Billion Dollar Disasters in 2023: Number Climbs with Intense Spring Severe Weather

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has released updated numbers for the number of disasters in 2023 that have totaled over $1B in damages. The count through the middle of 2023 is now for 12 events, totaling $32.7 billion dollars.

With the previous update at the end of April 2023, there were 7 billion dollar disasters, including a winter storm, flooding event in California and 5 early season severe weather events. The number went from 7 at the end of April to 12 through the end of June, with 5 additional events all falling under the severe weather category.

The difference with the later season severe weather events was that there was a lot lower loss of life in the severe weather events. Still, these disasters claimed the lives of 3 people. NOAA is also waiting to see if insurance claims for 2 additional severe events may total over $1B. They include the: Central Severe Weather (June 15-18 2023) and Colorado Hail Storms and Severe Weather (June 21-22 2023).

Remember, billion dollar disasters ONLY account for the cost of an event, not how widespread it was or if it hit a major population center versus rural area. Use these only as a retrospective not as a disaster planning tool.