A Record Year for Billion-Dollar Catastrophes

The United States is confronting an unprecedented wave of billion-dollar weather and climate disasters in 2023, setting a new record, according to data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Even with several months remaining in the year, this highlights the increasing frequency and severity of extreme events taking a toll on the nation.

NOAA’s recent announcement revealed that a total of 23 separate billion-dollar disasters have been confirmed in the U.S. this year alone, marking the highest number of such events recorded in a single calendar year. This surpasses the previous record of 22 events documented in 2020. The financial toll of these disasters is staggering, with damages reaching over $57.6 billion (adjusted for inflation using the Consumer Price Index).

The consequences of these disasters extend beyond monetary losses, as they have caused a total of 253 direct and indirect fatalities. Furthermore, there are additional potential billion-dollar events still under review, including the impact of Tropical Storm Hilary on southern California and the ongoing Southern/Midwestern drought.

Since 1980, when NOAA began tracking billion-dollar weather and climate disasters, the U.S. has experienced a total of 371 separate events that reached or exceeded the $1 billion threshold in damages (adjusted for inflation to 2023). The cumulative cost of these 371 events surpasses a staggering $2.615 trillion.

In terms of climatic anomalies, the average temperature for August across the contiguous U.S. was 74.4 degrees Fahrenheit, which was 2.3 degrees above the historical average. Several states, including Florida, Louisiana, and Mississippi, experienced their hottest Augusts on record.

In contrast to temperature, the average precipitation for August in the contiguous U.S. was 2.74 inches, slightly above the historical average. California and Nevada saw their second-wettest August on record; Louisiana, however, experienced its driest August on record.

Analyzing the meteorological summer from June 1 through August 31, the contiguous U.S. recorded an average temperature of 73.0 degrees Fahrenheit, which was 1.6 degrees above the historical average. Louisiana experienced its warmest summer on record, while Texas and Florida saw their second-warmest summers.

When it comes to summer precipitation, the contiguous U.S. recorded a total of 8.35 inches, just slightly above the historical average. However, regional variations were significant. New Mexico and Louisiana each ranked as the third driest states. Conversely, states like New Hampshire, Vermont, and Wyoming experienced their wettest summers on record.

Looking at the year-to-date statistics for the first eight months of 2023, the average U.S. temperature was 55.6 degrees Fahrenheit, which was 1.8 degrees above the 20th-century average. This marked the 13th-warmest year-to-date in the climate record. Florida, Louisiana, and Mississippi recorded their warmest year-to-date temperatures. Additionally, the U.S. Drought Monitor reported that approximately 34.3% of the contiguous U.S. was in drought conditions, reflecting a 6.2% increase from the beginning of August.