Total of all billion-dollar weather disasters
With Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and Hurricane Sandy in 2012, costs of weather disasters have skyrocketed in recent years. Hurricanes, the most expensive disasters, were more frequent and destructive since the turn of the millennium, adding to the spike in cost. This following summary does not include Hurricane Harvey's estimated $80 billion in damages and at least a dozen deaths.
Hurricanes
Drought
Severe storms
Flooding
Winter storms
Wildfires
Freezing temperatures
Hover Tap for disaster-level data
A closer look at every disaster (totals do not include estimates)
Hurricane Harvey (not included in totals)
August 2017
Hurricane Matthew
October 2016
Hurricane Sandy
October 2012
Hurricane Isaac
August 2012
Tropical Storm Lee
September 2011
Hurricane Irene
August 2011
Hurricane Ike
September 2008
Hurricane Gustav
September 2008
Hurricane Dolly
July 2008
Hurricane Wilma
October 2005
Hurricane Rita
September 2005
Hurricane Katrina
August 2005
Hurricane Dennis
July 2005
Hurricane Jeanne
September 2004
Hurricane Ivan
September 2004
Hurricane Frances
September 2004
Hurricane Charley
August 2004
Hurricane Isabel
September 2003
Hurricane Lili
October 2002
Tropical Storm Allison
June 2001
Hurricane Floyd
September 1999
Hurricane Georges
September 1998
Hurricane Bonnie
August 1998
Hurricane Fran
September 1996
Hurricane Opal
October 1995
Hurricane Marilyn
September 1995
Tropical Storm Alberto
July 1994
Hurricane Iniki
September 1992
Hurricane Andrew
August 1992
Hurricane Bob
August 1991
Hurricane Hugo
September 1989
Hurricane Juan
October 1985
Hurricane Gloria
September 1985
Hurricane Elena
September 1985
Hurricane Alicia
August 1983
Hurricane Allen
August 1980
Hurricanes
The most expensive and deadly type of climate disaster, tropical storms occur mostly in the Eastern Shore and states along the Gulf. Harvey (in gray) is expected to be the second most expensive hurricane in U.S. history. At least a dozen deaths have been reported, and the number is expected to rise. Katrina initially made landfall in Florida as a Category 1 hurricane in 2005, evolving to a Category 3 as it moved through the Gulf Coast and caused devastating effects in New Orleans. In 2012, Hurricane Sandy rocked New York City and much of the Northeast as it merged with a developing Nor'easter, causing major network breakdowns and the New York Stock Exchange to close for two business days.
States affected
-
Hurricane Harvey (not included in totals)
August 2017
Est. $80.0 billion
-
Hurricane Matthew
October 2016
$10.3 billion
49 deaths
-
Hurricane Sandy
October 2012
$70.2 billion
159 deaths
Recent Hurricanes
West/ Northeast/ Southeast Drought
2016
Western Drought
2015
Western Drought
2014
Western/ Plains Drought/ Heatwave
Spring to Fall 2013
U.S. Drought/ Heatwave
2012
Southern Plains/ Southwest Drought & Heat Wave
Spring to Summer 2011
Southwest/ Great Plains Drought
2009
U.S. Drought
2008
Western/ Eastern Drought/ Heatwave
Summer to Fall 2007
Midwest/ Plains/ Southeast Drought
Spring to Summer 2006
Midwest Drought
Spring to Summer 2005
Western/Central Drought/Heatwave
Spring to Fall 2003
U.S. Drought
Spring to Fall 2002
Western/ Central/ Southeast Drought/ Heatwave
Spring to Fall 2000
Eastern Drought/ Heatwave
Summer 1999
Southern Drought/ Heat Wave
Summer 1998
Southern Plains Drought
Spring to Summer 1996
Southeast Drought/ Heat Wave
Summer 1993
U.S. Drought
Spring to Summer 1991
Northern Plains Drought
Summer to Fall 1989
U.S. Drought/Heatwave
Summer 1988
Southeast Drought/Heatwave
Summer 1986
Southeast Drought
Summer 1983
Central/Eastern Drought/Heatwave
Summer to Fall 1980
Drought
Droughts and heatwaves usually impact large swaths of the nation. In 1988, a drought caused widespread losses to agriculture; more recently, the drought in 2012 was the most extensive in the States since the 1930s. Although direct deaths top 100, indirect deaths because of heat stress is still unknown.
States affected
-
West/ Northeast/ Southeast Drought
2016
$3.6 billion
No deaths
-
Western Drought
2015
$4.7 billion
No deaths
-
Western Drought
2014
$4.2 billion
No deaths
Recent Drought
Minnesota Hail Storm and Upper Midwest Severe Weather
June 2017
Colorado Hail Storm and Central Severe Weather
May 2017
South/ Southeast Severe Weather
March 2017
Midwest Tornado Outbreak
March 2017
Central/ Southeast Tornado Outbreak
March 2017
Southern Tornado Outbreak and Western Storms
January 2017
Rockies and Northeast Severe Weather
July 2016
Rockies/ Central Tornadoes and Severe Weather
May 2016
Plains Tornadoes and Central Severe Weather
May 2016
South/ Southeast Tornadoes
April 2016
North/ Central Texas Hail Storm
April 2016
North Texas Hail Storm
March 2016
Southern Severe Weather
March 2016
Southeast and Eastern Tornadoes
February 2016
Texas Tornadoes and Midwest Flooding
December 2015
Central and Northeast Severe Weather
June 2015
Southern Plains Tornadoes
May 2015
South/ Southeast Severe Weather
April 2015
Midwest/ Ohio Valley Severe Weather
April 2015
Rockies/ Plains Severe Weather
September 2014
Rockies/ Central Plains Severe Weather
June 2014
Rockies/ Midwest/ Eastern Severe Weather
May 2014
Midwest/ Southeast/ Northeast Tornadoes and Flooding
April 2014
Plains Severe Weather
April 2014
Ohio Valley Tornadoes
November 17, 2013
Midwest Severe Weather
August 6 to 7, 2013
Midwest/ Plains/ Northeast Tornadoes
May 27 to 31, 2013
Midwest/ Plains/ East Tornadoes
May 18 to 22, 2013
Midwest/ Plains Severe Weather
April 7 to 11, 2013
Southeast Severe Weather
March 18, 2013
Plains/ East/ Northeast Severe Weather
June 29 to July 2, 2012
Rockies/ Southwest Severe Weather
June 6 to 12, 2012
Southern Plains/ Midwest/ Northeast Severe Weather
May 25 to 30, 2012
Midwest/ Ohio Valley Severe Weather
April 28 to May 1, 2012
Midwest Tornadoes
April 13 to 14, 2012
Texas Tornadoes
April 2 to 3, 2012
Southeast/ Ohio Valley Tornadoes
March 2 to 3, 2012
Midwest/Southeast Severe Weather
August 2011
Rockies and Midwest Severe Weather
July 10 to 14, 2011
Midwest/ Southeast Tornadoes and Severe Weather
June 18 to 22, 2011
Midwest/ Southeast Tornadoes
May 22 to 27, 2011
Southeast/ Ohio Valley/ Midwest Tornadoes
April 25 to 28, 2011
Ohio Valley/South Tornadoes
April 2011
Midwest/ Southeast Tornadoes
April 14 to 16, 2011
Southeast/ Midwest Tornadoes
April 8 to 11, 2011
Midwest/ Southeast Tornadoes
April 4 to 5, 2011
Arizona Severe Weather
October 2010
Midwest/ Northeast Severe Storms and Flooding
July 2010
Oklahoma, Kansas, and Texas Tornadoes and Severe Weather
May 2010
Colorado Hail Storm
July 2009
Midwest, South and East Severe Weather
June 2009
South/ Southeast Severe Weather & Tornadoes
April 2009
Midwest/ Southeast Tornadoes
March 2009
Southeast/ Ohio Valley Severe Weather
February 2009
Midwest/ Mid-Atlantic Severe Weather
June 2008
Midwest Tornadoes and Severe Weather
May 2008
Southern Severe Weather
April 2008
Southeast Tornadoes
March 2008
Southeast Tornadoes and Severe Weather
February 2008
East/ South Severe Weather and Flooding
April 2007
Midwest Tornadoes
April 2006
Midwest/ Southeast Tornadoes
April 6 to 8, 2006
Severe Storms and Tornadoes
March 2006
Severe Storms, Hail, Tornadoes
May 2004
Severe Weather
July 2003
Midwest/Plains Severe Weather
July 2003
Severe Storms/ Tornadoes
May 2003
Severe Storms/ Hail
April 2003
Severe Storms and Tornadoes
April 2002
Midwest/Ohio Valley Hail and Tornadoes
April 2001
Oklahoma and Kansas Tornadoes
May 1999
Severe Storms, Tornadoes
June 1998
Minnesota Severe Storms/Hail
May 1998
Western/ Eastern Severe Weather and Flooding
Winter to Spring 1998
Mississippi and Ohio Valley Severe Weather and Flooding
March 1997
South Plains Severe Weather
May 1995
Midwest/Plains Tornadoes
April 1994
Severe Storms, Hail
June 1992
Hail, Tornadoes
April 1992
Severe Storms
March 1992
Severe Storms, Tornadoes
March 1991
Colorado Hail Storm
July 1990
Severe Storms
May 1989
Western Severe Storms and Flooding
February 1986
Severe Storms and Hail
June 1984
Tornadoes, Severe Storms, Floods
Spring 1984
Severe storms
June 1982
Midwest/Plains/Southeast Tornadoes
April 1982
Severe Storms, Flash Floods, Hail, Tornadoes
May 1981
Severe storms
The instance of costly storms has increased in recent years. Of the 89 severe storms that have cost more than $1 billion since 1980, 63 have occurred since 2005. Tornadoes in the Midwest in 2011 cost $11 billion, the most expensive event since 1980.
States affected
-
Minnesota Hail Storm and Upper Midwest Severe Weather
June 2017
$2.5 billion
No deaths
-
Colorado Hail Storm and Central Severe Weather
May 2017
$2.2 billion
No deaths
-
South/ Southeast Severe Weather
March 2017
$2.1 billion
No deaths
Recent Severe storms
Missouri and Arkansas Flooding and Central Severe Weather
May 2017
California Flooding
February 2017
Louisiana Flooding
August 2016
West Virginia Flooding and Ohio Valley Tornadoes
June 2016
Houston Flooding
April 2016
Texas and Louisiana Flooding
March 2016
South Carolina and East Coast Flooding
October 2015
Texas and Oklahoma Flooding and Severe Weather
May 2015
Michigan and Northeast Flooding
August 2014
Colorado Flooding
September 10 to 16, 2013
Illinois Flooding and Severe Weather
April 16 to 19, 2013
Missouri River flooding
May to June 2011
Mississippi River flooding
April to May 2011
East/ South Flooding and Severe Weather
May 2010
Northeast Flooding
March 2010
Midwest Flooding
Summer 2008
Northeast Flooding
June 2006
Texas Flooding
October 1998
Northern Plains Flooding
Spring 1997
West Coast Flooding
December 1996 to January 1997
Pacific Northwest Severe Flooding
February 1996
California Flooding
January to March 1995
Texas Flooding
October 1994
Midwest Flooding
Summer 1993
Southern Flooding
May 1990
Western Storms & Flooding
December 1982 to March 1983
Gulf States Storms and Flooding
December 1982 to January 1983
Southern Severe Storms and Flooding
April 1980
Flooding
The most expensive flooding disasters have occurred in the Midwest. In 1993, severe flooding caused by persistent rain plagued the Midwest while much of the Southeast experienced a heatwave. Seven federal agencies were involved in the disaster relief effort.
States affected
-
Missouri and Arkansas Flooding and Central Severe Weather
May 2017
$1.7 billion
20 deaths
-
California Flooding
February 2017
$1.5 billion
5 deaths
-
Louisiana Flooding
August 2016
$10.3 billion
13 deaths
Recent Flooding
Central and Eastern Winter storm, Cold Wave
February 2015
Midwest/ Southeast/ Northeast Winter Storm
January 2014
Groundhog Day Blizzard
February 1 to 3, 2011
Central and Eastern Winter Storm
Mid to January 1999
Central and Eastern Winter Storm
January 1999
Northeast Ice Storm
January 1998
Blizzard/ Floods
January 1996
Southeast Ice Storm
February 1994
Winter Storm, Cold Wave
January 1994
East Coast Blizzard and Severe Weather
March 1993
Northeast Winter Storm
December 1992
Winter Storm, Cold Wave
December 1989
Winter Storm, Cold Wave
January 1985
Midwest/Southeast/Northeast Winter Storm, Cold Wave
January 1982
Winter storms
There were eight winter storms in the 1990s that cost more than $1 billion. Mostly affecting the Northeast, the most expensive storm hit Florida in March 1993 with tornadoes, winds and heavy snow.
States affected
-
Central and Eastern Winter storm, Cold Wave
February 2015
$3.1 billion
30 deaths
-
Midwest/ Southeast/ Northeast Winter Storm
January 2014
$2.3 billion
16 deaths
-
Groundhog Day Blizzard
February 1 to 3, 2011
$2.0 billion
36 deaths
Recent Winter storms
California wildfires (not included in totals)
October 2017
Western/ Southeast Wildfires
Summer to Fall 2016
Western and Alaskan Wildfires
Summer to Fall 2015
Western Wildfires
Summer to Fall 2012
Texas, New Mexico, Arizona Wildfires
Summer to Fall 2011
Western Wildfires
Summer to Fall 2009
U.S. Wildfires
Fall 2008
Western Wildfires
Summer 2007
Numerous Wildfires
2006
California Wildfires
Fall 2003
Western Fire Season
Fall 2002
Western Fire Season
Spring to Summer 2000
Western Fire Season
Summer to Fall 1994
California Wildfires
Fall 1993
Oakland Firestorm
October 1991
Wildfires
Most wildfires occur in California and the western states. Wildfires in October in Northern California caused at least $1 billion in damage and killed at least 42 people, making the event the deadliest series of fires in California history (these deaths are not included in the totals because the data for this event are still estimates). The 1991 firestorm in Oakland, Calif., occurred because of low humidity and high winds, resulting in a cost of $6 billion, the most expensive wildfire since 1980.
States affected
-
California wildfires (not included in totals)
October 2017
Est. $1.0 billion
-
Western/ Southeast Wildfires
Summer to Fall 2016
$2.5 billion
21 deaths
-
Western and Alaskan Wildfires
Summer to Fall 2015
$3.2 billion
12 deaths
Recent Wildfires
Southeast Freeze
March 2017
Spring Freeze
April 2007
California Freeze
January 2007
California Freeze
December 1998
California Freeze
December 1990
Florida Freeze
December 1989
Florida Freeze
January 1985
Freeze, Cold Wave
December 1983
Freezing temperatures
Since 1980, the most expensive freezes have occurred in Florida and California. In 1990, a $6 billion freeze spread across California's Central and Southern San Joaquin valleys, causing widespread crop loss.
States affected
-
Southeast Freeze
March 2017
$1.0 billion
No deaths
-
Spring Freeze
April 2007
$2.5 billion
No deaths
-
California Freeze
January 2007
$1.7 billion
1 death
Recent Freezing temperatures
About this story
Source: NOAA. Costs are CPI-adjusted to 2017 and rounded to the nearest tenth of a billion. Some costs may only have exceeded $1 billion after CPI adjustment. NOAA's list of billion-dollar weather and climate disasters does not include earthquakes or volcanic eruptions.
Originally published Aug. 25, 2015.
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