States With the Most Weather Related Deaths Over 5 years

Extreme weather causes tens of billions of dollars of damage each year in the United States. From wildfires and drought to hurricanes and flooding, severe weather also poses a major public health threat. According to the National Weather Service, 3,883 Americans were killed in severe weather events between 2020 and 2024, more than the number of U.S. troops killed in combat during the nearly decade-long Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Currently, 2005 stands as the deadliest year on record for severe weather in the United States. Largely due to the devastation wrought by Hurricane Katrina, there were 1,451 weather-related fatalities in 2005, well above the annual average of about 650. But while major weather events like Hurricane Katrina stand out as singularly devastating, extreme heat is the leading weather-related killer in the United States. Heat has been linked to 4,158 deaths nationwide in the 20th century, more than double the number of fatalities attributed to hurricanes or tornadoes. 

Of course, the likelihood of potentially life-threatening weather events is directly influenced by geography. Extreme cold, for example, is less of a concern in south Florida than it is in Upstate New York, just as hurricanes pose a far greater threat to the Gulf region than they do in the Upper Midwest. As a result, not all Americans are exposed to the same level of risk from severe weather events. 

Using historical data from the NWS, Climate Crisis 247 identified the states with the most fatalities linked to severe weather. We ranked all states in the Continental U.S. on the total number of weather-related deaths over the five-year period from 2020 to 2024. All supplemental data is from the NWS and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Due to unavailable data, fatalities linked to cold weather do not include totals for the year 2022. 

Among the 10 states on this list, the number of fatalities caused by severe weather in the last five years ranges from 83 to more than 1,400. These states include some of the largest by population, like California and New York, as well as places like Kentucky and Nevada – states with relatively small populations and disproportionately high risk from climatic conditions. 

 10. New York

• Total number of weather-related fatalities, 2020-2024: 83
• Leading cause of weather-related fatalities: Winter Storms (33 deaths from 2020-2024) 
• Major winter weather event in state, 2020-2024: Arctic front with heavy snow and high winds in Dec. 2022
• Second most-common cause of weather-related fatalities: Flooding (19 deaths from 2020-2024)
• State population in 2024: 19,867,248 (4th largest of 50 states) 

 9. Tennessee

• Total number of weather-related fatalities, 2020-2024: 124
• Leading cause of weather-related fatalities: Tornadoes (49 deaths from 2020-2024) 
• Major tornado event in state, 2020-2024: Multiple EF-3 and EF-4 tornadoes breakout in Nashville area in March 2020
• Second most-common cause of weather-related fatalities: Flooding (45 deaths from 2020-2024)
• State population in 2024: 7,227,750 (15th largest of 50 states) 

 8. Nevada

• Total number of weather-related fatalities, 2020-2024: 136
• Leading cause of weather-related fatalities: Heat (128 deaths from 2020-2024) 
• Major heat event in state, 2020-2024: Temperatures as high as 120°F break local, all-time records in July 2024
• Second most-common cause of weather-related fatalities: Flooding (3 deaths from 2020-2024)
• State population in 2024: 3,267,467 (20th smallest of 50 states) 

 7. Kentucky

• Total number of weather-related fatalities, 2020-2024: 144
• Leading cause of weather-related fatalities: Tornadoes (75 deaths from 2020-2024) 
• Major tornado event in state, 2020-2024: Southeast-Central Tornado Outbreak brings 190 mph winds in Dec. 2021
• Second most-common cause of weather-related fatalities: Flooding (56 deaths from 2020-2024)
• State population in 2024: 4,588,372 (25th smallest of 50 states) 

 6. North Carolina

• Total number of weather-related fatalities, 2020-2024: 151
• Leading cause of weather-related fatalities: Flooding (85 deaths from 2020-2024) 
• Major flood event in state, 2020-2024: Flooding from Hurricane Helene in Sept. 2024
• Second most-common cause of weather-related fatalities: Wind (16 deaths from 2020-2024)
• State population in 2024: 11,046,024 (9th largest of 50 states) 

 5. California

• Total number of weather-related fatalities, 2020-2024: 194
• Leading cause of weather-related fatalities: Heat (37 deaths from 2020-2024) 
• Major heat event in state, 2020-2024: Temperatures exceeding 110°F break or match all-time records in Southern California in July 2023
• Second most-common cause of weather-related fatalities: Flooding (22 deaths from 2020-2024)
• State population in 2024: 39,431,263 (the largest of 50 states) 

 4. Oregon

• Total number of weather-related fatalities, 2020-2024: 201
• Leading cause of weather-related fatalities: Heat (153 deaths from 2020-2024) 
• Major heat event in state, 2020-2024: Heat Dome in the Pacific Northwest brought temperatures up to 119°F, the highest ever recorded in Oregon in summer 2021
• Second most-common cause of weather-related fatalities: Winter Storms (17 deaths from 2020-2024)
• State population in 2024: 4,272,371 (24th smallest of 50 states) 

 3. Florida

• Total number of weather-related fatalities, 2020-2024: 268
• Leading cause of weather-related fatalities: Hurricanes (113 deaths from 2020-2024) 
• Major hurricanes in state, 2020-2024: Hurricane Helene in Sept. 2024 and Hurricane Ian in Sept. 2022
• Second most-common cause of weather-related fatalities: Lightning (21 deaths from 2020-2024)
• State population in 2024: 23,372,215 (3rd largest of 50 states) 

 2. Texas

• Total number of weather-related fatalities, 2020-2024: 303
• Leading cause of weather-related fatalities: Heat (114 deaths from 2020-2024) 
• Major heat event in state, 2020-2024: Local, all-time temperature records are shattered by temperatures as high as 116°F in June 2023
• Second most-common cause of weather-related fatalities: Cold (78 deaths from 2020-2024)
• State population in 2024: 31,290,831 (2nd largest of 50 states) 

 1. Arizona

• Total number of weather-related fatalities, 2020-2024: 1,405
• Leading cause of weather-related fatalities: Heat (1,360 deaths from 2020-2024) 
• Major heat event in state, 2020-2024: Heat wave brings 54 days of 110°F+ temperatures to Phoenix area in 2023
• Second most-common cause of weather-related fatalities: Flooding (27 deaths from 2020-2024)
• State population in 2024: 7,582,384 (14th largest of 50 states)