January Tornado History
1959 to 2004
Total Reported Tornadoes 908 with
0 F5 10 F4 45 F3 198 F2
334 F1 321 F0
Of the total tornadoes 28% would be classified as strong/violent
during this period. 31 States in the US have recorded
tornadoes in January since 1959. 6 of these tornadoes have
had a track length of greater than 50 miles. During January
108 deaths have been recorded from
these tornadoes from 1959 to 2004.
January 2007 Killer
Tornadoes: 1 Fatalities: 2
01 Jan 4 03:45 PM Lydia LA 2 F1 WT001 Three mobile homes flipped
over trapping seven people...at least five brick homes received
January 2006 Killer
Tornadoes: 1 Fatalities: 1
01 Jan 13 10:10 AM Belleville AL 1 F1 WT017 15-20 homes damaged.
The tornado ripped through the Belleville Alabama rural
community, leaving one woman dead in her home when the chimney
collapsed, and a swath of destruction a half mile wide and a mile
long beside U.S. 84 just before 10 a.m.
January 2005 Killer
Tornadoes: 2 Fatalities: 4
01 Jan 12 11:25 PM Junction City AR 2 F3 WS007
Extensive structural damage...tornado path length of 24 mi...max
path width 1/2 mi.
02 Jan 13 04:58 PM Crossroads GA 2 F1 - Three homes
destroyed...one a mobile home where fatalities occurred
Some of this Data is From the Storm Prediction Center
website provided by NOAA/ National Weather Service National Centers
for Environmental Prediction Storm Prediction Center 1313 Halley
Circle Norman, OK U.S.A.
So how often do tornadoes appear in January? Well, in other places around the world they are more common in January. 2004 started in
January and was kicked off with honorary crew member Steve Hall taking these photos from Rhoose Point, Vale of Glamorgan.
The tornado(water spout) was just off the south Wales coast. Steve Hall, a qualified
Meteorological Observer as part of his job (Air Traffic Controller).
All photos copyright
Hall - please contact him to use.
Funnel clouds are not un-common in the Bristol Channel where he has
seen a few over the years. The Control Tower at the airport has an uninterrupted view of
the Bristol Channel and they were the first to spot this one. A phone call from a friend
of work alerted Steve to this funnel cloud and the photos were taken from the end of the
street he lives near. It lasted for about 5 minutes before it dissipated. Thanks Steve for
sharing your photos with the rest of the world.
Even though tornadoes can happen in other
areas, many might be surprised to find one near the Mediterrean sea.
These Tornadochaser.net exclusive photos were taken on the Island of
Cyprus and on Monday January 27th 2003.
Photos by Tornadochaser.net Honorary Crew
Member Derek Bassett