The U.S. has sustained 112 weather-related disasters during the 1980-2011 period in which overall damages and costs reached or exceeded $1 billion at the time of the event. Twelve occurred during 2012 alone—the most for any year on record, with total costs being approximately $52 billion.
Two damage figures are given for events prior to 2002: the first represents actual dollar costs and is not adjusted for inflation. The second (in parentheses) is the dollar cost normalized to 2002 dollars using a GNP inflation/wealth index. The total normalized losses for the 99 events are over $725 billion.
Sources include Storm Data (NCDC publication), the National Weather Service, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, other U.S. government agencies, individual state emergency management agencies, state and regional climate centers, and insurance industry estimates.
| 2011 |
| Texas, New Mexico, Arizona Wildfires (Spring-Fall, 2011); over $1.0 billion in total damages/costs; drought and extreme heat caused several historic wildfires across Texas, New Mexico and Arizona; over 3 million acres burned in Texas; 5 deaths reported. |
|
Hurricane Irene (August 20–29, 2011); estimate of over $7.3 billion in total damage/costs; minimal category 1 hurricane hit coastal North Carolina and moved north along Mid-Atlantic Coast causing flooding in the Northeast; numerous tornadoes were also reported; 45 reported deaths. |
| Upper Midwest Flooding (Summer 2011); over $2.0 billion in total damages/costs; melting snow combined with above normal precipitation caused the Missouri and Souris Rivers to flood across the Upper Midwest; 4,000 homes were flooded and 11,000 people evacuated Minot, North Dakota; 5 deaths. |
| Mississippi River Flooding (Spring–Summer 2011); $3.0–4.0 billion in total losses/costs; nearly 300 percent more than normal precipitation amounts in the Ohio Valley combined with melting snow caused historical flooding along the Mississippi River and its tributaries; 7 deaths reported. |
| Southern Plains/Southwest Drought and Heatwave (Spring–Fall, 2011); nearly $10.0 billion in losses to crops, livestock and timber; Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arizona, southern Kansas, and western Louisiana are all impacted; no deaths reported. |
| Southeast/Midwest Tornadoes and Severe Weather (June 18-22, 2011); over $1.3 billion in total damages/costs; an estimated 81 tornadoes over central and southern states; wind and hail damage in the Southeast; 3 deaths. |
|
Midwest/Southeast Tornadoes (May 22–27, 2011); estimate of over $9.1 billion in total damage/costs; an estimated 180 tornadoes over central and southern states; 177 reported deaths. |
| Southeast/Ohio Valley/Midwest Tornadoes (April 25-30, 2011); over $10.2 billion in total damages/costs; an estimated 343 tornadoes over central and southern states; 321 deaths (240 in Alabama). |
| Midwest/Southeast Tornadoes (April 14–16, 2011); Over $2.1 billion in total losses/costs; an estimated 177 tornadoes in several central and southern states; 38 deaths (22 in North Carolina). |
| Midwest/Southeast Tornadoes (April 8–11, 2011); over $1.5 billion in losses/costs; an estimated 59 tornadoes in central and southern states; no deaths reported. |
| Midwest/Southeast Tornadoes (April 4–5, 2011); over $2.8 billion in total losses with damage in several central and southern states; an estimated 46 tornadoes reported; 9 deaths. |
| Groundhog Day Blizzard (Jan. 29–Feb. 3, 2011); over $1.8 billion in damages/costs from a large winter storm affecting central, eastern and northeastern states; Chicago was at a standstill; 36 deaths. |
| 2010 | Midwest Tornadoes and Severe Weather (May 2010 ); total losses exceeded $3.0 billion in damages/costs; 3 deaths. |
| Mid-South Flooding and Severe Weather (April-May 2010 ); total losses exceeded $2.3 billion in damages/costs; 32 deaths. |
| Northeast Flooding (March 2010 ); over $1.5 billion in damages/costs; 11 deaths. |
| 2009 | Southwest/Great Plains Drought (entire year 2009); estimate of over $5.0 billion in damage/costs; no reported deaths. |
| Western Wildfires (Summer-Fall 2009); over $1.0 billion in damages/costs (including annual fire suppression costs); 10 deaths. |
| Midwest, South and Eastern Severe Weather (June 2009); Over $1.1 billion in damages/costs; no deaths reported. |
| South/Southeast Tornadoes and Severe Weather (April 2009); over $1.2 billion in damages/costs; 6 deaths. |
| Midwest/Southeast Tornadoes (March 2009); Over $1.0 billion in damages/costs with majority of damage in TX; no deaths reported. |
| Southeast/Ohio Valley Severe Weather (February 2009); over $1.4 billion in damages/costs with majority of damage in OK and OH; 10 deaths. |
| 2008 | Widespread Drought (entire year 2008); estimate of over $2.0 billion in damage/costs; no reported deaths. |
| Hurricane Ike (September 2008); estimate of over $27.0 billion in damage/costs; 112 deaths reported. |
| Hurricane Gustav (September 2008); preliminary estimate of at least $5.0 billion in damage/costs; 43 deaths reported. |
| Hurricane Dolly (July 2008); preliminary estimate of over $1.2 billion in damage/costs; three deaths reported. |
| US Wildfires (Summer-Fall 2008); preliminary estimate of over $2.0 billion in damage/costs; 16 deaths reported. |
| Midwest Flood (June 2008); preliminary estimate of over $15 billion in damage/costs; 24 deaths reported. |
| Midwest/Mid-Atlantic Severe Weather/Tornadoes (June 2008); preliminary estimate of over $1.1 billion in damage/costs; 18 deaths reported. |
| Midwest/Ohio Valley Severe Weather/Tornadoes (May 2008); preliminary estimate of over $2.4 billion in damage/costs; 13 deaths reported. |
| Southeast/Midwest Tornadoes (February 2008); preliminary estimate of over $1.0 billion in damage/costs; 57 deaths reported. |
| 2007 | Great Plains and Eastern Drought (entire year 2007); preliminary estimate of over $5.0 billion in damage/costs; no reported deaths. |
| Western Wildfires (Summer-Fall 2007); preliminary estimate of over $1.0 billion in damage/costs; at least 12 deaths. |
| East/South Severe Weather (April 2007); preliminary estimate of over $1.5 billion in damage/costs; nine deaths reported. |
| 2006 | Wildfires (Entire year 2006); preliminary estimate of over $1.0 billion in damage/costs; 28 deaths, including 20 firefighters. |
| Widespread Drought (Spring-Summer 2006); preliminary estimate of over $6.0 billion in damage/costs; some heat-related deaths, but not beyond typical annual averages. |
| Northeast Flooding (June 2006); preliminary estimate of over $1.0 billion in damage/costs; at least 20 deaths reported. |
| Midwest/Southeast Tornadoes (April 2006); preliminary estimate of over $1.5 billion in damage/costs; 10 deaths reported. |
| Midwest/Ohio Valley Tornadoes (April 2006); preliminary estimate of over $1.1 billion in damage/costs; 27 deaths reported. |
| Severe Storms and Tornadoes (March 2006); preliminary estimate of over $1.0 billion in damage/costs; 10 deaths reported. |
| 2005 | Hurricane Wilma (October); preliminary estimate of over $ 10.0 billion in damage/costs; estimated 35 deaths. |
| Hurricane Rita (September); preliminary estimate of over $ 10.0 billion in damage/costs; estimated 35 deaths. |
| Hurricane Katrina (August); preliminary estimate of around $100 billion in damage/costs, making this the most expensive natural disaster in U.S. history; circa 1800 deaths - the highest U.S. total since the 1928 major hurricane in southern Florida. |
| Hurricane Dennis (July); preliminary estimate of over $2 billion in damage/costs; at least 12 deaths. |
| Midwest Drought (Spring-Summer); preliminary estimate of over $1.0 billion in damage/costs; no reported deaths. |
| 2004 | Hurricane Jeanne (September); preliminary estimate of over $6.9 billion in damage/costs; at least 28 deaths. |
| Hurricane Ivan (September); NY. estimate of over $14 billion in damage/costs; at least 57 deaths. |
| Hurricane Frances (September); estimate of approximately $9 billion in damage/costs; at least 48 deaths. |
| Hurricane Charley (August); estimate of approximately $15 billion in damage/costs; at least 34 deaths. |
| 2003 | Southern California Wildfires (Oct.–Nov.); estimate of over $2.5 billion damage/costs; 22 deaths. |
| Hurricane Isabel (Sept.); estimate of approximately $5 billion in damages/costs; at least 55 deaths. |
| Severe Storms and Tornadoes (May); over $3.4 billion in damages/costs; 51 deaths. |
| Storms and Hail (April.); over $ 1.6 billion in damages/costs: 3 deaths. |
| 2002 | Widespread Drought (Spring–Fall); estimate of over $ 10.0 billion in damages; no deaths. |
| Western Fire Season (Spring–Fall); $ 2.0 billion in damages/costs; 21 deaths. |
| 2001 | Tropical Storm Allison (June); preliminary estimate of approximately $5.0 (5.1) billion; 43 deaths. |
| Midwest and Ohio Tornadoes (June); $1.9 billion in damage/costs, at least 3 deaths. |
| 2000 | Drought/Heat Wave (Spring–Summer); preliminary estimate more than $4.0 (4.2) billion; estimated 140 deaths nationwide. |
| Western Fire Season (Spring–Summer); more than $2.0 (2.1) billion; no deaths reported. |
| 1999 | Hurricane Floyd (Sept.); at least $6.0 (6.5) billion; 77 deaths. |
| Eastern Drought/Heat Wave (Summer); more than $1.0 (1.1) billion; estimated 502 deaths. |
| Oklahoma-Kansas Tornadoes (May); at least $1.6 (1.7) billion; 55 deaths. |
| Arkansas-Tennessee Tornadoes (Jan.); approximately $1.3 (1.4) billion; 17 deaths. |
| 1998 | Texas Flooding (Oct.–Nov.); approximately $1.0 (1.1) billion; 31 deaths. |
| Hurricane Georges (Sept.); estimated $5.9 (6.5) billion; 16 deaths. |
| Hurricane Bonnie (Aug.); approximately $1.0 (1.1) billion; 3 deaths. |
| Southern Drought/Heat Wave (Summer); $6.0-$9.0 billion; at least 200 deaths. |
| Minnesota Severe Storms/Hail (May); more than $1.5 (1.7) billion; 1 death. |
| Southeast Tornadoes and Flooding (Winter–Spring); more than $1.0 (1.1) billion; at least 132 deaths. |
| Northeast Ice Storm (Jan.); more than $1.4 (1.5) billion; 16 deaths. |
| 1997 | Northern Plains Flooding (April–May); approximately $3.7 (4.1) billion; 11 deaths. |
| Mississippi and Ohio Valleys Flooding and Tornadoes (March); estimated $1.0 (1.1) billion; 67 deaths. |
| West Coast Flooding (Dec. 1996–Jan. 1997); approximately $3.0 (3.4) billion; 36 deaths. |
| 1996 | Hurricane Fran (Sept.); more than $5.0 (5.8) billion; 37 deaths. |
| Southern Plains Severe Drought (Fall 1995–Summer 1996); approximately $5.0 (6.0) billion; no deaths. |
| Pacific Northwest Severe Flooding (Feb.); approximately $1.0 (1.2) billion; 9 deaths. |
| Blizzard of '96 and Flooding (Jan.); approximately $3.0 (3.5) billion; 187 deaths. |
| 1995 | Hurricane Opal (Oct.); more than $3.0 (3.6) billion; 27 deaths. |
| Hurricane Marilyn (Sept.); estimated $2.1 (2.5) billion; 13 deaths. |
| Southern Severe Weather and Flooding (May); 5.0-$6.0 (6.5-7.1) billion; 32 deaths. |
| California Flooding (Jan.–March); more than $3.0 (3.6) billion; 27 deaths. |
| 1994 | Western Fire Season (Summer–Fall); approximately $1.0 (1.2) billion; death toll undetermined. |
| Texas Flooding (Oct.); approximately $1.0 (1.2) billion; 19 deaths. |
| Tropical Storm Alberto (July); approximately $1.0 (1.2) billion; 32 deaths. |
| Southeast Ice Storm (Feb.); approximately $3.0 (3.7) billion; 9 deaths. |
| 1993 | California Wildfires (Fall); approximately $1.0 (1.3) billion; 4 deaths. |
| Midwest Flooding (Summer); approximately $21.0 (26.7) billion; 48 deaths. |
| Drought/Heat Wave (Summer); about $1.0 (1.3) billion; at least 16 deaths. |
| “Storm of the Century” Blizzard (March); $3.0-$6.0 (3.8-7.6) billion; approximately 270 deaths. |
| 1992 | Nor'easter of 1992 (Dec.); $1.0-$2.0 (1.3-2.6) billion; 19 deaths. |
| Hurricane Iniki (Sept.); about $1.8 (2.4) billion; 7 deaths. |
| Hurricane Andrew (Aug.); approximately $27.0 (35.6) billion; 61 deaths. |
| 1991 | Oakland Firestorm (Oct.): approximately $2.5 (3.5) billion; 25 deaths. |
| Hurricane Bob (Aug.); $1.5 (2.1) billion; 18 deaths. |
| 1990 | Texas/Oklahoma/Louisiana/Arkansas Flooding (May); more than $1.0 (1.4) billion; 13 deaths. |
| 1989 | Hurricane Hugo (Sept.); more than $9.0 (13.9) billion; 86 deaths. |
| Northern Plains Drought (Summer); at least $1.0 (1.5) billion; no deaths reported. |
| 1988 | Drought/Heat Wave (Summer); estimated $40.0 (61.6) billion; estimated 5,000 to 10,000 deaths. |
| 1986 | Southeast Drought/Heat Wave (Summer); $1.0-$1.5 (1.8-2.6) billion; estimated 100 deaths. |
| 1985 | Hurricane Juan (Oct.–Nov.); $1.5 (2.8) billion; 63 deaths. |
| Hurricane Elena (Aug.–Sept.); $1.3 (2.4) billion; 4 deaths. |
| Florida Freeze (Jan.); about $1.2 (2.2) billion; no deaths. |
| 1983 | Florida Freeze (Dec.); about $2.0 (4.0) billion; no deaths. |
| Hurricane Alicia (Aug.); $3.0 (5.9) billion; 21 deaths. |
| Western Storms and Flooding (1982–early 1983); $1.1 (2.2) billion; at least 45 deaths. |
| Gulf States Storms and Flooding (1982– early 1983); $1.1 (2.2) billion; at least 50 deaths. |
| 1980 | Drought/Heat Wave (June–Sept.); estimated $20.0 (48.4) billion; estimated 10,000 deaths. |
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