Billion Dollar Disasters: 19 So Far in 2024

Scorching heat, devastating wildfires, and escalating tropical activity pushed the U.S. to the extreme in the month of July. According to experts from NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information, there were four new billion-dollar disasters confirmed for the month, putting the U.S. at 19 for the year. That is second only to 2023 for the most through the first 7 months of the year.

The four new events included a severe weather outbreak in the southern U.S. in mid-May, western wildfires in New Mexico, late June severe weather in the northeast, and Hurricane Beryl. Hurricane Beryl made landfall near Matagorda, Texas on July 8, causing significant damage, numerous power outages, and eight fatalities.

Of the 19 $B weather and climate disasters this year, 15 have been severe storm events, two wildfire events, one tropical cyclone, and one winter storm. These disasters consisted of 15 severe storm events, one tropical cyclone event, one wildfire event, and two winter storms. In total, the cost of these events will exceed $49.6 billion dollars in damage. 149 fatalities are attributed to these disasters.

According to NCEI:

"The U.S. has sustained 395 separate weather and climate disasters since 1980 where overall damages/costs reached or exceeded $1 billion (including CPI adjustment to 2024). The total cost of these 395 events exceeds $2.770 trillion."

Here is a look at a few of the major events and impacts from the month of July 2024 (from NCEI July Climate Report):

• The average temperature of the contiguous U.S. in July was 75.7°F, 2.1°F above average, ranking 11th warmest in the 130-year record.

• The Park Fire is the fourth-largest wildfire in California history as of August 6; beginning on July 24, it burned approximately 401,000 acres and destroyed over 560 structures. 

• On July 15, a derecho that spawned 32 tornadoes broke the Chicago area record for most tornadoes in a day. 

• On July 1, Beryl became the earliest Category 5 hurricane and the second Category 5 on record during the month of July in the Atlantic Ocean.

• Alaska had its wettest July on record.

• On July 2–3, the Thompson Fire caused over 13,000 people to evacuate around Oroville, California.

• The Shreveport NWS issued 67 tornado warnings, the most in a single day on July 8 for this office, due to the remnants of Hurricane Beryl.

• On July 17, Washington D.C. hit 101ºF, tying a record for the longest streak of temperatures above 100ºF with four consecutive days.

• An early July heat wave brought all-time record-breaking temperatures to portions of the West during July:

  • Palm Springs, California: 124ºF on July 5

  • Las Vegas, Nevada: 120ºF on July 7

  • Redding, California: 119ºF on July 6

  • Barstow, California: 118ºF on July 7 and 8

  • Palmdale, California: 115ºF on July 6