Tornado and severe thunderstorm events have made up the largest share and have added seven billion-dollar weather disasters to the list.
(NOAA)
At a Glance
- Fifteen billion-dollar disasters have occurred this year in the U.S. through September.
- This number will likely rise through the end of the year and might set a record.
Two flooding events are also on the list: one in Missouri and Arkansas in late April early May and one in California in February. On the other side of the precipitation spectrum, the ongoing drought in Montana and the Dakotas has already reached more than $2 billion.
Rounding out the list is the severe March freeze in the Southeast that was preceded by unusually warm temperatures, resulting in $1 billion in damage to crops, and the wildfires in the Northwest.
In addition to the economic impact, these 15 events have resulted in the deaths of nearly 300 people.
Through September, 2017 is now tied with 2016 for the second-most billion-dollar disasters in a year, according to NOAA’s database, which dates back to 1980. The year with the highest number of billion-dollar weather disasters is 2011, which had 16.
(NOAA)
If the October California wildfires or Hurricane Nate’s costs reach the $1 billion threshold, 2017 could set a new record for highest number of billion-dollar disasters in a single year. This record could also be set if any additional billion-dollar disasters take place and are confirmed through December.
The increase in billion-dollar disasters is due, in part, to the increase in population and material weather over the last several decades. NCEI notes many population centers exist in vulnerable areas where “building codes are often insufficient in reducing damage from extreme events.” The increasing frequency of some types of extreme weather due to climate change is also a factor, according to the report from NCEI…..more here