U.S. Hit by 16 Billion-Dollar Disasters So Far This Year

news image
Special Stories
9 Oct 2020 2:00 AM

[Written from NOAA and NCEI] From January through the end of September of this year, the U.S. has experienced 16 weather and climate disasters with losses exceeding $1 billion each. Eleven were due to severe storms—which occurred across more than 30 states—and the remaining 5 comprised one wildfire, one drought and three tropical cyclones.

With 16 disasters so far, 2020 has already tied with 2011 and 2017 for the largest number of disasters in a calendar year. This is also a record sixth-consecutive year (2015-2020) where 10 or more billion-dollar disasters have struck the U.S  — the only such occurrence on record.

The recently added six events from the summer months include: Western Wildfires, Western/Central Drought and Heatwave, Hurricane Sally, Hurricane Laura, Central Severe Weather Derecho and Hurricane Isaias.

Since records began in 1980, the U.S. has sustained 279 separate weather and climate disasters where overall damages/costs reached or exceeded $1 billion (based on the CPI adjustment to 2020) per event. The total cost of these 279 events exceeds $1.825 trillion.

Disaster costs over the last five years (2016-2020) exceed a record $550 billion. These costs do not yet include the 2020 Western Wildfires, Drought/Heatwave or Hurricane Sally.

The U.S. has been impacted by slow moving tropical cyclones that produced extreme rainfall and damaging floods for four consecutive years (2017-2020). These storms include: Harvey, Florence, Imelda and Sally.

Edited for WeatherNation by Mace Michaels

All Weather News
More
Wettest Day in 75 Years for Parts of New York City

Wettest Day in 75 Years for Parts of New York City

Significant flash flooding greatly impacted N

30 Sep 2023 9:55 PM
Snow Falling Across the California Mountains

Snow Falling Across the California Mountains

Snow ForecastIt has been about 2 months since

30 Sep 2023 9:50 PM
Two Named Storms in the Atlantic

Two Named Storms in the Atlantic

Tropical storm Rina formed in the Atlantic Oc

30 Sep 2023 9:45 PM
Next Week: Nationwide Test of the Emergency Alert System

Next Week: Nationwide Test of the Emergency Alert System

Happening Wednesday, October 4th at 2:20 PM E

30 Sep 2023 9:40 PM
Get Ready for the Next Solar Eclipse!

Get Ready for the Next Solar Eclipse!

Set a reminder in your phone and calendar! Th

30 Sep 2023 9:35 PM
Emergency Declaration Issued for Louisiana Due to Saltwater Intrusion

Emergency Declaration Issued for Louisiana Due to Saltwater Intrusion

The southern tier of the country has been no

30 Sep 2023 9:30 PM
Slushy Snow in Mount Rainier, Washington

Slushy Snow in Mount Rainier, Washington

An upper-level low is bringing much-needed ra

28 Sep 2023 5:10 PM