Here's Which Type of Billion-Dollar Weather Disaster Has Occurred Most Frequently in Each State Since 1980

Billion-dollar weather and climate disasters, such as those from severe thunderstorms, wildfires and tropical cyclones, have affected every U.S. state since 1980, and a new tool developed by NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) shows us how often each type of disaster has occurred in each state over the last 40 years.

In the map above, each color represents the disaster that occurred most frequently in a given state between 1980 and March 2020, and the numbers denote how many times that particular disaster occurred in the last 40 years.

States shaded in red have the highest frequency of billion-dollar disasters from severe thunderstorms, including tornadoes, large hail and damaging winds. This includes most states from the High Plains to the East Coast. Texas has the most severe thunderstorm disasters, with 65.

The orange-shaded states in the West, including Alaska, have the highest frequency of billion-dollar disasters from wildfires. California tops this list with 15 wildfire disasters since 1980.

The blue shadings across New England, as well as in Delaware, represent the highest frequency of billion-dollar disasters from winter storms. Connecticut has more winter-storm disasters than any other state – 14.

Two states are shaded in purple, Florida and Hawaii. It probably comes as no surprise that tropical cyclones are the most frequent billion-dollar disaster there. Florida had 22 such disasters in the last 40 years.

(MORE: Atlantic Hurricane Season Has Started Early 5 Straight Years)

North Dakota, South Dakota and New Mexico, shaded in brown, have been plagued by billion-dollar drought disasters more often than any other weather and climate disaster. New Mexico leads the way with 13 billion-dollar droughts.

United States weather and climate events that have significant economic and societal impacts are tracked by NCEI, which provides quarterly summaries of these events.

From 1980 through March 2020, 265 weather and climate disasters have tallied overall damage costs that reached or exceeded $1 billion, including adjustments for inflation. Combined, the price tag for these 265 events exceeds $1.7 trillion.

This 40-year climatology of U.S. billion-dollar disasters compiled by NCEI provides a more detailed analysis of these extreme weather and climate events, which are often seasonal in nature.

For example, from spring through early summer, severe thunderstorms – including tornadoes, large hail and damaging winds – typically occur in the U.S. While not limited to any particular region, severe storms usually occur in the Plains, Midwest and Southeast this time of year.

(MORE: The U.S. Is Having One of Its Deadliest Tornado Years in a Decade)

During the fall, states along the Gulf and Atlantic coasts monitor hurricane season, particularly during the peak of the season in August and September. Hurricanes are the most destructive and costly billion-dollar disasters, totaling damage near $1 trillion since 1980, according to NCEI.

Also during the fall months of September through November, wildfire season peaks in the West. This is especially true in California, Oregon and Washington. The wildfire risk in the West has become more hazardous in the 21st century, as 15 of the 20 largest California wildfires (in acres burned) and 15 of the 20 most destructive wildfires (in buildings destroyed) have occurred since 2000.

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