THE COST OF EXTREME WEATHER
In 2021, there were 20 weather/climate disaster events with losses exceeding $1 billion each to affect the United States. These events included 1 drought event, 2 flooding events, 11 severe storm events, 4 tropical cyclone events, 1 wildfire event, and 1 winter storm event. The total cost from these events of 2021 was $145 billion and is the third most costly year on record, behind 2017 and 2005. Overall, these events resulted in the deaths of 688 people and had significant economic effects on the areas impacted.
2021:
$145
BILLION IN
DAMAGES
EXTREME
EVENTS
20
The distribution of damage from U.S. billion-dollar disaster events from 1980 to 2021 is dominated by tropical cyclone losses. Tropical cyclones have caused the most damage ($1.15 trillion, CPI-adjusted) and also have the highest average event cost ($20.5 billion per event, CPI-adjusted). Severe storms have caused the highest number of billion-dollar disaster events (143), while the average event cost is the lowest ($2.3 billion, CPI-adjusted). Tropical cyclones are responsible for the highest number of deaths (6,697), followed by drought/heatwave events (4,139) and severe storms (1,880).
Number of billion-dollar disaster events, by year:
1980-2021 HIGH-COST DISASTERS
NOTE: Data includes events with less than $1 billion in damage at the time of the event, but after adjusting for Consumer Price Index (inflation), now exceed $1 billion in damages.
DROUGHT
FLOODING
FREEZE
CYCLONE
SEVERE STORM
WILDFIRE
WINTER STORM
DROUGHT
FLOODING
FREEZE
SEVERE STORM
WILDFIRE
DROUGHT
DAMAGE COSTS
DROUGHT
FATALITIES
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$285
BILLION
TOTAL
($9.8 BILLION
EACH EVENT)
29
EVENTS
4,139
DEATHS
29
EVENTS
BILLION
TOTAL
624
DEATHS
($4.7 BILLION
EACH EVENT)
35
EVENTS
35
EVENTS
BILLION
TOTAL
162
DEATHS
($3.6
BILLION
EACH EVENT)
9
EVENTS
9
EVENTS
TRILLION
TOTAL
6,697
DEATHS
($20.5
BILLION
EACH EVENT)
56
EVENTS
56
EVENTS
BILLION
TOTAL
DEATHS
($2.3 BILLION
EACH EVENT)
EVENTS
143
EVENTS
BILLION
TOTAL
DEATHS
($6.3 BILLION
EACH EVENT)
19
EVENTS
19
EVENTS
$79
BILLION
TOTAL
1,277
DEATHS
($4.1 BILLION
EACH EVENT)
19
EVENTS
19
EVENTS
CYCLONE
DROUGHT
FLOODING
FREEZE
CYCLONE
SEVERE STORM
WILDFIRE
WINTER STORM
DROUGHT
FLOODING
FREEZE
SEVERE STORM
CYCLONE
WILDFIRE
DROUGHT
FLOODING
FREEZE
CYCLONE
SEVERE STORM
WILDFIRE
WINTER STORM
DROUGHT
FLOODING
FREEZE
SEVERE STORM
CYCLONE
WILDFIRE
DROUGHT
FLOODING
FREEZE
CYCLONE
SEVERE STORM
WILDFIRE
WINTER STORM
DROUGHT
FLOODING
FREEZE
SEVERE STORM
CYCLONE
WILDFIRE
WINTER STORM
DROUGHT
FLOODING
FREEZE
CYCLONE
SEVERE STORM
WILDFIRE
WINTER STORM
DROUGHT
FLOODING
FREEZE
SEVERE STORM
CYCLONE
WILDFIRE
WINTER STORM
DROUGHT
FLOODING
FREEZE
CYCLONE
SEVERE STORM
WILDFIRE
WINTER STORM
DROUGHT
FLOODING
FREEZE
SEVERE STORM
CYCLONE
WILDFIRE
WINTER STORM
DROUGHT
FLOODING
FREEZE
CYCLONE
SEVERE STORM
WILDFIRE
WINTER STORM
DROUGHT
FLOODING
FREEZE
SEVERE STORM
CYCLONE
WILDFIRE
WINTER STORM
WINTER STORM
WINTER STORM
WINTER STORM
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Total costs: $2.16 trillion
$164
$33
$1.15
143
1,880
$331
401
$120
FLOODING
DAMAGE COSTS
FLOODING
FATALITIES
FREEZE
DAMAGE COSTS
FREEZE
FATALITIES
CYCLONE
DAMAGE COSTS
CYCLONE
FATALITIES
SEVERE STORM
DAMAGE COSTS
SEVERE STORM
FATALITIES
WILDFIRE
DAMAGE COSTS
WILDFIRE
FATALITIES
WINTER STORM
DAMAGE COSTS
WINTER STORM
FATALITIES
Billion-dollar weather and climate disasters
MOST EXTREME WEATHER OF 2021
CYCLONE
FLOODING
DROUGHT
WINTER STORM
WILDFIRE
SEVERE STORM
DROUGHT
SEVERE STORM
NOTE: The map reflects a summation of billion-dollar events for each state affected (i.e., it does not mean that each state shown suffered at least $1 billion in losses for each event).
Southeast, Central Tornado Outbreak: December 2021 - Volunteers in Mayfield, Ky. salvage possessions from a destroyed home in the aftermath of tornadoes.
AP Photo/Gerald Herbert
1980-2021 COSTS & FATALITIES
DROUGHT
SEVERE STORM
CYCLONE
FLOODING
WINTER STORM
WILDFIRE
CYCLONE
FLOODING
WINTER STORM
WILDFIRE
Southeast, Central Tornado Outbreak: December 2021 - Cars drive past destroyed homes in Mayfield, Ky. This tornado track length was a U.S. record for the month of December.
AP Photo/Gerald Herbert
Western Drought and Heat Wave: All year 2021 - Western drought and low water levels forced the hydroelectric power plant at Lake Oroville in California to shut down for the first time since it opened in 1967.
AP Photo/Ethan Swope
Western Wildfires: Summer-Winter, 2021 - California's Dixie Fire consumed over 960,000 acres making it the second-largest wildfire on record in California.
AP Photo/Noah Berger
Western Wildfires: Summer-Winter, 2021 - More than 1,000 structures were destroyed by the Dixie Fire in California.
AP Photo/Noah Berger
Western Wildfires: Summer-Winter, 2021 - The Marshall Fire in Boulder County, Colorado damaged or destroyed more than 1,000 homes and businesses.
AP Photo/David Zalubowski
Western Wildfires: Summer-Winter, 2021 - A neighborhood of Boulder County was destroyed by a wildfire. This wildfire is the most destructive on record in Colorado.
Hart Van Denburg/Colorado Public Radio
Western Wildfires: Summer-Winter, 2021 - Residents sifts through the remains of homes destroyed by wildfires in Superior, Colo. Over 7.1 million acres burned nationally during the 2021 wildfire season.
AP Photo/David Zalubowski
Hurricane Ida: August, 2021 - Homes are flooded in the aftermath of category 4 Hurricane Ida that made landfall in Louisiana with maximum sustained winds of 150 mph.
AP Photo/David J. Phillip
Hurricane Ida: August, 2021 - Heavy damage to the energy infrastructure across southern Louisiana caused widespread, long duration power outages. Electrical workers bunk down for the night in a tent city in Amelia, La.
AP Photo/Gerald Herbert
Hurricanes Ida and Nicholas made landfall in August and September. Tropical storms Elsa and Fred made landfall in July and August.
Total costs: $78.5 billion
Deaths: 104
In February, historic cold wave and winter storm impacts many northwest, central and eastern states
Total costs: $24.0 billion
Deaths: 226
The wildfire season began in June and continued the rest of the year. The Dixie Fire was the second-largest on record in California. The Marshall Fire was the most destructive on record in Colorado.
Total costs: $10.64 billion
Deaths: 8
11 Severe storm events occurred in March through December, including a historic December tornado outbreak across several southeast and central states
Total costs: $20.4 billion
Deaths: 114
Western drought conditions were persistent throughout the year. A historic heat wave also developed for many days across the Pacific Northwest.
Total costs: $8.9 billion
Deaths: 229
May thunderstorms across Louisiana and Texas caused widespread flooding. January rains caused flooding and mudslides in California.
Total costs: $2.6 billion
Deaths: 7
Hurricane Ida: August, 2021 - Flash flood emergencies were declared in New Jersey and New York. Floods caused damage to homes, businesses, vehicles and infrastructure while also causing dozens of fatalities.
AP Photo/Craig Ruttle
Northwest, Central, Eastern Winter Storm and Cold Wave: February 2021 - Prolonged arctic air brought a coating of ice and widespread power outages in Texas, as well as other southern states.
AP Photo/LM Otero
4,139
DEATHS
($9.8 BILLION
EACH EVENT)
$285
BILLION
TOTAL
$164
($4.7 BILLION
EACH EVENT)
BILLION
TOTAL
624
DEATHS
35
EVENTS
35
EVENTS
$33
($3.3
BILLION
EACH EVENT)
BILLION
TOTAL
162
DEATHS
9
EVENTS
9
EVENTS
$1.15
($20.5
BILLION
EACH EVENT)
TRILLION
TOTAL
6,697
DEATHS
56
EVENTS
56
EVENTS
$331
($2.3 BILLION
EACH EVENT)
BILLION
TOTAL
1,880
DEATHS
143
EVENTS
143
EVENTS
$120
($6.3 BILLION
EACH EVENT)
BILLION
TOTAL
401
DEATHS
19
EVENTS
19
EVENTS
$79
($4.1 BILLION
EACH EVENT)
BILLION
TOTAL
1,277
DEATHS
19
EVENTS
19
EVENTS
SOURCES: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) U.S. Billion-Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters; NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, State of the Climate; Associated Press
NOTE: Data includes events with less than $1 billion in damage at the time of the event, but after adjusting for Consumer Price Index (inflation), now exceed $1 billion in damages.