2023 U.S. Billion-Dollar Disasters
EventAbout
In 2023, the United States experienced a record-breaking 28 billion-dollar weather and climate disasters, surpassing the previous record of 22 events in 2020. These disasters included a diverse range of severe weather events such as 17 severe storms, four flooding events, two tornado outbreaks, one winter storm, one wildfire, and one drought and heat wave event. The total cost of these disasters was over $92.9 billion, although this figure may rise as additional costs are reported. Notable events included the Maui wildfires and Hurricane Idalia, which struck Florida's Gulf Coast. The year 2023 was marked by extreme climate conditions, with severe storms causing widespread damage across many states. The Southern and Midwestern drought and heat wave were particularly costly, totaling $14.5 billion. The year also saw a historic number of tornadoes, with over 1,200 reported. The increased frequency and severity of these events highlight the growing impact of climate change on the U.S., contributing to a cumulative cost exceeding $2.66 trillion for all billion-dollar disasters since 1980.
