The 10 Deadliest Weather Events of the Last Decade In The U.S.

By Sam Stebbins  •  April 28, 2026
beach sand between of body of water
Photo by Ibrahim Rifath on Unsplash

Across the globe, natural disasters and severe weather events have always posed an existential threat to life and property. While there are measures individuals can take to protect themselves from hazards like extreme temperatures, high winds, or lightning, such natural phenomena are effectively unpreventable – and the danger they pose will likely only grow in the coming years. 

In the era of climate change, extreme weather events – including hurricanes, floods, wildfires, and excessive heat – are expected to increase in both frequency and intensity over time. This trend is already on full display in 2026. In the first three months of this year, wildfires have already burned over 1.6 million acres in the United States, roughly triple the annual average for the period between January and March. Additionally, according to local weather station data from across the United States, high temperatures have either matched or broken historic daily records more than 16,000 times in March 2026 alone. 

The toll that natural disasters will take in the coming months and years remains to be seen – but already, severe weather causes an average of nearly 700 fatalities per year in the United States, according to the National Weather Service. Since 2016, there have been about 2,900 deadly weather events in the United States. More than two-thirds of these events resulted in only one fatality, and 90% resulted in fewer than five. However, there have also been a handful of weather-related disasters in recent years that were linked to dozens, or even hundreds, of deaths. 

Using data from the NWS Weather Related Fatality and Injury Statistics program, Climate Crisis 247 identified the deadliest weather events of the last decade. We reviewed all deadly weather events between 2016 and 2025, and ranked them on the total number of associated fatalities, including those caused indirectly. For each event, fatality totals only reflect the number of lives lost in the listed state, even if additional lives were lost in other parts of the country. All supplemental data in this story is as reported by the NWS. 

The 10 climate disasters on this list resulted in 1,076 fatalities. These events include hurricanes, flooding, wildfires, and excessive heat, which is the leading cause of severe weather fatalities in the United States. 

the sun is setting over a city with a cactus in the foreground
Photo by Daniel Huerta on Unsplash

10. Excessive Heat; Arizona, July 2023

  • Total fatalities in Arizona linked to event: 64 (36 direct, 28 indirect)
  • Date of occurrence: July 14-29, 2023
  • Episode description: Weeks of 100-plus degree temperatures across Cochise, Santa Cruz and Pima Counties

9. Excessive Heat; Arizona, July 2022

  • Total fatalities in Arizona linked to event: 64 (45 direct, 19 indirect)
  • Date of occurrence: July 15, 2022
  • Episode description: Abnormal heat reported across Maricopa County, a high of 114 degrees reported at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport

8. Tropical Storm Helene; North Carolina, September 2024

  • Total fatalities in North Carolina linked to event: 83 (83 direct, 0 indirect)
  • Date of occurrence: September 26-27, 2024
  • Episode description: Tropical Cyclone Helene brought up to 30 inches of rain to parts of North Carolina, flooding multiple rivers and destroying homes, businesses, roads, and bridges

7. The Camp Fire; California, November 2018

  • Total fatalities in California linked to event: 86 (86 direct, 0 indirect)
  • Date of occurrence: November 8-25, 2018
  • Episode description: Deadliest and most destructive wildfire in California history at the time, the Camp Fire destroyed over 18,000 homes and buildings across a nearly 153,350 acre expanse, impacting the city of Paradise, the community of Concow, and the towns of Pulga and Magalia

6. Hurricane Ian; Florida, September 2022

  • Total fatalities in Florida linked to event: 90 (90 direct, 0 indirect)
  • Date of occurrence: September 28, 2022
  • Episode description: Hurricane Ian made landfall twice in Florida bringing winds as high as 150 mph, heavy rain, and a nearly 50 foot storm surge destroying or damaging thousands of buildings along Florida’s Gulf Coast

5. Wildfires; Hawaii, August 2023

  • Total fatalities in Hawaii linked to event: 102 (102 direct, 0 indirect)
  • Date of occurrence: August 8-16, 2023
  • Episode description: Wildfires broke out on Maui and the Big Island, destroying the town of Lahaina and prompting mass evacuations

4. Excessive Heat; Arizona, July 2023

  • Total fatalities in Arizona linked to event: 114 (56 direct, 58 indirect)
  • Date of occurrence: July 23-29, 2023
  • Episode description: Heatwave pushed temperatures as high as 119 degrees in parts of Arizona, including Phoenix

3. Excessive Heat; Oregon, June 2021

  • Total fatalities in Oregon linked to event: 116 (114 direct, 2 indirect)
  • Date of occurrence: June 26-29, 2021
  • Episode description: Record breaking heat with temperatures as high as 117 degrees impacted multiple major population centers in Oregon, including Portland, Salem, and Eugene

2. Flash Flood; Texas, July 2025

  • Total fatalities in Texas linked to event: 117 (116 direct, 1 indirect)
  • Date of occurrence: July 4, 2025
  • Episode description: Guadalupe River flooded after heavy rain from Tropical Storm Barry, thousands of buildings were damaged or destroyed in Kerr County, with water levels topping 5 feet in homes and businesses

1. Excessive Heat; Arizona, July 2023

  • Total fatalities in Arizona linked to event: 240 (153 direct, 87 indirect)
  • Date of occurrence: July 11-22, 2023
  • Episode description: Record breaking temperatures as high as 119 degrees across Maricopa and La Paz Counties


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