"2023 Breaks Record for Billion-Dollar Disasters in the U.S."

The contiguous United States experienced a record-breaking 28 billion-dollar weather disasters in 2023, the highest number since 1980, with a total cost of $92.9 billion. Severe storm events accounted for the majority of the disasters, with 19 events costing $54 billion. Climate change is cited as a significant factor in the increasing frequency and cost of these disasters. Additionally, 2023 saw the warmest December on record and ranked as the fifth warmest year on record for the U.S., with a notable lack of bitter cold and widespread warmth contributing to record-low snow cover.