NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information
Climatology
The charts below capture the total duration of each billion-dollar disaster. Therefore, events that span multiple months are counted in each of the months in which they occur.
Climatology of Weather and Climate Disasters
The charts above show the 45-year history of U.S. 'compound extremes' (e.g., billion dollar disaster events that occur at the same time or in sequence). The physical and socioeconomic impacts of compound extreme events (such as simultaneous heat and drought, wildfires associated with hot and dry conditions, or flooding associated with high precipitation on top of snow or waterlogged ground) can be greater than the sum of the parts (National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Compounding Disasters in Gulf Coast Communities 2020-2021: Impacts, Findings, and Lessons (2024); Multi-Hazard Mitigation Council. Natural Hazard Mitigation Saves (2019); 4th and 5th U.S. National Climate Assessments (2017, 2023)).
Over the last five years (2020-2024), there were just 16 days on average between U.S. billion-dollar disaster events compared to 82 days in the 1980s. Shorter time intervals between disasters can mean less time and resources available to respond, recover and prepare for future events. This increased frequency of events produces cascading impacts that are particularly challenging to vulnerable socioeconomic populations.
The 45-year climatology of U.S. billion-dollar disasters offers a view of risk from extreme events, which are often seasonal in nature. For example, during the spring months (March-May) severe storms including tornadoes, hail and high winds often occur in many Central and Southeast states. Severe convective storms (i.e., tornado, hail and high wind damage) have the highest count of billion-dollar disasters. Billion-dollar severe storm events have caused $37.9 billion in damage on average over the last five years (2020-2024). Below is a new StoryMap describing the impacts of May 2024 severe storm events across the Nation: We May Not Be in Kansas Anymore
During the spring months there is also potential for major river flooding (i.e., deep blue events in chart above). U.S. springtime flooding from snowmelt and/or heavy rainfall is a persistent hazard that affects many towns and agriculture regions within the Missouri and Mississippi River basins, among others. Of note, there were more billion-dollar flood events from 2010-2024 (26) than in the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s combined (19) - all flood events CPI-adjusted to 2024 dollars.
During the fall season, Gulf and Atlantic coast states must be vigilant about hurricane season particularly during August and September (i.e., yellow events in chart above). Hurricanes are the most costly hazard type in our analysis since 1980, with an average cost of $23.0 billion per event. Better understanding the multiple types of hazard risk associated with hurricanes is important if you live near the coast or even hundreds of miles inland. Below is a new StoryMap describing the impacts of hurricanes and how to better understand their risk they present: How data from NOAA can help inform and prepare the public
For example, in 2016-2018, the U.S. was impacted by 6 separate billion-dollar hurricanes (i.e., Matthew, Harvey, Irma, Maria, Florence, Michael) with an inflation-adjusted loss total of $413.5 billion and 3,318 fatalities. As a comparison, the U.S. also experienced a series of active hurricane seasons from 2003-2005 where 9 separate billion-dollar hurricanes (e.g., Charley, Ivan, Katrina, Rita, Wilma, etc.) made landfall, with an inflation-adjusted loss total of $363.3 billion and 2,225 fatalities. The U.S. has been impacted by landfalling category 4 or 5 hurricanes in five of the last six years including Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, Maria, Michael, Laura, Ida and Ian. As another bad trend, the U.S. has been impacted by landfalling category 4 or 5 hurricanes in six of the last eight years (Harvey, Irma, Maria, Michael, Laura, Ida, Ian, Helene), which is the highest frequency on record (AOML,2025).Also, the peak of the Western U.S. wildfire season occurs during the fall months of September, October and November (i.e., orange events in chart above). California, Oregon and Washington are often states that face wildfire risk and related poor air quality for weeks to months. Western wildfire damage during the 2017-2021 period was historic, exceeding $90 billion in 2024 dollars. The multi-year, historic Western drought (2014-2016) and the continual growth of the built environment along the wildland-urban interface likely contributed to the catastrophic wildfires of the 2017-2021. 17 of the 20 largest and most destructive wildfires by the number of buildings destroyed have occurred since the year 2000 (CalFire, 2025).
In recent years there has been an increasing exposure and vulnerability of the U.S. to extreme weather and climate events. To better reflect this we have integrated county and census tract socioeconomic vulnerability and exposure analysis to highlight U.S. counties where extremes may cause disproportionate physical, social and economic impacts on vulnerable populations (National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Compounding Disasters in Gulf Coast Communities 2020-2021: Impacts, Findings, and Lessons (2024); Multi-Hazard Mitigation Council. Natural Hazard Mitigation Saves (2019); 4th and 5th U.S. National Climate Assessments (2017, 2023)). For example, see the new report: Hurricane Ida's Impact On Socially Vulnerable Communities.
In total, each region of the U.S. faces a unique combination of recurring hazards, as billion-dollar disaster events have affected every state since 1980. The two charts above highlight how the frequency of billion-dollar disasters differs across both time and space. The combined historical risk of U.S. severe storms and river flooding events places the spring and summer seasons in the high-risk category for simultaneous extreme weather and climate events.
Citing this information:
- NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) U.S. Billion-Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters (2025). https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/billions/, DOI: 10.25921/stkw-7w73
