Tornadoes of 2007

Tornadoes of 2007

Tracks of all U.S. tornadoes in 2007.
Timespan	January 4 - December 20, 2007
Maximum rated tornado	EF5 tornado Greensburg, Kansas on May 4 Elie, Manitoba on June 22
Tornadoes in U.S.	1,092
Damage (U.S.)	$1.4 billion
Fatalities (U.S.)	81
Fatalities (worldwide)	135
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

This page documents the tornadoes and tornado outbreaks that occurred in 2007, 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 summer season. Some tornadoes also take place in Europe, e. g. in the United Kingdom or in Germany.

Preliminary reports suggest that there were 1,305 reported tornadoes in the U.S. (of which 1,092 were confirmed), with 81 confirmed fatalities. It was the deadliest year for tornadoes in the U.S. since 1999, when 95 deaths were reported. In addition, three fatalities took place in Mexico, 14 in Chad, one in South Africa, three in Vietnam, one in the Philippines, 25 in China and seven in Bangladesh for a worldwide known total of at least 135.

Notably, the system for classifying tornado damage in the United States changed from the Fujita scale to the Enhanced Fujita Scale on February 1.

2007 started quickly in terms of tornadoes, with the first tornado fatalities taking place in the first week of January. After few other significant events in the rest of January, a deadly period took place in the latter part of the winter. Two deadly outbreaks and several other major tornado events marred February and March, especially in the southern US.

The spring was also fairly active, with several significant tornado events in April and May, including a major outbreak in the first weekend of May producing the first ever EF5 tornado (and first F5 tornado on any scale in the 21st century). While June was not as active with fewer tornadoes, it produced another F5 tornado and Canada's first such confirmed tornado.

The tropics in the Western Hemisphere produced few significant tornadoes in 2007, but Typhoon Sepat produced a deadly tornado in China. Otherwise, the summer and early fall were fairly quiet, with a few local exceptions. The most severe outbreak in the second half of the year took place in October, when the largest outbreak ever recorded in that month took place.

The year ended slowly with no major outbreaks in November or December and only a few isolated tornadoes, mostly related to larger winter storms.

There were 29 tornadoes reported in the U.S. in January, of which 22 were confirmed.