Atmospheric Rivers Drive Western U.S. Flood Damages
Special Stories
23 Jan 2020 2:00 AM
[NOAA by Alison Stevens] New research recently published in Science Advances found that atmospheric rivers accounted for 84% of flood damages, or $42.6 billion, across the western United States from 1978-2017. Supported by NOAA's Regional Integrated Sciences and Assessments (RISA) and co-authored by California-Nevada RISA PI Alexander Gershunov, the study analyzed 40 years of data from the National Flood Insurance Program to quantify atmospheric rivers’ economic impacts.
Not only were atmospheric rivers the primary driver across all 11 states, with annual average damages of $1.1 billion, but they also caused over 95% and even exceeded 99% of flood damages in some coastal areas of northern California and the Pacific Northwest.
In addition, the authors used a recently developed atmospheric rivers intensity and duration scale varying from 1 (weak) to 5 (exceptional) to assess how flood damages change with each category. They found that each increase in the atmospheric intensity and duration scale corresponds to a roughly 10-fold increase in flood damages. Flood damages from atmospheric rivers are expected to increase in the face of rising population, increased development, and climate change.
Not only were atmospheric rivers the primary driver across all 11 states, with annual average damages of $1.1 billion, but they also caused over 95% and even exceeded 99% of flood damages in some coastal areas of northern California and the Pacific Northwest.
In addition, the authors used a recently developed atmospheric rivers intensity and duration scale varying from 1 (weak) to 5 (exceptional) to assess how flood damages change with each category. They found that each increase in the atmospheric intensity and duration scale corresponds to a roughly 10-fold increase in flood damages. Flood damages from atmospheric rivers are expected to increase in the face of rising population, increased development, and climate change. All Weather News
More
Hurricane Center Monitoring Florida for Tropical Development
Residents and visitors to the Southeast will
30 Jun 2025 10:00 PM
Barry Makes Landfall, Watching Flossie Next
While the Eastern Pacific has made most of th
30 Jun 2025 9:40 PM
Severe Storms For the East Coast Through Tuesday
Frontal systems have been crossing the northe
30 Jun 2025 9:00 PM
Severe Weather Threat Continues in the Midwest
It has been an active, severe season across t
30 Jun 2025 9:00 PM
Where Rain Could Dampen Holiday Travel Plans
AAA is expecting over 70 million travelers to
30 Jun 2025 3:00 PM
Thunderstorms Possible in the Southeast Overnight
SOUTHEAST - Strong thunderstorms have develop
28 Jun 2025 2:40 AM