America’s $1 Billion Climate Disasters

For decades, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s billion-dollar disaster dataset tracked America’s most destructive storms and other environmental events, including wildfires. Last May, the Trump Administration ended the program and took the dataset offline. The non-profit Climate Central has since taken over operations.

Adam Smith, who previously worked at NOAA, now leads the project. He told ABC News, “The billion-dollar disaster analysis is vital in demonstrating the economic impact of extreme weather and climate events, which helps communities understand the real-world consequences of climate change and the increasing impact of these different events.” Smith had to recreate partnerships and gather the datasets previously used by NOAA. Climate Central now calls it the “U.S. Billion-Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters.”

The database dates back to 1980, with all dollar amounts adjusted for inflation. From 1980 to the present, there have been 417 weather and environmental events costing over $1 billion each, totaling $3.1 trillion. The data include a broad array of costs: insured and uninsured losses, damage to crops and livestock, vehicles, public assets such as bridges and roads, infrastructure destruction, and supply chain interruptions.

From the start of 2025 through June, there have been 14 events costing $1 billion or more, with a total price tag of $104.1 billion. These events caused 174 deaths.

The most expensive event by far was the Los Angeles Wildfires, which burned from January 7 to January 28 with a price tag of $61.2 billion. The event comprised 14 wildfires, the largest being the Palisades and Eaton Fires. According to National Geographic, “Nearly 60 square miles burned and 100,000 people were displaced.” The fires spread quickly due to two factors, one related to climate change: drought had dried up much of the undergrowth and some trees in the region, with much of the Western drought caused by climate change. The second factor was wind, which peaked at nearly 100 mph.

Based on the data and trends over the years the database has been maintained, there is every reason to expect the price tag of these disasters will continue to rise in most years.

2025 Billion-Dollar Disasters (January–June):

• Los Angeles Wildfires (Jan 7–28, 2025) – $61.2B: The LA region was devastated by a series of wildfires, most notably the Palisades and Eaton Fires.

• Southeastern Severe Storms (Feb 15–16, 2025) – $1.6B: A storm system moved through Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, and Kentucky, producing EF-2 tornadoes.

• Southern Severe Storms (Mar 3–5, 2025) – $1.4B: The storm system triggered over 30 tornadoes and widespread winds and hail, with destructive straight-line winds in Dallas–Fort Worth.

• Texas Hail Storms and Flooding (Mar 25–28, 2025) – $1.2B: Severe hail in North Texas (Dallas–Fort Worth) was followed by extreme rainfall and flooding in South Texas.

• North Central Tornado Outbreak (Mar 29–31, 2025) – $1.9B: Over 55 tornadoes, widespread winds, and hail across North Central states.

• Central Tornado Outbreak (Mar 14–16, 2025) – $10.6B: Major outbreak with over 182 possible tornadoes, including two EF-4s in Arkansas.

• Central Tornado Outbreak and Flooding (Apr 1–7, 2025) – $4.3B: Flooding and over 150 tornadoes, including multiple EF-3s across the mid-Mississippi and Ohio Valleys.

• North Central Tornado Outbreak and Severe Storms (Apr 17–20, 2025) – $2.4B: At least 69 tornadoes, including an EF-3 near Omaha, Nebraska.

• Eastern Severe Storms (May 1–3, 2025) – $1.9B: Severe weather with large hail and heavy winds from Texas to Massachusetts.

• North Central and Eastern Tornado Outbreak and Severe Storms (May 15–17, 2025) – $5.9B: Major outbreak with approximately 60 tornadoes, including an EF-4 in Kentucky and an EF-3 near St. Louis.

• Central and Southeastern Tornado Outbreak and Severe Storms (May 18–20, 2025) – $2.6B: Tornado outbreak with EF-3s in Kansas and widespread hail and winds in the Tennessee Valley.

• Southern Severe Storms (May 22–26, 2025) – $2.4B: Damaging hail and high winds across Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Mississippi.

• Southeastern and Central Severe Storms (Jun 5–7, 2025) – $2.4B: Outbreak with tornadoes in Texas and Oklahoma and wind damage in the South Carolina area.

• North Central and Northeast Severe Storms (Jun 15–19, 2025) – $2.8B: Multi-day event with high winds, hail, and isolated tornadoes; over 1,400 damage reports.