Mississippi Summary

From 1980-2024, there were 108 confirmed weather/climate disaster events with losses exceeding $1 billion each to affect Mississippi. These events included 17 drought events, 5 flooding events, 3 freeze events, 50 severe storm events, 22 tropical cyclone events, 1 wildfire event, and 10 winter storm events. The 1980โ€“2024 annual average is 2.4 events (CPI-adjusted); the annual average for the most recent 5 years (2020โ€“2024) is 6.0 events (CPI-adjusted).

Billion-dollar events to affect Mississippi from 1980 to 2024 (CPI-Adjusted)
Disaster TypeEventsEvents/โ€‹YearPercent FrequencyTotal CostsPercent of Total Costs
Drought170.415.7%$5.0B-$10.0B10.4%
Flooding50.14.6%$2.0B-$5.0B4.3%
Freeze30.12.8%$100M-$250M0.1%
Severe Storm501.146.3%$5.0B-$10.0B8.1%
Tropical Cyclone220.520.4%$50.0B-$100.0B71.5%
Wildfire10.00.9%$5M-$100M0.0%
Winter Storm100.29.3%$2.0B-$5.0B5.6%
All Disasters1082.4100.0%$50.0B-$100.0B100.0%
Select Time Period Comparisons of Mississippi Billion-Dollar Drought, Flooding, Freeze, Severe Storm, Tropical Cyclone, Wildfire, and Winter Storm Statistics (CPI-Adjusted)
Time PeriodBillion-Dollar DisastersEvents/YearCostPercent of Total Cost
1980s (1980-1989)151.5$10.0B-$20.0B11.6%
1990s (1990-1999)131.3$5.0B-$10.0B8.3%
2000s (2000-2009)252.5$50.0B-$100.0B66.3%
2010s (2010-2019)252.5$5.0B-$10.0B7.8%
Last 5 Years (2020-2024)306.0$5.0B-$10.0B5.9%
Last 3 Years (2022-2024)165.3$2.0B-$5.0B2.7%
Last Year (2024)66.0$500M-$1.0B0.6%
All Years (1980-2024)1082.4$50.0B-$100.0B100.0%
Billion-Dollar Events to affect Mississippi
Event Type Begin
Date
End
Date
Summary CPI-Adjusted
Estimated
Cost
(in Billions)
Deaths
Hurricane Francine
September 2024
Tropical CycloneSeptember 11, 2024September 12, 2024Category 2 Hurricane Francine made landfall in Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana on September 11, with 100 mph sustained winds. The storm caused wind and flood damage to homes, vehicles, businesses and other infrastructure across coastal Louisiana. Francine also produced heavy precipitation in parts of Alabama and Georgia. Muscle Shoals, AL recorded a three-day rainfall total of 9.02 inches beginning on September 12, which is its third highest 3-day total on record since 1893.$1.3 CI0
Central, Southern, Southeastern Tornado Outbreak
May 2024
Severe StormMay 6, 2024May 9, 2024An outbreak producing more than 165 tornadoes developed across many central, southern and southeastern states. The states most affected include Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida. This multi-day tornado outbreak produced at least 61 EF-0, 79 EF-1, 13 EF-2, three EF-3, one EF-4 tornado and dozens of EF-U (unknown/unrated) tornadoes, causing widespread damage to homes, businesses, vehicles, agriculture and other infrastructure. The towns of Barnsdall and Bartlesville, Oklahoma were impacted by an EF-4 tornado that caused extensive damage.$6.6 CI3
Southern and Eastern Severe Weather
April 2024
Severe StormApril 8, 2024April 11, 2024Southern and eastern severe weather produced tornadoes, hail and high wind, from Texas to Virginia. The event began with severe hail and high wind impacts across central and eastern Texas, followed by more than 20 tornadoes impacting the Gulf Coast counties of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida. There were additional high wind and tornado impacts in North Carolina and Virginia.$2.7 CI0
Central, Southern, Northeastern Winter Storm and Cold Wave
January 2024
Winter StormJanuary 14, 2024January 18, 2024A bitterly cold airmass affected numerous central and southern states most including Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Texas, Mississippi, Arkansas, Tennessee and Georgia. This long-duration cold wave produced sleet and freezing rain accumulations into the deep south, across much of Mississippi. High winds also pushed wind chills well below zero for many states contributing to dozens of fatalities, many in Tennessee. Damage also occurred to homes, vehicles and businesses from the high winds and frozen precipitation.$1.9 CI41
Southern Tornado Outbreak and East Coast Storm
January 2024
Severe StormJanuary 8, 2024January 10, 2024Southern tornado outbreak and east coast storm impacted more than a dozen states. At least 39 preliminary tornadoes were clustered around the Florida Panhandle through the Carolinas while hundreds of high wind reports were scattered up the East Coast reflecting damage to homes, businesses, vehicles and other infrastructure. The strongest tornado was an EF-3 that caused significant damage around Panama City Beach, Florida, after an intense waterspout moved onshore.$2.8 CI3
Central and Southern Severe Weather
June 2023
Severe StormJune 15, 2023June 18, 2023Severe storms produce over one thousand reports of damaging weather across Oklahoma, Texas, Mississippi, Georgia, Florida, Arkansas and Ohio. Among these reports were over 70 preliminary tornadoes including an EF-3 tornado in Louin, Mississippi. This combination of high winds, hail and tornadoes caused damage to homes, businesses, vehicles, agriculture and other infrastructure. The damage was most focused in Oklahoma.$3.9 CI5
Southern Severe Weather
June 2023
Severe StormJune 11, 2023June 14, 2023Numerous southern states including Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, Arkansas, South Carolina and Florida were impacted by hail, tornadoes and high winds. These storms caused damage to many homes, vehicles and businesses across several days of severe storm activity.$4.2 CI0
Southern and Eastern Severe Weather
April 2023
Severe StormMarch 24, 2023March 26, 2023Southern and eastern severe storms including more than 40 tornadoes caused damage across Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee to many homes, businesses, vehicles and other infrastructure. Additional high wind damage occurred in parts of Ohio, West Virginia and Pennsylvania.$3.0 CI23
Southern and Eastern Severe Weather
March 2023
Severe StormMarch 2, 2023March 3, 2023Severe storms impact numerous southern and eastern states including Texas, Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana and Ohio. Impacts from high wind and tornadoes cause widespread damage to homes, vehicles, businesses, government buildings and infrastructure.$6.2 CI13
Southern Severe Weather
April 2022
Severe StormApril 11, 2022April 13, 2022Severe weather including hundreds of damaging wind reports and dozens of tornadoes occurred across Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Texas, Tennessee and Kentucky. On April 11, tornadoes and damaging hail was focused across central Arkansas causing damage to homes, vehicles, outbuildings and farms and vegetation. April 12 and 13 produced widespread high wind reports and dozens of tornadoes across central Mississippi, northeast Arkansas and west-central Kentucky. These tornadoes produced damage to homes, businesses, farms, outbuildings and other infrastructure. There was also considerable hail damage across Wisconsin and Minnesota.$2.9 CI1
Southeast Tornado Outbreak
April 2022
Severe StormApril 4, 2022April 6, 2022A tornado outbreak on April 4-6 with a combined 100 preliminary tornadoes reported. The tornadoes occurred across Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida and South Carolina. Many of these tornadoes were clustered along the southern regions of Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina. During this three-day period many of these tornadoes were rated as either EF-1 or EF-0, but there were also nine EF-2, three EF-3 and one EF-4 tornado. This EF-4 occurred in Pembroke, Georgia on April 5th with winds of 185 mph that destroyed several neighborhoods. Many of the other tornadoes across the South caused considerable damage to homes, businesses, vehicles, and other infrastructure.$1.5 CI3
Southern Tornado Outbreak
March 2022
Severe StormMarch 30, 2022March 30, 2022An outbreak of 83 tornadoes was focused across the Gulf Coast states including Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida.$1.4 CI2
Hurricane Ida
August 2021
Tropical CycloneAugust 29, 2021September 1, 2021Category 4 Hurricane Ida made landfall near Port Fourchon, Louisiana with maximum sustained winds of 150 mph (240km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 930 mb. Ida was one of three hurricanes in recorded history to make landfall in Louisiana with 150 mph winds, along with Hurricane Laura in 2020 and the 'Last Island' hurricane of 1856. Grand Isle, Louisiana took a direct hit with 100% of its homes damaged and nearly 40% were nearly-to-completely destroyed. There was heavy damage to the energy infrastructure across southern Louisiana causing widespread, long duration power outages to millions of people. Parts of New Orleans were without power for nearly a week due to the widespread damage. As the remnants of Ida moved into the Northeast it merged with a frontal system creating severe weather and flash flooding across a wide region from eastern Pennsylvania to New York. Flash flood emergencies were declared in New Jersey and New York for the first time, producing damage to homes, businesses, vehicles and infrastructure while also causing dozens of fatalities.$84.6 CI96
Southern Tornadoes and Southeast Severe Weather
May 2021
Severe StormMay 2, 2021May 4, 2021Tornadoes and severe storms with widespread high wind and large hail cause damage across many Southern and Southeastern states including Mississippi, Texas, Arkansas, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Tennessee. There were over 111 confirmed tornadoes largely clustered in central Mississippi and surrounding states.$1.5 CI4
Eastern Severe Weather
March 2021
Severe StormMarch 27, 2021March 28, 2021Severe weather producing hail, high wind and more than two dozen tornadoes impacted numerous states including Arkansas, Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia. Tennessee was also affected with significant flooding in Nashville and surrounding areas that damaged businesses, homes and vehicles. There were also many high wind damage reports across Pennsylvania, Maryland and New Jersey.$1.6 CI8
Southeast Tornadoes and Severe Weather
March 2021
Severe StormMarch 24, 2021March 25, 2021At least 41 tornadoes impact several states including Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia. These included one EF-4, four EF-3s, ten EF-2s and approximately two-dozen EF-1 or EF-0 tornadoes. The strongest of these tornadoes were focused across central Alabama and western Georgia with tracks across the entire width of Alabama. There was widespread damage to homes, businesses, vehicles and infrastructure.$2.0 CI6
Hurricane Zeta
October 2020
Tropical CycloneOctober 28, 2020October 29, 2020Hurricane Zeta was a category 2 hurricane that made landfall at Cocodrie, Louisiana with maximum sustained winds of 110 mph on October 28th. Zeta's path inland saw an acceleration of its quick landfall speed to nearly 40 mph, which allowed the wind fields to maintain some strength. These wind impacts propagated well inland affecting parts of Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, northern Georgia and into the Carolinas. Hurricane Zeta was the fifth tropical cyclone to make landfall in Louisiana during 2020 as part of a historically active Atlantic hurricane season.$5.3 CI6
Hurricane Delta
October 2020
Tropical CycloneOctober 9, 2020October 11, 2020Hurricane Delta was a category 2 hurricane that made landfall near Creole, Louisiana with winds of 100 mph on October 9. This was nearly the same location in which category 4 Hurricane Laura made landfall 6 weeks prior. Heavy rainfall, high winds, storm surge, and nearly one dozen EF-0 or EF-1 tornadoes caused damage across several states including Louisiana, eastern Texas, Mississippi and Georgia.$3.5 CI5
Hurricane Sally
September 2020
Tropical CycloneSeptember 15, 2020September 17, 2020Hurricane Sally was a category 2 hurricane at landfall in Gulf Shores, Alabama. Wind gusts up to 100 mph and 20-30 inches of rainfall caused considerable flood and wind damage across Alabama, the Florida panhandle and into Georgia. Many homes and businesses in downtown Pensacola, FL were impacted from flooding produced by storm surge and heavy rainfall. 2020 is now the fourth consecutive year (2017-2020) that the U.S. has been impacted by a slow moving tropical cyclone that produced extreme rainfall and damaging floods - Harvey, Florence, Imelda and Sally.$8.8 CI5
Hurricane Laura
August 2020
Tropical CycloneAugust 27, 2020August 28, 2020Hurricane Laura was a powerful category 4 that made landfall at Cameron Parish, in southwestern Louisiana on August 27. Winds up to 150 mph and storm surge in excess of 15 feet caused heavy damage along the coast and inland to the city of Lake Charles. Many broken water systems and a severely damaged electrical grid in southern Louisiana will slow the recovery process. Laura was the strongest hurricane (by maximum sustained windspeed at landfall) to hit Louisiana since the 1856 Last Island hurricane. Laura also had highest landfall wind speed to impact the U.S. since Hurricane Michael in 2018. There were additional impacts to surrounding states including Texas, Mississippi and Arkansas.$28.1 CI42
Southern Severe Weather
April 2020
Severe StormApril 21, 2020April 23, 2020Severe weather caused damage across many Southern states. The states most affected from a combination of high winds, hail and tornadoes included Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida and Virginia. The states with the highest damage totals for the event were Oklahoma, Louisiana and Texas.$1.7 CI3
Southeast and Eastern Tornado Outbreak
April 2020
Severe StormApril 12, 2020April 13, 2020Outbreak of at least 140 tornadoes from Texas to Maryland including 3 EF4s, 12 EF3s, 20 EF2s, 77 EF1s and 28 EF0s. Damage was extensive and highly destructive to many homes, vehicles and businesses across more than a dozen Southeast and Eastern states.$4.2 CI35
Tennessee Tornadoes and Southeast Severe Weather
March 2020
Severe StormMarch 2, 2020March 4, 2020Powerful EF-3 and EF-4 tornadoes cause considerable damage across the Nashville metroplex and several counties east of Nashville. This damage included many homes, businesses, vehicles, 90 planes and numerous buildings at the Nashville airport. There was also additional hail and wind damage in the surrounding states including Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi and Missouri.$2.8 CI25
South, East and Northeast Severe Weather
February 2020
Severe StormFebruary 5, 2020February 7, 2020Severe weather across many South, East and Northeastern states including AL, FL, GA, SC, LA, MS, TN, NC, VA, PA, RI, NY, NJ, MD and MA. There were more than 20 tornadoes clustered across central Mississippi into Tennessee. There were also hundreds of high wind damage reports from Florida to New Jersey, with the Carolinas and Florida receiving the most costly damage.$1.5 CI3
Southeast Tornadoes and Northern Storms and Flooding
January 2020
Severe StormJanuary 10, 2020January 12, 2020More than 80 tornadoes and severe storms caused damage across many southeastern states (AL, AR, GA, IL, IN, KY, LA, MS, MO, NC, OH, SC, TN, TX, VA, WI). Storms and severe flooding also impacted northern states including Michigan, Wisconsin and New York. Significant damage occurred along the shoreline of Lake Michigan to roads, the foundation of homes and to Port Milwaukee. These powerful waves were generated by high winds and a lack of seasonal ice cover.$1.4 CI10
Mississippi River, Midwest and Southern Flooding
July 2019
FloodingMarch 15, 2019July 31, 2019Additional major flooding impacted many Southern Plains states significantly affecting agriculture, roads, bridges, levees, dams and other assets across many cities and towns. The states most affected were Oklahoma, Nebraska, Missouri, Illinois, Kansas, Arkansas, Kentucky, Tennessee, Texas, Mississippi and Louisiana. Very high water levels also disrupted barge traffic along the Mississippi River, which negatively impacted a variety of dependent industries. Indiana and Ohio were also affected by persistent heavy rainfall that flooded farmland, which prevented and reduced crop planting by millions of acres.$7.6 CI4
South and Southeast Severe Weather
May 2019
Severe StormMay 7, 2019May 13, 2019Persistent severe storms impacted numerous states from Texas to North Carolina (TX, OK, KS, AR, LA, MS, AL, NC). Tornadoes and damaging hail particularly affected Texas, Louisiana and North Carolina focused across the Raleigh metro region.$1.9 CI0
Southern and Eastern Tornadoes and Severe Weather
April 2019
Severe StormApril 13, 2019April 14, 2019Tornado outbreak and severe storms impacted many states (TX, LA, MS, AL, GA, NC, OH and PA). More than 50 tornadoes occurred across central Mississippi and Alabama causing damage to vehicles, homes and businesses. More than 25 additional tornadoes also caused damage across several eastern states from Georgia to Pennsylvania. These severe storms also delivered damaging hail and high wind damage that was widespread across many Southern and and Eastern states.$1.6 CI7
Southeast, Ohio Valley and Northeast Severe Weather
February 2019
Severe StormFebruary 23, 2019February 25, 2019Tornadoes, severe weather and flooding in the south (MS, AL, TN) and high-wind damage across many Ohio Valley (IL, IN, OH) and Northeastern states (CT, MD, MA, NJ, NY, PA, VA, WV). This storm system produced heavy rain that caused major flooding along parts of the Ohio, Mississippi and Tennessee rivers.$1.5 CI2
Southern and Eastern Tornadoes and Severe Weather
April 2018
Severe StormApril 13, 2018April 16, 2018Tornadoes and severe storms with large hail cause widespread damage across many Southern and Eastern states (AR, FL, GA, LA, MD, MI, MS, MO, NJ, NY, NC, PA, SC, TX, VA) over a multi-day period. There were over 70 confirmed tornadoes largely clustered in Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina and Virginia. This same system also caused winter storm impacts of high wind and ice accumulation in northeastern states.$1.7 CI3
Hurricane Harvey
August 2017
Tropical CycloneAugust 25, 2017August 31, 2017Category 4 hurricane made landfall near Rockport, Texas causing widespread damage. Harvey's devastation was most pronounced due to the large region of extreme rainfall producing historic flooding across Houston and surrounding areas. More than 30 inches of rainfall fell on 6.9 million people, while 1.25 million experienced over 45 inches and 11,000 had over 50 inches, based on 7-day rainfall totals ending August 31. This historic U.S. rainfall caused massive flooding that displaced over 30,000 people and damaged or destroyed over 200,000 homes and businesses.$160.0 CI89
Missouri and Arkansas Flooding and Central Severe Weather
May 2017
FloodingApril 25, 2017May 7, 2017A period of heavy rainfall up to 15 inches over a multi-state region in the Midwest caused historic levels of flooding along many rivers. The flooding was most severe in Missouri, Arkansas and southern Illinois where levees were breached and towns were flooded. There was widespread damage to homes, businesses, infrastructure and agriculture. Severe storms also caused additional impacts during the flooding event across a number of central and southern states.$2.2 CI20
South/Southeast Severe Weather
March 2017
Severe StormMarch 26, 2017March 28, 2017Large hail and high winds in Texas north of the Dallas metro region caused widespread damage to structures and vehicles. Severe storms also caused damage across several other states (OK, TN, KY, MS, AL) due to the combination of high winds, hail and tornadoes.$3.5 CI0
Southeast Freeze
March 2017
FreezeMarch 14, 2017March 16, 2017Severe freeze heavily damaged fruit crops across several southeastern states (SC, GA, NC, TN, AL, MS, FL, KY, VA). Mid-March freezes are not climatologically unusual in the Southeast, however many crops were blooming 3+ weeks early due to unusually warm temperatures during the preceding weeks. Damage was most severe in Georgia and South Carolina. Crops most impacted include peaches, blueberries, strawberries and apples, among others.$1.3 CI0
Southern Tornado Outbreak and Western Storms
January 2017
Severe StormJanuary 20, 2017January 22, 2017High wind damage occurred across southern California near San Diego followed by 79 confirmed tornadoes during an outbreak across many southern states including AL, FL, GA, LA, MS, SC and TX. This was the 3rd most tornadoes to occur in a single outbreak of extreme weather during a winter month (Dec.-Feb.) based on records from 1950.$1.4 CI24
West/Northeast/Southeast Drought
2016
DroughtJanuary 1, 2016December 31, 2016California's 5-year drought persisted during 2016 while new areas of extreme drought developed in states across the Northeast and Southeast. The long-term impacts of the drought in California have damaged forests where 100+ million trees have perished and are a public safety hazard. The agricultural impacts were reduced in California as water prices and crop fallowing declined. However, agricultural impacts developed in Northeast and Southeast due to stressed water supplies.$4.6 CI0
Southern Severe Weather
March 2016
Severe StormMarch 17, 2016March 18, 2016Severe hail impacts the Fort Worth and Arlington metro region in Texas. Additional large hail and high wind damage occurred in other locations of Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi.$1.6 CI1
Southeast and Eastern Tornadoes
February 2016
Severe StormFebruary 22, 2016February 24, 2016Early outbreak of tornadoes and severe weather across many southern and eastern states including (AL, CT, FL, GA, LA, MA, MD, MS, NC, NJ, NY, PA, SC, TX, VA). There were at least 50 confirmed tornadoes causing widespread damage.$1.4 CI10
Texas Tornadoes and Midwest Flooding
December 2015
Severe StormDecember 26, 2015December 29, 2015A powerful storm system packing unseasonably strong tornadoes caused widespread destruction in the Dallas metropolitan region, damaging well over 1,000 homes and businesses. This same potent system also produced intense rainfall over several Midwestern states triggering historic flooding that has approached or broken records at river gauges in several states (MO, IL, AR, TN, MS, LA). The flooding has overtopped levees and caused damage in numerous areas. This historic storm also produced high wind, snow and ice impacts from New Mexico through the Midwest and into New England. Overall, the storm caused at least 50 deaths from the combined impact of tornadoes, flooding and winter weather.$2.6 CI50
South and Southeast Severe Weather
April 2015
Severe StormApril 24, 2015April 25, 2015Severe weather produced tornadoes, large hail and high wind damage across numerous southern and southeastern states including Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. These storms caused widespread impacts to many homes, vehicles and businesses.$1.3* CI3
Midwest/Southeast/Northeast Tornadoes and Flooding
April 2014
Severe StormApril 27, 2014May 1, 2014Tornado outbreak across the Midwest, Southeast and Northeast states (AL, AR, DE, FL, GA, KS, MD, MO, MS, NC, NJ, NY, PA, TN, VA) with 83 confirmed tornadoes. Mississippi had its 3rd greatest number of tornadoes reported for any day since 1950. Torrential rainfall in the Florida panhandle also caused major flooding, as Pensacola set new 1-day and 2-day precipitation records of 15.55 and 20.47 inches, respectively. Flooding rains were also reported in coastal Alabama, as Mobile received 11.24 inches of rain, the third greatest calendar day rainfall total for the city.$2.3 CI33
Midwest/Southeast/Northeast Winter Storm
January 2014
Winter StormJanuary 5, 2014January 8, 2014Winter storm caused widespread damage across numerous Midwest, Southeast and Northeastern states (AL, GA, IL, IN, KY, MD, MI, MO, MS, NC, NJ, NY, OH, PA, SC, TN, VA).$2.9 CI16
Southeast Severe Weather
March 2013
Severe StormMarch 18, 2013March 18, 2013Severe weather over the Southeast (MS, AL, GA, TN) with 10 confirmed tornadoes. Considerable damage resulting from large hail and straight-line wind.$2.7 CI1
U.S. Drought/Heat Wave
2012
DroughtJanuary 1, 2012December 31, 2012The 2012 drought is the most extensive drought to affect the U.S. since the 1930s. Moderate to extreme drought conditions affected more than half the country for a majority of 2012. The following states were affected: CA, NV, ID, MT, WY, UT, CO, AZ, NM, TX, ND, SD, NE, KS, OK, AR, MO, IA, MN, IL, IN, GA. Costly drought impacts occurred across the central agriculture states resulting in widespread harvest failure for corn, sorghum and soybean crops, among others. The associated summer heat wave also caused 123 direct deaths, but an estimate of the excess mortality due to heat stress is still unknown.$41.7 CI123
Hurricane Isaac
August 2012
Tropical CycloneAugust 26, 2012August 31, 2012Category 1 hurricane made landfall over Louisiana. Isaac's slow motion and large size led to a large storm surge and flooding rains. This created damage across several southeastern states (LA, MS, AL, FL) including 9 deaths (5 direct, 4 indirect).$3.8 CI9
Tropical Storm Lee
September 2011
Tropical CycloneSeptember 1, 2011September 5, 2011Wind and flood damage across the southeast (LA, MS, AL, GA, TN) but considerably more damage from record flooding across the northeast (PA, NY, NJ, CT, VA, MD). Pennsylvania and New York were most affected.$3.5 CI21
Southern Plains/Southwest Drought and Heat Wave
Spring-Summer 2011
DroughtMarch 1, 2011August 31, 2011Drought and heat wave conditions created major impacts across Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arizona, southern Kansas, and western Louisiana. In Texas and Oklahoma, a majority of range and pastures were classified in "very poor" condition for much of the 2011 crop growing season.$17.1 CI95
Mississippi River flooding
April-May 2011
FloodingApril 1, 2011May 31, 2011Persistent 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. Examples of economic damage include: $500 ($715.0) million to agriculture in Arkansas; $320 ($457.6) million in damage to Memphis, Tennessee; $800 million ($1.1 billion) to agriculture in Mississippi; $317 ($453.3) million to agriculture and property in Missouri's Birds Point-New Madrid Spillway; $80 ($114.4) million for the first 30 days of flood fighting efforts in Louisiana.$4.3 CI7
Southeast/Ohio Valley/Midwest Tornadoes
April 2011
Severe StormApril 25, 2011April 28, 2011Outbreak of tornadoes over central and southern states (AL, AR, LA, MS, GA, TN, VA, KY, IL, MO, OH, TX, OK) with an estimated 343 tornadoes. 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.$14.3 CI321
Midwest/Southeast Tornadoes
April 2011
Severe StormApril 14, 2011April 16, 2011Outbreak of tornadoes over central and southern states (OK, TX, AR, MS, AL, GA, NC, SC, VA, PA) with an estimated 177 tornadoes.$2.9 CI38
Midwest, South and East Severe Weather
June 2009
Severe StormJune 9, 2009June 12, 2009Sustained outbreak of thunderstorms and high winds from a strong derecho event over the central, southern, and eastern states (TX, OK, MO, NE, KS, AR, AL, MS, TN, NC, SC, KY, PA).$1.9 CI0
Midwest/Southeast Tornadoes
March 2009
Severe StormMarch 25, 2009March 28, 2009Outbreak of tornadoes over central and southern states (NE, KS, OK, IA, TX, LA, MS, AL, GA, TN, KY) with 56 tornadoes confirmed.$2.4 CI0
Hurricane Gustav
September 2008
Tropical CycloneAugust 31, 2008September 3, 2008Category 2 hurricane makes landfall in Louisiana causing significant wind, storm surge, and flooding damage in AL, AR, LA, and MS.$8.6 CI53
Southeast Tornadoes and Severe Weather
February 2008
Severe StormFebruary 5, 2008February 6, 2008Series of tornadoes and severe thunderstorms across the Southeast and Midwest states (AL, AR, IN, KY, MS, OH, TN, TX) with 87 tornadoes confirmed.$1.8 CI57
Western/Eastern Drought/Heat Wave
Summer-Fall 2007
DroughtJune 1, 2007November 30, 2007Severe drought with periods of extreme heat over most of the southeast and portions of the Great Plains, Ohio Valley, and Great Lakes area, resulting in major reductions in crop yields, along with very low stream-flows and lake levels. Includes states of ND, SD, NE, KS, OK, TX, MN, WI, IA, MO, AR, LA, MS, AL, GA, NC, SC, FL, TN, VA, WV, KY, IN, IL, OH, MI, PA, NY.$5.5 CI15
East/South Severe Weather and Flooding
April 2007
Severe StormApril 13, 2007April 17, 2007Flooding, hail, tornadoes, and severe thunderstorms across numerous states (CT, DE, GA, LA, ME, MD, MA, MS, NH, NJ, NY, NC, PA, RI, SC, TX, VT, VA) in mid-April, including 3 "killer" tornadoes.$3.8 CI9
Spring Freeze
April 2007
FreezeApril 4, 2007April 10, 2007Widespread severe freeze over much of the east and midwest (AL, AR, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, MO, MS, NC, NE, OH, OK, SC, TN, VA, WV), causing significant losses in fruit crops, field crops (especially wheat), and the ornamental industry. Temperatures in the teens/20s accompanied by rather high winds nullified typical crop-protection systems.$3.2 CI0
Midwest/Plains/Southeast Drought
Spring-Summer 2006
DroughtMarch 1, 2006August 31, 2006Rather severe drought affected crops especially during the spring-summer, centered over the Great Plains region with other areas affected across portions of the south -- including states of ND, SD, NE, KS, OK, TX, MN, IA, MO, AR, LA, MS, AL, GA, FL, MT, WY, CO, NM.$9.5 CI0
Severe Storms and Tornadoes
March 2006
Severe StormMarch 8, 2006March 13, 2006Outbreak of tornadoes over portions of the midwest and south during a week-long period-affecting the states of AL, AR, KY, MS, TN, TX, IN, KS, MO, and OK.$2.1 CI10
Hurricane Rita
September 2005
Tropical CycloneSeptember 20, 2005September 24, 2005Category 3 hurricane hits Texas-Louisiana border coastal region, creating significant storm surge and wind damage along the coast, and some inland flooding in the FL panhandle, AL, MS, LA, AR, and TX. Prior to landfall, Rita reached the third lowest pressure (897 mb) ever recorded in the Atlantic basin.$29.4 CI119
Hurricane Katrina
August 2005
Tropical CycloneAugust 25, 2005August 30, 2005Category 3 hurricane initially impacts the U.S. as a Category 1 near Miami, FL, then as a strong Category 3 along the eastern LA-western MS coastlines, resulting in severe storm surge damage (maximum surge probably exceeded 30 feet) along the LA-MS-AL coasts, wind damage, and the failure of parts of the levee system in New Orleans. Inland effects included high winds and some flooding in the states of AL, MS, FL, TN, KY, IN, OH, and GA.$201.3 CI1,833
Hurricane Dennis
July 2005
Tropical CycloneJuly 9, 2005July 11, 2005Category 3 hurricane makes landfall in western Florida panhandle resulting in storm surge and wind damage along the FL and AL coasts, along with scattered wind and flood damage in GA and MS.$4.0 CI15
Southeast Severe Weather
March 2005
Severe StormMarch 24, 2005March 27, 2005Severe storms cause widespread hail damage across numerous states including TX, AL, MS, GA, FL, NC and VA.$1.4* CI0
Hurricane Ivan
September 2004
Tropical CycloneSeptember 12, 2004September 21, 2004Category 3 hurricane makes landfall on Gulf coast of Alabama, with significant wind, storm surge, and flooding damage in coastal AL and FL panhandle, along with wind/flood damage in the states of GA, MS, LA, SC, NC, VA, WV, MD, TN, KY, OH, DE, NJ, PA, and NY.$34.0 CI57
Southern Derecho and Eastern Severe Weather
July 2003
Severe StormJuly 21, 2003July 23, 2003Derecho across several southern states with the most focused damage across the Memphis, Tennessee metro area. Severe storms impact states across the South, Southeast, Midwest and Northeast regions including AR, AL, MS, GA, FL, SC, TN, KY, MI, NY, OH, PA and VT.$1.7 CI7
Severe Storms/Tornadoes
May 2003
Severe StormMay 3, 2003May 10, 2003Numerous tornadoes over the midwest, Mississippi valley, OH/TN valleys, and portions of the southeast, with a modern record one-week total of approximately 400 tornadoes reported$7.1 CI51
Severe Storms/Hail
April 2003
Severe StormApril 4, 2003April 7, 2003Severe storms and large hail over the southern plains and lower MS valley, with Texas hardest hit, and much of the monetary losses due to hail.$3.5 CI3
Eastern Tornadoes and Severe Storms
November 2002
Severe StormNovember 9, 2002November 11, 2002Tornado outbreak of over 100 tornadoes across many eastern states causes widespread damage (AL, MS, GA, TN, KY, OH, PA). Tennessee and Ohio had the highest count of tornadoes.$1.3* CI28
Tropical Storm Isidore
September 2002
Tropical CycloneSeptember 25, 2002September 27, 2002Tropical Storm Isidore caused heavy rain, flooding, tornadoes and coastal storm surge that impacted Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee. Rainfall exceeded 15 inches across southern Louisiana with storm surge over 8 feet.$2.0 CI5
Hurricane Lili
October 2002
Tropical CycloneAugust 1, 2002August 5, 2002Category 1 hurricane makes landfall in Louisiana after causing damage across Saint Lucia, Jamaica, Haiti and Cuba.$1.9 CI2
Severe Storms and Tornadoes
April 2002
Severe StormApril 27, 2002April 28, 2002Numerous tornadoes and widespread hail damage over the Central and Eastern states including NC, GA, VA, TX, AR, MO, MS, TN, IL, IN, KY, PA, MD, NY, OH, WV, and KS.$3.7 CI7
Tropical Storm Allison
June 2001
Tropical CycloneJune 5, 2001June 17, 2001The persistent remnants of Tropical Storm Allison produce rainfall amounts of 30-40 inches in portions of coastal Texas and Louisiana, causing severe flooding especially in the Houston area, then moves slowly northeastward; fatalities and significant damage reported in TX, LA, MS, FL, VA, and PA$15.1 CI43
Western/Central/Southeast Drought/Heat Wave
Spring-Fall 2000
DroughtMarch 1, 2000November 30, 2000Western/Central/Southeast Drought/Heat Wave. The states impacted include AZ, AL, AR, CA, CO, FL, GA, IA, KS, LA, MS, MT, NE, NM, OK, OR, SC, TN, and TX.$9.3 CI140
Eastern Drought/Heat Wave
Summer 1999
DroughtJune 1, 1999August 31, 1999Very dry summer and high temperatures, mainly in eastern U.S., with extensive agricultural losses. The states impacted include AL, AR, FL, GA, KY, LA, MD, MS, NC, NJ, OH, SC, TN, VA, WV and PA.$4.8 CI502
Oklahoma and Kansas Tornadoes
May 1999
Severe StormMay 3, 1999May 6, 1999Outbreak of F4-F5 tornadoes hit the states of Oklahoma and Kansas, along with Texas and Tennessee, Oklahoma City area hardest hit.$3.8 CI55
Central and Eastern Winter Storm
January 1999
Winter StormJanuary 1, 1999January 4, 1999South, Southeast, Midwest, Northeast affected by damaging winter storm$2.0 CI25
Hurricane Georges
September 1998
Tropical CycloneSeptember 20, 1998September 29, 1998Category 2 hurricane strikes Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Florida Keys, and Gulf coasts of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida panhandle, 15-30 inch 2-day rain totals in parts of Alabama and Florida$11.6 CI16
Southern Drought and Heat Wave
Summer 1998
DroughtJune 1, 1998August 31, 1998Severe drought and heat wave from Texas/Oklahoma eastward to the Carolinas. The states impacted include AL, AR, FL, GA, LA, MS, NC, OK, SC, TN, TX, and VA.$6.9 CI200
Western/Eastern Severe Weather and Flooding
Winter-Spring 1998
Severe StormDecember 1, 1997February 28, 1998Tornadoes and flooding cause damage across the West and Southeast. The states impacted include CA, TX, FL, AL, GA, LA, MS, NC and SC.$2.0 CI132
Mississippi and Ohio Valley Severe Weather and Flooding
March 1997
Severe StormFebruary 28, 1997March 5, 1997Tornadoes and severe flooding hit the states of AR, MO, MS, TN, IL, IN, KY, OH, and WV, with over 10 inches of rain in 24 hours in Louisville.$1.9 CI67
Central, Southern and Northeast Drought/Heat Wave
September 1995
DroughtJuly 1, 1995September 30, 1995Historic mid-July heat wave and urban heat island amplification caused hundreds of deaths across several major cities including Chicago, Milwaukee, and Philadelphia. Following the heat wave was hot, dry weather in July and August 1995 that affected crops in numerous states, as crops had not rooted well due to late planting from previous wet soils. This left crops vulnerable to a flash drought during a key portion of the growing season.$2.0 CI872
Hurricane Erin
August 1995
Tropical CycloneAugust 1, 1995August 7, 1995Hurricane Erin impacted Florida as a category 1 hurricane. Most of the damage resulted from heavy rainfall and flooding in Florida, Alabama and Mississippi.$1.8* CI6
South Plains Severe Weather
May 1995
Severe StormMay 5, 1995May 7, 1995Torrential rains, hail, and tornadoes across Texas-Oklahoma and southeast Louisiana-southern Mississippi, with Dallas and New Orleans areas (10-25 inch rains in 5 days) hardest hit.$11.4 CI32
Southeast Ice Storm
February 1994
Winter StormFebruary 8, 1994February 13, 1994Intense ice storm with extensive damage in portions of TX, OK, AR, LA, MS, AL, TN, GA, SC, NC, and VA.$6.4 CI9
East Coast Blizzard and Severe Weather
March 1993
Winter StormMarch 11, 1993March 14, 1993The "Storm of the Century" impacts the entire Eastern seaboard from Florida to Maine. This historic storm dumped 2-4 feet of snow and caused hurricane force winds across many Eastern and Northeastern states. This caused power outages to over 10 million households. Additional impacts included numerous tornadoes across Florida causing substantial damage. This was the most destructive and costly winter storm to affect the United States (since 1980), until it was surpassed by the February 2021 winter storm and cold wave.$12.2 CI270
Southeast Severe Weather
November 1992
Severe StormNovember 21, 1992November 23, 1992Three-day tornado outbreak strikes many Central and Eastern states including TX, LA, AL, MS, GA, AR, IN, OH, KY, TN, and NC. Major damage was reported across many areas, as more than 100 tornadoes were reported. This event remains one of the most prolific Fall season tornado outbreaks on record.$1.5* CI26
Winter Storm, Cold Wave
December 1989
Winter StormDecember 21, 1989December 26, 1989Winter storm and deep cold impacts the Northeast, South and Southeast. The states impacted include AL, AR, CT, FL, GA, IL, IN, KY, LA, ME, MO, MS, NC, NH, NY, OH, OK, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA, VT and WV.$1.7* CI100
Tropical Storm Allison
June 1989
Tropical CycloneJune 26, 1989June 28, 1989Flooding from Tropical Storm Allison (1989) impacted Texas and Louisiana for days as Allison tracked inland. Most all of the damage was from flooding due to heavy rainfall with 20-25 inches in some locations. The slow progression of Allison also contributed to the increased rainfall totals.$1.5* CI11
Southern Derecho and Severe Storms
May 1989
Severe StormMay 1, 1989May 6, 1989A derecho caused high wind damage across much of Texas into Louisiana. Severe storms cause damage in states across the South and Southeast. The states impacted include OK, TX, LA, MS, GA, SC, NC and VA.$1.4* CI21
U.S. Drought/Heat Wave
Summer 1988
DroughtJune 1, 1988August 31, 19881988 drought across a large portion of the U.S. with very severe losses to agriculture and related industries. Combined direct and indirect deaths (i.e., excess mortality) due to heat stress estimated at 5,000.$54.6 CI454
Southeast Drought/Heat Wave
Summer 1986
DroughtJune 1, 1986August 31, 1986Severe summer drought in parts of the southeastern U.S. with severe losses to agriculture. The states impacted include AL, AR, GA, LA, MS, NC, SC, TN and VA.$5.2 CI100
Hurricane Juan
October 1985
Tropical CycloneOctober 27, 1985October 31, 1985Category 1 hurricane makes landfall near Morgan City, Louisiana. Hurricane Juan's slow movement causes severe flooding in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida. Southern Louisiana was most severely affected due to widespread rainfall of 10-15 inches that caused substantial flooding.$4.3 CI63
Hurricane Elena
September 1985
Tropical CycloneAugust 30, 1985September 3, 1985Category 3 hurricane approaches the Florida Panhandle prior to landfall near Biloxi, Mississippi. Considerable wind and rain impacts were felt from Florida to Louisiana.$3.8 CI4
Winter Storm, Cold Wave
January 1985
Winter StormJanuary 19, 1985January 22, 1985Extreme cold and winter storms in the Southeast, South, Southwest, Northeast, Midwest, and North$2.5* CI150
Southeast Drought
Summer 1983
DroughtJune 1, 1983August 31, 19831983 flash drought in the southeastern U.S. with losses to agriculture, most notably corn and soybeans. The states impacted include AL, AR, GA, KY, LA, MO, MS, NC, SC, TN and VA.$9.6 CI0
Gulf States Storms and Flooding
December 1982-January 1983
FloodingDecember 1, 1982January 15, 1983Severe storms and flooding, especially in the states of TX, AR, LA, MS, AL, GA, and FL$4.9 CI45
Midwest/Plains/Southeast Tornadoes
April 1982
Severe StormApril 2, 1982April 4, 1982Tornadoes and severe weather affect the states (AL, AR, CO, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MI, MN, MO, MS, NE, OH, OK, PA, TN, TX, WI, WV) across the Midwest, Plains and Southeast.$1.6* CI33
Midwest/Southeast/Northeast Winter Storm, Cold Wave
January 1982
Winter StormJanuary 8, 1982January 16, 1982Winter storm and cold wave affect numerous states (AL, AR, CT, DE, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, ND, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, VA, VT, WI, WV) across the Midwest, Southeast and Northeast.$2.2* CI85
Central/Eastern Drought/Heat Wave
Summer-Fall 1980
DroughtJune 1, 1980November 30, 1980Central and eastern U.S. drought/heat wave caused damage to agriculture and other related industries. Combined direct and indirect deaths (i.e., excess mortality) due to heat stress estimated at 10,000.$40.7 CI1,260
Southern Severe Storms and Flooding
April 1980
FloodingApril 10, 1980April 17, 1980Severe storms and flooding affect several states (AR, LA, MS) across the South.$2.8* CI30

โ€ Deaths associated with drought are the result of heat waves. (Not all droughts are accompanied by extreme heat waves.)

Flooding events (river basin or urban flooding from excessive rainfall) are separate from inland flood damage caused by tropical cyclone events.

Citing this information: