logo
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
Windy & Severe Storms Hit the Northeast Saturday
Windy & Severe Storms Hit the Northeast Saturday
A potent area of low pressure that produced n
1 Apr 2023 7:15 PM
Storms Develop in Texas & Oklahoma Once Again Sunday
Storms Develop in Texas & Oklahoma Once Again Sunday
We are deep into the Spring severe weather se
1 Apr 2023 6:30 PM
Numerous Violent Tornadoes Rip Across the Midwest and South
Numerous Violent Tornadoes Rip Across the Midwest and South
A rare "high risk" severe weather event unfol
1 Apr 2023 5:00 PM
Saturday Features a Few Storms in the Southeast
Saturday Features a Few Storms in the Southeast
The same front that brought widespread storms
1 Apr 2023 4:50 PM
Looking Ahead: Yet Another Coast to Coast Storm First Week of April
Looking Ahead: Yet Another Coast to Coast Storm First Week of April
Yet another coast-to-coast storm is expected
1 Apr 2023 4:10 PM
Blizzard Conditions End As Snow Tapers in the Midwest
Blizzard Conditions End As Snow Tapers in the Midwest
The same system that produced severe weather
1 Apr 2023 4:05 PM
High Fire Danger This Weekend
High Fire Danger This Weekend
Strong winds and dry air have combined once a
1 Apr 2023 3:55 PM