–7, fueled by a large storm system. During the evening hours of March 5, a supercell tracked for several hours through northwestern Oklahoma into Kansas, producing multiple tornadoes. A mother and daughter were killed in Major County, Oklahoma when the first significant tornado, rated EF2, touched down west of Fairview. The intense winds struck their vehicle as they were driving near US 60, throwing their car into a nearby field. Just a few minutes after the first tornado lifted, an EF1 tornado touched down and moved northwest of Cleo Springs. It was followed by another long-tracked EF2 tornado that prompted multiple PDS tornado warnings and caused damage near Jet and Helena. An EF1 tornado also impacted areas near Wakita later that night. Elsewhere, trees were downed, and homes and power lines were damaged. Two EF1 tornadoes were reported in southern Kansas east of Bluff City. The next day, an isolated supercell produced four tornadoes in Michigan, with an EF1 tornado tracking over 13 miles in Cass County, causing one fatality after the front of a home was destroyed. A strong

The EF3 tornado that struck Union City, Michigan

EF2 tornado hit Three Rivers, Michigan, prompting a PDS tornado warning. The tornado injured 10 people and caused significant damage to numerous businesses, including at a Menards. The cyclic supercell continued moving to the east-northeast and produced a destructive high-end EF3 tornado near Union City, Michigan, killing three people and injuring 12 others. The worst damage occurred near Union Lake, where a couple of homes were swept off their foundations. Michigan governor Gretchen Whitmer issued a state of emergency in Branch, St. Joseph, and Cass counties to coordinate an all-hands-on-deck response to the severe weather. Back in Oklahoma, several tornadoes were reported in the east central and northeastern parts of the state. A powerful EF2 tornado went through communities north of Tulsa and two people were killed after a low-end EF3 tornado struck the city of Beggs, which damaged multiple homes and businesses as well. Tornadic activity continued overnight, spreading into Texas and Arkansas. A low-end EF2 tornado struck near Prospect in Marion County, Texas, injuring two people. A mid-range EF2 tornado touched down near Willisville, Arkansas which damaged trees, lofted and destroyed a trailer and left one person injured.

In all, 30 tornadoes were confirmed from the outbreak, along with eight fatalities and 29 injuries. According to federal weather officials, neither a tornado watch nor a severe thunderstorm watch was put into effect in Michigan during the outbreak due to the storm being primarily concentrated in a small three-county area, which made it difficult to detect in advance; the highest risk level on that day in the area was also only a Level 1 Marginal risk. Governor Whitmer's office called for a probe into the absence of a tornado watch alert and questioned if it could be attributed to President Donald Trump's funding cutbacks to the National Weather Service.

March 10–12 (United States)

An EF3 tornado near Kankakee, Illinois as seen from Kankakee Community College

NEXRAD scan of the deadly tornado that struck Lake Village, Indiana

Another significant tornado outbreak occurred across much of the central United States, highlighted by a moderate risk of severe weather in parts of northern Illinois and northwest Indiana. Tornado watches were issued from Texas to Indiana during the late afternoon and early evening due to the risk of severe weather. A large and long-tracked EF3 tornado passed through the southern portions of Kankakee, Illinois and the suburb of Aroma Park, damaging over 500 buildings and killing one person, before crossing into Indiana and striking Lake Village, where it killed two people and damaged an additional 106 buildings. The supercell also produced potentially record-breaking hail, with reports of 5–6-inch (13–15 cm) hailstones in the Kankakee area, which, if confirmed, would break the former Illinois state record of 4.75-inch (12.1 cm) diameter hail.

The supercell continued producing tornadoes, including a large EF1 tornado near Wheatfield, Indiana that caused three injuries, and an EF2 tornado which had a tornado emergency issued for it in Knox, Indiana. Tornadic activity continued overnight further south as a strongly forced QLCS pushed its way off to the east. In addition to the tornadoes, a group of hailstorms impacted parts of the Kansas City metropolitan area, producing baseball-sized hailstones in Parkville, Missouri.

Overall, 99 tornadoes were confirmed during the outbreak, along with three fatalities and 16 injuries.

March 15 (India)

On the afternoon of March 15, an EF2 tornado struck parts of the Mayurbhanj district in Odisha, eastern India, causing significant damage. More than 100 homes were damaged, many of them traditional mud and thatched structures. Roofs were flattened and debris was scattered across the area in Kia village, Karanjia. Strong winds knocked down electric poles and uprooted large trees, cutting power and blocking roads in several locations, and swept vehicles off the road. Two people were killed and at least 29 others were injured, including six critically.

April

Tornadoes of 2026

There have been no notable tornado events recorded in the month of April.