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
Saharan Dust, Excessive Heat Impact the Southeast
Hazy skies will be hovering over portions of
13 Jul 2026 12:50 PM
Record Heat Returns To the Northeast, Storms Possible
After several stormy days to end the previous
13 Jul 2026 10:20 AM
Monsoon Moisture Returns to the Southwest, Increasing Storm and Flash Flood Potential
After weeks of hot and mostly dry weather, th
13 Jul 2026 10:10 AM
Historic Heatwave Hits the Northern Rockies
ALL TIME RECORD HIGHS were broken across the
13 Jul 2026 9:40 AM
Flooding Rain, Severe Storms Continue to Track Across the South
Life-threatening flash flooding developed las
13 Jul 2026 1:45 AM
Another Day of Storms for the Plains & Front Range
Several rounds of severe weather have been ro
11 Jul 2026 1:50 AM
Babylon Fire in UT Surpasses 100,000 Acres, CO Fires Continue to Grow
The Aspen Acres fire continues to burn in Sou
10 Jul 2026 1:40 AM