USA BILLION-DOLLAR CLIMATE AND WEATHER DISASTERS

Jan 27, 2005 — The NOAA National Climatic Data Center updated the Web site that lists U.S. billion dollar weather and climate disasters from 1980 to the present. The update includes revised figures for 2003 events and new data for 2004 events. NCDC, located in Asheville, N.C., is the world’s largest reservoir of archived climate and weather data. (Click NOAA image for larger view of billion-dollar weather disasters across the USA from 1980-2004. Click here for high resolution version, which is a large file. Please credit “NOAA.”)

In 2004, the four new events added included are Hurricanes Charley, Frances, Ivan and Jeanne. Combined, these monster storms caused at least 152 deaths and more than $42 billion in damages. The NCDC report is available online, which includes various graphics and links to more extensive reports on each event.

The U.S. has sustained 62 weather-related disasters during the 1980-2004 period in which overall damages and costs reached or exceeded $1 billion at the time of the event. Fifty-three of these disasters occurred since 1988 with total unadjusted damages/costs of nearly $260 billion. Seven events occurred in 1998 alone—the most for any year in the summary period, though other years have recorded higher damage totals. Events are listed beginning with the most recent. (Click NOAA image for larger view of United States billion-dollar climate and weather disasters by state for the period 1980-2004. Click here for high resolution version, which is a large file. Please credit “NOAA.”)

NOAA is dedicated to enhancing economic security and national safety through the prediction and research of weather and climate-related events and providing environmental stewardship of the nation’s coastal and marine resources. NOAA is part of the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Relevant Web Sites
NOAA Billion Dollar U.S. Weather Disasters 1980-2004

NOAA National Climatic Data Center

Media Contact:
John Leslie, NOAA Satellites and Information Service, (301) 457-5005