DOC > NOAA > NESDIS > NCDCSearch Field:
Current Events
NOAA Climate Services
About NCDC
In the Spotlight
What's New
Climate FAQs
Data & Products
Model Data
Products and Services
Find a Station
Search by Map
Free Data
Data Access tools
CD-ROM Products
Climate Inventories
Metadata
Help/FAQ
Purchase
Most Popular
Subscriptions
Order Status
Online Store
Climate Info
Regional Climate Centers
Research
Monitoring
Extremes
Global Hazards
Billion Dollar U.S. Weather Disasters
Narrative/Map
Chronological List
Global Historical Extremes
El Nino/La Nina
2003 Tech Report (PDF)
2006 AMS Paper (PDF)
2006 AMS paper
Narrative/MapPlease note that the graphs and maps are updated periodically, so may not fully reflect the latest figures shown in the report below.
Synoptic Map of Billion Dollar U.S. Weather Disasters--1980-2010
(Click on the image for a larger view- print in landscape mode.)
The National Climatic Data Center (NCDC) is the “Nation’s Scorekeeper” in terms of addressing severe weather events in their historical perspective. As part of its responsibility of “monitoring and assessing the climate,” NCDC tracks and evaluates climate events in the U.S. and globally that have great economic and societal impacts. NCDC is frequently called upon to provide summaries of global and US temperature and precipitation trends, extremes, and comparisons in their historical perspective.
This web page/report describes those events that have had the greatest economic impact since 1980.
The authors (Ross and Lott) have also written a paper (PDF version - larger than 1.0 MB), "A Climatology of 1980-2003 Extreme Weather and Climate Events", which provides a climatology of some of these events, and relates the events to population/societal trends and climate change.
Also, a 2006 conference paper provides additional details regarding this report.
Note: The images below reflect the current event summary period, and are updated as needed. Please note that the national map color-coded by state reflects a summation of billion dollar events, for each state affected--ie, it does not mean that each state shown suffered at least $1 billion in losses for each event.
Note: The images below reflect the current event summary period, and are updated as needed. Please note that the national map color-coded by state reflects a summation of billion dollar events, for each state affected--ie, it does not mean that each state shown suffered at least $1 billion in losses for each event.
Use Adobe Acrobat PDF Reader for the PDF files.
Time Series Chart- larger landscape view
Printable Copy of This Report, 1980-2011
Chronological Chart - larger view
State Frequency Map
Chronological List of U.S. Billion Dollar Events
Note: Billion Dollar U.S. Disaster costs have now been adjusted to 2011 dollars using the Consumer Price Index (CPI), as noted below.
The U.S. has sustained 108 weather-related disasters over the past 31+ years in which overall damages/costs reached or exceeded $1 billion.
Time Series Chart- larger landscape view
Printable Copy of This Report, 1980-2011
Chronological Chart - larger view
State Frequency Map
Chronological List of U.S. Billion Dollar EventsNote: Billion Dollar U.S. Disaster costs have now been adjusted to 2011 dollars using the Consumer Price Index (CPI), as noted below.
The U.S. has sustained 108 weather-related disasters over the past 31+ years in which overall damages/costs reached or exceeded $1 billion.
The total normalized losses for the 108 events exceed $750 billion.
Events are listed below beginning with the most recent.
Two damage figures are given for events prior to 2011 - the first figure represents actual dollar costs at the time of the event and is not adjusted for inflation. The value in parenthesis is the disaster cost adjusted to 2011 dollars using the Consumer Price Index (CPI).
These statistics were taken from a wide variety of sources and represent, to the best of our ability, the estimated total costs of these events---that is, the costs in terms of dollars and lives that would not have been incurred had the event not taken place. Insured and uninsured losses are included in damage estimates. These estimates are likely to change as damage assessments become more complete.
Estimates are periodically updated as more data/information become available. Sources include the National Weather Service, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, US Department of Agriculture, other U.S. government agencies, individual state emergency management agencies, state and regional climate centers, media reports, and insurance industry estimates.
NOTE: In some cases, the "special reports" provided via html links below include preliminary damage and fatality statistics, which are now updated in the chronological listing below with our final figures. Therefore, we will always attempt to have our final compilation of damages and fatalities in the billion dollar weather disasters report.
---- 2011 (preliminary) ----
Economic damage costs to date in the US exceed $35 Billion.
These statistics were taken from a wide variety of sources and represent, to the best of our ability, the estimated total costs of these events---that is, the costs in terms of dollars and lives that would not have been incurred had the event not taken place. Insured and uninsured losses are included in damage estimates. These estimates are likely to change as damage assessments become more complete.
Estimates are periodically updated as more data/information become available. Sources include the National Weather Service, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, US Department of Agriculture, other U.S. government agencies, individual state emergency management agencies, state and regional climate centers, media reports, and insurance industry estimates.
NOTE: In some cases, the "special reports" provided via html links below include preliminary damage and fatality statistics, which are now updated in the chronological listing below with our final figures. Therefore, we will always attempt to have our final compilation of damages and fatalities in the billion dollar weather disasters report.
---- 2011 (preliminary) ----
Economic damage costs to date in the US exceed $35 Billion.
Here is a preliminary summary of 9 U.S. Billion dollar disasters that have occurred so far in 2011:
Upper Midwest Flooding, Summer, 2011
Melting of an above-average snow pack across the Northern Rocky Mountains combined with above-average precipitation caused the Missouri and Souris Rivers to swell beyond their banks across the Upper Midwest (MT, ND, SD, NE, IA, KS, MO). An estimated 11,000 people were forced to evacuate Minot, North Dakota due to the record high water level of the Souris River, where 4,000 homes were flooded. Numerous levees were breached along the Missouri River, flooding thousands of acres of farmland. Estimated losses exceed $2.0 billion as the event continues to unfold (as of 8/15). The flooding also stretched into the Canadian Prairies, where property and agriculture losses were expected to surpass $1.0 billion, at least 5 deaths.
Mississippi River flooding, Spring-Summer, 2011
Mississippi River flooding, Spring-Summer, 2011
Persistent rainfall (nearly 300 percent normal precipitation amounts in the Ohio Valley) combined with melting snowpack caused historical flooding along the Mississippi River and its tributaries. Estimated economic loss ranges from $2.0-4.0 billion; at least 2 deaths. Below are more detailed stats, which are preliminary, as the event continues to unfold (as of 8/15): $500 million to agriculture in Arkansas; $320 million in damage to Memphis, Tennessee; $800 million to agriculture in Mississippi; $317 million to agriculture and property in Missouri's Birds Point-New Madrid Spillway; $80 million for the first 30 days of flood fighting efforts in Louisiana.
Southern Plains/Southwest Drought, Heatwave, & Wildfires, Spring-Summer, 2011
Southern Plains/Southwest Drought, Heatwave, & Wildfires, Spring-Summer, 2011
Drought, heatwave, and wildfires have created major impacts across the Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arizona, southern Kansas, and western Arkansas and Louisiana. In Texas and Oklahoma, respectively, 75% and 63% of range and pasture conditions were classified in 'very poor' condition as of mid-August. Wildfire fighting/suppression costs for the region are also ~$1 million / day with over 2,000 homes and structures lost. The total direct losses (as of August 15) to agriculture, cattle and structures are well over $5.0 billion; both direct and total economic losses will rise dramatically as the event continues.
Midwest/Southeast Tornadoes, May 22-27, 2011
Midwest/Southeast Tornadoes, May 22-27, 2011
Outbreak of tornadoes over central and southern states (MO, TX, OK, KS, AR, GA, TN, VA, KY, IN, IL, OH, WI, MN, PA) with an estimated 180 tornadoes and 177 deaths. Notably, an EF-5 tornado struck Joplin, MO resulting in at least 141 deaths, making it the deadliest single tornado to strike the U.S. since modern tornado record keeping began in 1950. Over $4.9 billion insured losses for event; total losses greater than $7.0 billion; 177 deaths.
Southeast/Ohio Valley/Midwest Tornadoes, April 25-30, 2011
Southeast/Ohio Valley/Midwest Tornadoes, April 25-30, 2011
Outbreak of tornadoes over central and southern states (AL, AR, LA, MS, GA, TN, VA, KY, IL, MO, OH, TX, OK) with an estimated 305 tornadoes and 327 deaths. Of those fatalities, 240 occurred in Alabama. The deadliest tornado of the outbreak, an EF-5, hit northern Alabama, killing 78 people. Several major metropolitan areas were directly impacted by strong tornadoes including Tuscaloosa, Birmingham, and Huntsville in Alabama and Chattanooga, Tennessee, causing the estimated damage costs to soar. Over $6.6 billion insured losses; total losses greater than $9.0 billion; 327 deaths.
Midwest/Southeast Tornadoes, April 14-16, 2011
Midwest/Southeast Tornadoes, April 14-16, 2011
Outbreak of tornadoes over central and southern states (OK, TX, AR, MS, AL, GA, NC, SC, VA, PA) with an estimated 160 tornadoes. Despite the large overall number of tornadoes, few were classified as intense, with just 14 EF-3, and no EF-4 or EF-5 tornadoes identified. Over $1.4 billion insured losses; total losses greater than $2.0 billion; 38 deaths [22 of which were in North Carolina].
Southeast/Midwest Tornadoes, April 8-11, 2011
Southeast/Midwest Tornadoes, April 8-11, 2011
Outbreak of tornadoes over central and southern states (NC, SC, TN, AL, TX, OK, KS, IA, WI) with an estimated 59 tornadoes. Over $1.5 billion insured losses; total losses greater than $2.2 billion; numerous injuries, 0 deaths.
Midwest/Southeast Tornadoes, April 4-5, 2011
Outbreak of tornadoes over central and southern states (KS, MO, IA, IL, WI, KY, GA, TN, NC, SC) with an estimated 46 tornadoes. Over $1.6 billion insured losses; total losses greater than $2.3 billion; 9 deaths.
Groundhog Day Blizzard, Jan 29-Feb 3, 2011
Groundhog Day Blizzard, Jan 29-Feb 3, 2011
Large winter storm impacting many central, eastern and northeastern states. The city of Chicago was brought to a virtual standstill as between 1 and 2 feet of snow fell over the area. Insured losses greater than $1.1 billion; total losses greater than $2.0 billion; 36 deaths.
