2025 Was One of the Worst For Natural Disasters in US History

By Sam Stebbins  •  January 12, 2026
Eerie bare trees in a serene flooded forest, creating a mysterious landscape.
Photo by Ian Turnell on Pexels

As data for the final days of last year trickles in from around the country and around the world, it is increasingly clear that 2025 now stands as yet another significant milestone in the ongoing era of climate change. From South Korea to the United Kingdom, many countries reported record-high, or near-record high, average temperatures throughout the year. Additionally, weather- and climate-related natural disasters caused billions of dollars in damage globally last year. These events include Hurricane Melissa in the Caribbean and flash floods in Southeast Asia – but the brunt of the destruction caused by natural disasters in 2025 was inflicted on the United States. 

According to the Zurich-based reinsurance company, Swiss Re, 83% of the value of all insured losses from natural disasters in 2025 were in the United States. A more exhaustive analysis of major natural disasters in the U.S. last year, conducted by the independent research organization Climate Central, identified 23 natural disasters in the U.S. that caused at least $1 billion in damage. Cumulatively, these events cost an estimated $115 billion and resulted in 276 deaths. 

These events included a drought that impacted over a dozen states west of the Mississippi River, and 21 severe storms, marked by hail, high winds, and tornadoes. The most destructive of last year’s major natural disaster events, however, were the Los Angeles Wildfires. Starting on January 7, the Eaton and Palisades Fires consumed nearly 37,500 acres in LA County and resulted in 31 deaths before they were contained by the end of the month. According to Climate Central, the LA Wildfires caused $61.2 billion in damage, more than any other wildfire in U.S. history. 

Notably, 2025 was the first year in over a decade when the U.S. was not impacted by a major hurricane. Still, largely due to the LA Wildfires, 2025 will go down as one of the worst years for natural disasters in the U.S. in recent memory.

Using data from Climate Central’s Billion-Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters program, Climate Crisis 247 identified the worst years for major natural disasters in the United States. For each year between 1980 and 2025, we reviewed the number of natural disasters resulting in at least $1 billion in damage, and ranked each year on the total estimated cost of those disasters, adjusted for inflation. Of the 46 years considered, we listed the 10 in which natural disasters caused the most destruction in the United States. 

As the planet warms, certain natural disasters, including hurricanes, severe storms, droughts, and wildfires, are occurring with greater frequency and intensity – and as the pace of warming accelerates, major natural disasters have become more of a regular occurrence in the United States. Of the 10 years that rank on this list, all but three were in the last decade, including 2025. 

10. 2011

  • Cumulative cost of major natural disasters: $100.6 billion
  • Cumulative death toll from major natural disasters: 765
  • Total number of major natural disasters: 18 (1 drought, 10 severe storms, 1 wildfire event, 2 hurricanes, 2 flood events, 2 winter storms)
  • Most costly natural disaster: Hurricane Irene, Aug. 26, 2011 – Aug. 28, 2011
  • Consequences of Hurricane Irene: 45 deaths, $19.3 billion in damage (30th costliest natural disaster since 1980)

9. 2025

  • Cumulative cost of major natural disasters: $115.0 billion
  • Cumulative death toll from major natural disasters: 276
  • Total number of major natural disasters: 23 (1 drought, 21 severe storms, 1 wildfire event)
  • Most costly natural disaster: Los Angeles Wildfires, Jan. 7, 2025 – Jan. 28, 2025
  • Consequences of Los Angeles Wildfires: 31 deaths, $61.2 billion in damage (10th costliest natural disaster since 1980)

8. 2018

  • Cumulative cost of major natural disasters: $119.2 billion
  • Cumulative death toll from major natural disasters: 247
  • Total number of major natural disasters: 16 (1 drought, 10 severe storms, 1 wildfire event, 2 hurricanes, 2 winter storms)
  • Most costly natural disaster: Hurricane Michael, Oct. 10, 2018 – Oct. 11, 2018
  • Consequences of Hurricane Michael: 49 deaths, $32.0 billion in damage (18th costliest natural disaster since 1980)
aerial photo of wild fire
Photo by Marc Szeglat on Unsplash

7. 2020

  • Cumulative cost of major natural disasters: $124.3 billion
  • Cumulative death toll from major natural disasters: 262
  • Total number of major natural disasters: 22 (1 drought, 13 severe storms, 1 wildfire event, 7 hurricanes)
  • Most costly natural disaster: Hurricane Laura, Aug. 27, 2020 – Aug. 28, 2020
  • Consequences of Hurricane Laura: 42 deaths, $29.0 billion in damage (23rd costliest natural disaster since 1980)

6. 2012

  • Cumulative cost of major natural disasters: $163.3 billion
  • Cumulative death toll from major natural disasters: 377
  • Total number of major natural disasters: 11 (1 drought, 7 severe storms, 1 wildfire event, 2 hurricanes)
  • Most costly natural disaster: Hurricane Sandy, Oct. 30, 2012 – Oct. 31, 2012
  • Consequences of Hurricane Sandy: 159 deaths, $91.1 billion in damage (5th costliest natural disaster since 1980)

5. 2021

  • Cumulative cost of major natural disasters: $168.5 billion
  • Cumulative death toll from major natural disasters: 724
  • Total number of major natural disasters: 20 (1 drought, 11 severe storms, 1 wildfire event, 4 hurricanes, 2 flood events, 1 winter storm)
  • Most costly natural disaster: Hurricane Ida, Aug. 29, 2021 – Sep. 1, 2021
  • Consequences of Hurricane Ida: 96 deaths, $86.8 billion in damage (6th costliest natural disaster since 1980)

4. 2022

  • Cumulative cost of major natural disasters: $187.6 billion
  • Cumulative death toll from major natural disasters: 474
  • Total number of major natural disasters: 18 (1 drought, 11 severe storms, 1 wildfire event, 3 hurricanes, 1 flood event, 1 winter storm)
  • Most costly natural disaster: Hurricane Ian, Sep. 28, 2022 – Sep. 30, 2022
  • Consequences of Hurricane Ian: 152 deaths, $121.9 billion in damage (3rd costliest natural disaster since 1980)

3. 2024

  • Cumulative cost of major natural disasters: $187.9 billion
  • Cumulative death toll from major natural disasters: 568
  • Total number of major natural disasters: 27 (1 drought, 17 severe storms, 1 wildfire event, 5 hurricanes, 1 flood event, 2 winter storms)
  • Most costly natural disaster: Hurricane Helene, Sep. 24, 2024 – Sep. 29, 2024
  • Consequences of Hurricane Helene: 219 deaths, $81.1 billion in damage (7th costliest natural disaster since 1980)

2. 2005

  • Cumulative cost of major natural disasters: $275.5 billion
  • Cumulative death toll from major natural disasters: 2,002
  • Total number of major natural disasters: 6 (1 drought, 1 severe storm, 4 hurricanes)
  • Most costly natural disaster: Hurricane Katrina, Aug. 25, 2005 – Aug. 30, 2005
  • Consequences of Hurricane Katrina: 1,833 deaths, $206.3 billion in damage (the costliest natural disaster since 1980)

1. 2017

  • Cumulative cost of major natural disasters: $405.2 billion
  • Cumulative death toll from major natural disasters: 6,367
  • Total number of major natural disasters: 19 (1 drought, 11 severe storms, 1 wildfire event, 3 hurricanes, 2 flood events, 1 freeze event)
  • Most costly natural disaster: Hurricane Harvey, Aug. 25, 2017 – Aug. 31, 2017
  • Consequences of Hurricane Harvey: 89 deaths, $163.8 billion in damage (2nd costliest natural disaster since 1980)

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