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Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
The Staggering Price Of US Hurricanes Since 2016: Over $800 Billion
The 2025 Atlantic hurricane season is beginning, following the costliest nine-year siege of hurricanes and tropical storms in the U.S. that claimed over 4,000 lives. - Beginning with Hurricane Matthew in 2016 and ending with Hurricane Milton in 2024, a siege of 29 tropical storms and hurricanes over nine years caused at least $1 billion in damage in the U.S., according to statistics compiled by NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information. - The total damage in the U.S. from these 29 storms was estimated at $820 billion, the costliest nine-year stretch for tropical cyclones in the U.S. dating to 1980. That's more than the 2023 gross domestic product of Poland. - These 29 storms claimed 4,026 lives in the U.S. from elements directly related to each storm's flooding and winds. The large majority of those deaths were in Puerto Rico from 2017's Hurricane Maria (2,981), though two recent hurricanes - Helene (219 killed) and Ian (152 killed) - also claimed over 100 lives each. (MORE: Helene, Milton Among Most Recent Hurricane Names Retired) - In that same nine-year stretch, six of the 10 costliest U.S. hurricanes have occurred. - Three of those - Ida ($85 billion), Ian ($120 billion) and Helene ($79 billion) - have occurred in the past four years. The other three - Harvey ($160 billion), Irma ($64 billion) and Maria ($115 billion) each occurred in 2017. - NOAA's database lists 67 U.S. billion-dollar-plus tropical storms and hurricanes since 1980. - But these events don't happen every year. Before 2016, the U.S. went three straight years without a billion-dollar tropical storm or hurricane following Superstorm Sandy. There were also two-year stretches without these particularly costly storms after the 2008 and historic 2005 hurricane seasons. (MORE: When Was The Last 'Quiet' Hurricane Season?) - Outlooks from Colorado State University, The Weather Company/Atmospheric G2 and NOAA are each calling for a more active than average 2025 hurricane season, but not as active as 2024. - "Since 1950, 23% of all North Atlantic hurricanes have made landfall in the U.S.," wrote Todd Crawford, Vice President of Meteorology at Atmospheric G2 in an earlier outlook. NOAA's Hurricane Research Division calculated an average of about one hurricane made landfall in the U.S. each year, based on data from 1851 through 2022. - Crawford's team noted long-range computer models suggest the pattern of winds aloft that guide hurricanes could steer them more toward the U.S. again in 2025. - It's too soon to tell whether that pattern will be in place while a hurricane is out there this season. For now, the AG2/TWC team is forecasting three hurricanes to make a U.S. landfall in 2025, two less than did so during the destructive 2024 hurricane season. Now – not in the days before a hurricane strikes – is a good time to refresh or develop a plan. That includes knowing if you live in an evacuation zone, assembling a disaster kit at home, making your home as resilient as possible, checking on your insurance policy and making an inventory of your belongings. Jonathan Erdman is a senior meteorologist at and has been covering national and international weather since 1996. Extreme and bizarre weather are his favorite topics. Reach out to him on Bluesky, X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook.
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
2025 Hurricane Season Outlook: Not Quite 2024, But Above-Average US Landfall Threat
The 2025 Atlantic hurricane season may not be as active as last year, but the threat of U.S. landfalls remains higher than average, according to a just-released outlook issued by The Weather Company and Atmospheric G2. The forecast figures: We expect 19 storms to form in 2025, nine of which will become hurricanes and four of which will reach Category 3 status or stronger, according to the outlook released Thursday. That's above the 30-year average tally for both hurricanes and storms. It's just a couple of hurricanes shy of 2024's total of 11 hurricanes. It's consistent with an outlook issued earlier this month by Colorado State University's tropical forecast team. (MORE: 2025 Hurricane Season Names Includes One Newcomer) Still a greater U.S. threat: More important than the number of storms in the entire basin is where they go, or how many may threaten land. "Since 1950, 23% of all North Atlantic hurricanes have made landfall in the U.S.," wrote Todd Crawford, Vice President of Meteorology at Atmospheric G2. NOAA's Hurricane Research Division calculated an average of about one hurricane made landfall in the U.S. each year, based on data from 1851 through 2022. But Crawford's team found hints that the threat could be larger this season. That's because long-range computer models suggest the pattern of winds aloft that guide hurricanes could steer more toward the coast again in 2025. Of course, it's too soon to tell whether that pattern will be in place while a hurricane is out there this season. For now, the AG2/TWC team is forecasting three hurricanes to make a U.S. landfall in 2025, two less than did so during the destructive 2024 hurricane season. (MORE: Changes Ahead For 2025 Hurricane Season) Water still warm, but not like 2024: The Gulf and Caribbean are warmer than average but are cooler than they were this time last year. These regions, combined with the subtropical Atlantic, are where we look for early-season activity. More significantly, water temperatures in the eastern Atlantic, including parts of the region known as the Main Development Region (MDR), are closer to average, if not slightly cooler, and substantially cooler than the record warmth we saw last year. The MDR is the primary host location for hurricanes that threaten the U.S. and Caribbean during the peak of hurricane season. Should this lukewarm to cooler water stick around several months from now, it would be a major speed bump for tropical development in that region. (MORE: For even more granular weather data tracking in your area, view your 15-minute details forecast in our Premium Pro experience.) La Niña is gone, but what's next: The phase of El Niño vs. La Niña is one of the strongest influences on hurricane season activity. In general, La Niña Atlantic hurricane seasons have less wind shear that can otherwise rip storms apart, and more rising, unstable air that is more conducive for thunderstorms, the building blocks of tropical storms and hurricanes. Stronger El Niño hurricane seasons produce more wind shear and sinking air over the Caribbean Sea and adjacent parts of the Atlantic Ocean, making the environment more hostile for tropical development. We don't expect a strong hurricane-suppressing El Niño this hurricane season. NOAA's latest forecast indicates neither La Niña nor El Niño may be a player. Instead, neutral conditions are the most probable outcome during the heart of hurricane season (August through October). This is another reason for the slightly elevated hurricane season activity. (MORE: What Is La Niña?) Prepare every season: Regardless of what seasonal outlooks say, you should be prepared for every hurricane season. Even quieter hurricane seasons can include one destructive hurricane landfall, or for that matter, an inland remnant with flooding rain and high winds. For those affected, that would not be a "quiet" season. If you're along the East or Gulf coasts, the time to develop your hurricane safety plan is now, not when a storm is just days away. Information about hurricane preparedness can be found here. Jonathan Belles has been a graphics meteorologist and writer for for 8 years and also assists in the production of videos for The Weather Channel en español. His favorite weather is tropical weather, but also enjoys covering high-impact weather and news stories and winter storms. He's a two-time graduate of Florida State University and a proud graduate of St. Petersburg College.
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
April's Temperature Forecast: Will You See Spring Fever Or Be Frustratingly Cool In The New Month?
Temperatures in April might bring thoughts of spring fever to many in the central and southern United States, while some in the northern tier might have to endure frustratingly cool weather. Here's a look at what to expect for temperatures and precipitation in the new month, according to the latest outlook issued Friday by Atmospheric G2 and The Weather Company. Spring Fever: At least somewhat warmer-than-average temperatures are possible from the South into the mid-Mississippi Valley, Plains and central and southern Rockies. Shorts and t-shirts might get worn most often from portions of the lower-Mississippi Valley to the Southern and Central Plains and the Four Corners region since that's where temperatures are forecast to be farthest above average. Leftover Winter Chill: The Northwest, northern Great Lakes, New England and Upstate New York are most favored for temperatures that are at least slightly cooler than average, so keep that jacket handy. It's A Highly Uncertain Forecast: Atmospheric G2 forecasters have cautioned the outlook for April is more uncertain than a typical month. "The uncertainty may be explained by the lack of consensus on the evolution/strength of the MJO," said Todd Crawford, Vice President of Meteorology at Atmospheric G2. MJO stands for the Madden-Julian oscillation, which is a global pattern of rainfall and dry weather near the equator that can influence weather conditions in the United States and elsewhere. Odds Tilt Toward Wet Spring Start In North: The Great Lakes and parts of the upper and mid-Mississippi valleys are most favored to see above average precipitation. Conditions could be at least somewhat wetter than typical in the Northeast, Ohio Valley and the Northwest. Dry Gulf Coast States Favored: Locations from South Texas to much of Louisiana, the southern halves of Mississippi and Alabama, southern Georgia and Florida are the most likely areas to see below-average rainfall. This could keep the threat of wildfire concerns in Florida elevated, as well as worsen ongoing drought conditions in the state's peninsula. Chris Dolce has been a senior digital meteorologist with for nearly 15 years after beginning his career with The Weather Channel in the early 2000s.
Yahoo
17-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Spring, Early Summer Outlook: West, Plains Heat Builds, But Not As Much Into Northeast
Spring and early summer are showing trends in forecasts of both temperatures and precipitation across the U.S., according to an April through June outlook issued by The Weather Company and Atmospheric G2. (MORE: How Average Temperatures Rise Through Spring) The Southern Plains and Southwest are expected to have a hotter than usual spring and early summer, particularly the southern Rockies. That said an overall warm spring and early summer is expected over much of the country from the Northern Plains to the Mississippi Valley and Southeast. Parts of the Northeast and Northwest, however, may not see as much unusual warmth by spring and early summer standards. This outlook is an overall three-month trend. We will likely see periods that are warmer or colder in each respective region of the country when compared to what is shown in the map below. April The first full month of astronomical spring is expected to be hottest from Utah and Arizona to the lower Mississippi Valley. That includes Dallas, Denver, Houston and Phoenix. Parts of the Northeast, Great Lakes and Northwest may skew a little cooler than average. That includes Detroit, New York and Seattle. This somewhat cooler Northeast outlook is due to the orientation of a global pattern of rainfall and dry weather near the equator called the Madden-Julian oscillation that could force cooler air from Canada southward, according to Todd Crawford, Vice President of Meteorology at Atmospheric G2. May-June You may notice that May's temperature map below has a similar overall shape as April's. Perhaps skewing a bit cooler than average in the Northeast, Great Lakes and Northwest, while hotter than usual in the Southwest, Plains and Southeast. But scroll down to the June map, and you'll notice some significant changes. First, most of the country is expected to be hotter than average in June. Compared to May, the most above-average heat is expected to expand northward into the upper Midwest, Northern Plains and northern Rockies, but not as much into the Southeast.
Yahoo
04-02-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
False Spring? A February 'Heat Wave' Is Smashing Records For The Third Year In A Row
A Southern "heat wave" will smash dozens of daily, and even a few monthly records from Colorado and Texas into the Deep South into this weekend. It's just the latest round of record warmth we've seen over the past few years in the U.S. Notable records, so far: Monday, all-time February record highs were tied or set in at least six cities in Colorado, New Mexico and western Texas. Among them, Grand Junction, Colorado, soared to 71 degrees, topping their previous record set 121 years ago in 1904 (and three weeks later in February). Lubbock, Texas, not only tied their February record Monday (91 degrees), but it was also nine days earlier than their previous record earliest high in the 90s in any year (Feb. 12, 2017). Typical for the Texas Panhandle, Amarillo tied their February record high Monday (89 degrees), then plunged to 21 degrees behind a cold front just 17 hours later. Finally, Oklahoma set a state record high for any previous Feb. 3, according to the Oklahoma Mesonet project. More to come this week: This pattern of spring-like warmth will continue over much of the South into this weekend. In these areas, daytime highs in the 70s and 80s can be expected with lows generally in the 50s and 60s. In places such as Dallas-Ft. Worth, this warmth is considered average in April, rather than early February. Dozens more daily warm records will likely fall by the wayside, particularly from Texas to the Carolinas. Some additional monthly records could also be threatened during this February heat wave. (MORE MAPS: 10-Day U.S. Forecast Highs/Lows) Reality check ahead: This being February, the heat wave couldn't last much longer. More sustained colder air will plunge southward through the Plains Saturday, leaving much of Texas to the Tennessee Valley colder by Sunday into Monday. This colder air could hang in place over most of the South much of next week, with the exception of areas near the northern Gulf Coast and Florida, according to NOAA's latest long-range outlook shown below. Big February heat waves last two years: This makes the third consecutive year we've seen February heat waves smash monthly records in parts of the country. Last year, an end of February heat wave sent temperatures soaring to 90 degrees in southeast Missouri and the low 70s in Lower Michigan. In all, 56 cities tied or set new record highs for any winter day from December through February in this heat wave. And in late February 2023, Atlanta (81 degrees), Nashville (85 degrees) and Raleigh (85 degrees) each set their all-time winter month highs. What a difference: This is an incredible contrast from last month, as the map below of January temperature anomalies shows. According to Todd Crawford, Vice President of Meteorology at Atmospheric G2, it was America's coldest January since at least 2014. NOAA's January U.S. climate report to be released Monday will provide additional perspective on how cold January was here in the Lower 48 states. January featured four major winter storms in under three weeks, beginning with Winter Storm Blair and punctuated by the historic Gulf Coast Winter Storm Enzo. Following Enzo, New Iberia (2 degrees), Lafayette (4 degrees), Baton Rouge (19 degrees) and New Orleans' Lakefront Airport (26 degrees) each set all-time record lows. Jonathan Erdman is a senior meteorologist at and has been covering national and international weather since 1996. Extreme and bizarre weather are his favorite topics. Reach out to him on Bluesky, X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook.
