From Hurricanes to Extreme Heat, Deadliest Weather Conditions in the United States

A powerful tornado and vibrant lightning striking over a rural countryside landscape.

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In recent decades, the deadliest weather events in the United States have been hurricanes. In 2017, Hurricane Maria resulted in thousands of fatalities in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, both directly and indirectly. Just over a decade earlier, Hurricane Katrina killed over 1,000 people in New Orleans and other population centers along the Gulf coast. The threat posed by major hurricanes stems not only from gale-force winds, but also from flooding caused by coastal storm surges and torrential rain.

Historically, however, major hurricanes tend to only hit once every few years, or even decades – and while their impact can be devastating, other weather conditions pose a far greater statistical threat to human life every year in the United States.

Using data from the National Weather Service, Climate Crisis 247 identified the deadliest natural hazards in the United States. We ranked all nine natural hazard categories classified by the NWS on the number of Americans killed over the 20 year period from 2005 through 2024. Deaths attributed to hurricanes on this list are only those that resulted from high winds. Hurricane deaths linked to resulting floods or tornadoes were classified under the corresponding event type.

The cumulative number of deaths attributed to the nine natural hazards on this list over the last 20 years ranges from 519 to over 3,600, accounting for anywhere from 4% to 28% of all weather related fatalities in the U.S. over that period.

9. Lightning

Total lightning fatalities in last 20 years: 519 (4.0% of all weather-related fatalities)
Avg. annual lightning fatalities, 2005-2024: 26.0 deaths per year
Worst year for lightning fatalities since 2005: 2006 (48 deaths)

8. Winter Storms

Total winter storm fatalities in last 20 years: 555 (4.3% of all weather-related fatalities)
Avg. annual winter storm fatalities, 2005-2024: 27.8 deaths per year
Worst year for winter storm fatalities since 2005: 2022 (66 deaths)

7. Cold

Total cold fatalities in last 20 years: 668 (5.2% of all weather-related fatalities)
Avg. annual cold fatalities, 2005-2024: 33.4 deaths per year
Worst year for cold fatalities since 2005: 2021 (106 deaths)

6. Wind

Total wind fatalities in last 20 years: 1,099 (8.5% of all weather-related fatalities)
Avg. annual wind fatalities, 2005-2024: 55.0 deaths per year
Worst year for wind fatalities since 2005: 2012 (104 deaths)

5. Rip Currents

Total rip current fatalities in last 20 years: 1,262 (9.8% of all weather-related fatalities)
Avg. annual rip current fatalities, 2005-2024: 63.1 deaths per year
Worst year for rip current fatalities since 2005: 2021 (111 deaths)

4. Hurricanes

Total hurricane fatalities in last 20 years: 1,313 (10.2% of all weather-related fatalities)
Avg. annual hurricane fatalities, 2005-2024: 65.7 deaths per year
Worst year for hurricane fatalities since 2005: 2005 (1,016 deaths)

3. Tornadoes

Total tornado fatalities in last 20 years: 1,584 (12.3% of all weather-related fatalities)
Avg. annual tornado fatalities, 2005-2024: 79.2 deaths per year
Worst year for tornado fatalities since 2005: 2011 (553 deaths)

2. Flooding

Total flood fatalities in last 20 years: 1,843 (14.3% of all weather-related fatalities)
Avg. annual flood fatalities, 2005-2024: 92.2 deaths per year
Worst year for flood fatalities since 2005: 2015 (187 deaths)

1. Heat

Total heat fatalities in last 20 years: 3,625 (28.1% of all weather-related fatalities)
Avg. annual heat fatalities, 2005-2024: 181.3 deaths per year
Worst year for heat fatalities since 2005: 2023 (555 deaths)

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