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7 billion-dollar weather disasters to start 2023, NOAA says
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The series of atmospheric rivers and flooding in California between January and December racked up an estimated $3.5 billion in direct costs so far, just one of seven billion-dollar weather-related disasters so far this year, federal officials said this week.
The disasters – with preliminary total costs estimated at $16 billion – are the second most on record for the first four months of the year, even adjusted for inflation, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said Monday. The California flooding and six other billion-dollar storm events claimed 97 lives, the agency said.
It’s also been a record warm year so far for seven states and among the top 10 warmest for another 21 states, NOAA said.
The U.S. 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 Monday. Spain, Portugal and Morocco recorded their highest-ever April temperatures, according to the Copernicus summary.
Meanwhile, the BBC reported that Thanh Hoa, a province in Vietnam, reported its highest ever temperature last week, about 111 degrees Fahrenheit.
Climate disasters bad for everyoneHere’s where climate change is expected to be worst in the US.
What are the causes of climate change?How could it be curbed?
Which states saw their record warmest year so far?
| State | Average temperature January-April | Degrees above last century average |
| Delaware | 47.5 | 6.9 |
| Florida | 67.9 | 5.3 |
| Maryland | 47.1 | 6.9 |
| New Jersey | 44.4 | 7.2 |
| North Carolina | 52.7 | 5.4 |
| Pennsylvania | 40.4 | 6.8 |
| Virginia | 48.6 | 6.1 |
Hot, hot, hotSpring ocean temperatures are shockingly hot around the globe. Scientists aren’t sure what happens next.
How does climate change affect you?Subscribe to USA TODAY’S weekly climate and environment newsletter
What are NOAA’s seven billion-dollar disasters this year?
The numbers are still preliminary, NOAA said.
- California flooding, January-March, $2.5 billion
- Northeastern winter storm / cold wave, February 2-5, $1.5 billion
- Two South and Eastern severe weather outbreaks, March 2-3 and March 24-26, $4.5 billion
- Central tornado and Eastern severe weather outbreak, March 31-April 1, $4.3 billion
- Central and Eastern severe weather, April 4-6, $2.2 billion
- Central and Southern severe weather, April 15, $1.0 billion
The U.S. set a record this year for the most tornadoes from January-March at 466. A reduction in tornado activity in April put 2023 at fourth most tornadoes on record for the first four months of the year.
What are the effects of climate change?Worsening disasters, weather and agriculture impacts.
What’s the record for billion-dollar disasters in a year?
The record is 22, set in 2020, according to NOAA data. There were 20 in 2021. Last year’s 18 billion-dollar disasters tied with 2011 and 2017 as the third highest number on record.
18 billion-dollar disastersHow the US was impacted by weather in 2022.
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