Each disaster caused damages of over a billion dollars; only 2017 and 2020 had more disasters in this timeframe
The first four months of 2023 have seen seven disasters in the United States that cost the country over a billion dollars, according to the latest analysis by the federal department National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
Many parts of the United States have also reported a ‘remarkable warmth’ so far, with some states recording their warmest January-April period, said NOAA’s recent US climate report by National Centers for Environmental Information.
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The US noted five severe weather events, a northeastern winter storm / cold wave and a California flooding event to date. The total cost of these events exceeded $19 billion and resulted in 97 direct and indirect fatalities.
Only 2017 and 2020 had more disasters during this timeframe, with eight events recorded in January-April, the NOAA said. The record number of total disasters in a year in the US is 22, set in 2020, according to NOAA data.
The billion-dollar disaster events in the US this year were:
Billion-dollar weather and climate disasters in the US through April 2023
This US map is plotted with seven billion-dollar weather and climate disasters that occurred in the first four months of 2023. The locations for the extreme weather events are approximate. Source: NOAA
It’s also been a record warm year for seven states and among the top 10 warmest for another 21 states. The average US temperature for the year to date was 40.9 degrees F or 4.94 degrees Celsius. This is about 1.8°F above average, or about a degree C warmer.
Read more: April 2023 records great variations in temperatures globally: Copernicus
The US isn’t the only country seeing record warmth in some locations. April was the fourth warmest on record globally, the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service said. Spain, Portugal and Morocco recorded their highest-ever April temperatures.
The nation also set a record this year for the most tornadoes from January-March at 466. A reduction in tornado activity in April put 2023 at the fourth most tornadoes on record for the year’s first four months.
The average precipitation for the first four months of 2023 was also higher than usual, at 10.22 inches or 25.96 centimetres. This is 1.88 cm above normal.
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A weather phenomena called bomb cyclone caused widespread flooding and damage in Northern California. Photo: iStock.png)
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