Climate Change Toll: Costliest Disasters of 2024

A powerful tornado over the ocean during a dramatic sunset, capturing the storm's intensity and beauty.

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Just like last year, and the year before that, 2024 has been a record year for climate disaster. According to the NOAA, there were 24 weather and climate events with losses exceeding $1 billion in the U.S. in 2024, the second most in recorded history. Losses from major disasters total at least $130 billion, and have resulted in more than 400 deaths.

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While hurricanes tend to rack up the most damage, 2024 also saw tornadoes, hail storms, and wildfires that caused more than $1 billion in damage each. A look at NOAA data reveals the costliest climate disasters of 2024.

To determine the costliest climate disasters of 2024, Climate Crisis 247 reviewed data on billion-dollar weather disasters from the NOAA. Weather and climate disasters that occurred in 2024 were ranked based on total economic damage. The NOAA estimates disaster costs using a variety of public sector data, and considers direct sources of economic loss like physical damage to buildings, business interruptions, and damage to infrastructure. Damage estimates for Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton are from outside sources.

20. Southern Derecho (May 2024)

Estimated damages: $1.6 billion
Estimated mortality: 8 deaths
Dates: May 16, 2024 to May 17, 2024
States affected: AL, FL, GA, LA, TX

19. Central and Southern Tornado Outbreak (April 2024)

Estimated damages: $1.7 billion
Estimated mortality: 3 deaths
Dates: April 26, 2024 to April 28, 2024
States affected: IA, IL, KS, LA, MO, NE, OK, TX

18. New Mexico Wildfires (June 2024)

Estimated damages: $1.7 billion
Estimated mortality: 2 deaths
Dates: June 17, 2024 to July 7, 2024
States affected: NM

17. Central and Northeast Severe Weather (June 2024)

Estimated damages: $1.7 billion
Estimated mortality: 3 deaths
Dates: June 24, 2024 to June 26, 2024
States affected: CT, IA, IL, IN, MD, MI, NE, NJ, NY, OK, PA, SD, TX

16. Northwest Winter Storm (January 2024)

Estimated damages: $1.7 billion
Estimated mortality: 20 deaths
Dates: January 12, 2024 to January 14, 2024
States affected: OR, WA

15. Central, Southern, Northeastern Winter Storm and Cold Wave (January 2024)

Estimated damages: $1.9 billion
Estimated mortality: 41 deaths
Dates: January 14, 2024 to January 18, 2024
States affected: AR, CO, GA, IL, KS, MD, MI, MO, MS, NJ, NY, PA, TN, TX, VA, WI

14. Texas Hail Storms (May 2024)

Estimated damages: $2.3 billion
Estimated mortality: 1 deaths
Dates: May 27, 2024 to May 28, 2024
States affected: TX

13. Central and Eastern Tornado Outbreak and Severe Weather (July 2024)

Estimated damages: $2.4 billion
Estimated mortality: 2 deaths
Dates: July 13, 2024 to July 16, 2024
States affected: GA, IA, IL, IN, MD, MI, MN, MO, MT, NC, NJ, NY, OH, PA, SC, TX, VA, WI

12. Central Tornado Outbreak and Eastern Severe Weather (April 2024)

Estimated damages: $2.5 billion
Estimated mortality: 3 deaths
Dates: April 1, 2024 to April 3, 2024
States affected: FL, GA, IL, IN, KY, MA, MD, MO, NC, NJ, NY, OH, PA, TX, VA, WV

11. Hurricane Debby (August 2024)

Estimated damages: $2.5 billion
Estimated mortality: 10 deaths
Dates: August 5, 2024 to August 9, 2024
States affected: FL, GA, MD, NC, NJ, NY, OH, PA, SC, VA

10. Southern and Eastern Severe Weather (April 2024)

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Estimated damages: $2.7 billion
Estimated mortality: 0 deaths
Dates: April 8, 2024 to April 11, 2024
States affected: AL, CO, FL, GA, IN, LA, MS, NC, NJ, NY, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA

9. Southern Tornado Outbreak and East Coast Storm (January 2024)

Estimated damages: $2.8 billion
Estimated mortality: 3 deaths
Dates: January 8, 2024 to January 10, 2024
States affected: AL, CT, DE, FL, GA, LA, MA, MD, ME, MS, NC, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, VA, VT

8. Colorado Hail Storms and Southern Severe Weather (May 2024)

Estimated damages: $3.0 billion
Estimated mortality: 0 deaths
Dates: May 31, 2024 to June 1, 2024
States affected: CO, TX

7. Central Tornado Outbreak (May 2024)

Estimated damages: $3.4 billion
Estimated mortality: 16 deaths
Dates: May 25, 2024 to May 26, 2024
States affected: AR, IL, KS, KY, MO, OK, TN, TX, VA

6. Central, Southern, Eastern Severe Weather (May 2024)

Estimated damages: $4.9 billion
Estimated mortality: 5 deaths
Dates: May 18, 2024 to May 22, 2024
States affected: AR, CO, IA, IL, KS, KY, LA, MD, MN, MO, NE, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, TN, TX, VA, WI

5. Central and Southern Severe Weather (March 2024)

Estimated damages: $6.1 billion
Estimated mortality: 3 deaths
Dates: March 12, 2024 to March 14, 2024
States affected: AR, IL, IN, KS, KY, MO, OH, OK, TX

4. Central, Southern, Southeastern Tornado Outbreak (May 2024)

Estimated damages: $6.6 billion
Estimated mortality: 3 deaths
Dates: May 6, 2024 to May 9, 2024
States affected: AL, AR, CO, FL, GA, IL, IN, KS, KY, MI, MO, MS, NC, OH, OK, SC, TN, TX, WI

3. Hurricane Beryl (July 2024)

Estimated damages: $7.2 billion
Estimated mortality: 45 deaths
Dates: July 8, 2024 to July 8, 2024
States affected: IL, IN, LA, MI, MO, NY, OH, PA, TX

2. Hurricane Milton (August 2024)

Estimated damages: $20.0 billion
Estimated mortality: 24 deaths
Dates: October 9, 2024 to October 10, 2024
States affected: FL, GA

1. Hurricane Helene (September 2024)

Estimated damages: $53.0 billion
Estimated mortality: 225 deaths
Dates: September 24, 2024 to September 29, 2024
States affected: FL, GA, NC, SC