We've Already Seen Eight Billion-dollar Weather Disasters Since January

First Half of 2011 Leaves an Astonishing Legacy

June 30, 2011

Weather.com - Welcome to July and the second half of the year! Let's hope the atmosphere is much more benign during the next six months compared to what we've experienced during the past six months.

The events that have occurred during the first half of the year have been astonishing.

According to the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), we've already seen eight billion-dollar weather disasters since January! This is an unbelievable number of events of this magnitude crammed into just six months.

For perspective, the most billion-dollar weather disasters recorded in one full year (since 1980) is nine in 2008. This was from a wide variety of weather events including tornadoes, floods, drought, wildfires and three hurricanes.

With half the year and the peak of the hurricane season ahead of us, it's not out of the question that this undesirable record could be reached in 2011.

This information comes from a list of billion-dollar weather disasters since 1980, which is compiled by NOAA. From 1980 to 2010 there has been a total of 99. The map at the top right (click to enlarge) shows the number of these disasters that have occurred in each state since 1980, but not including 2011. Keep in mind, a single billion-dollar disaster can include multiple states.

Use this link below to find out what disasters in 2011 have caused damages of more than a billion dollars. It all started with a colossal winter storm.