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US Braces for $100B+ Disasters: Wildfires & Storms Rage
8 Jan
Summary
- Disaster costs exceeded $100 billion for the fifth time in six years.
- Twenty-one severe thunderstorm systems caused at least $1 billion in damages each.
- Wildfires in Los Angeles accounted for $61 billion in disaster costs.
In 2025, the United States experienced disaster damage costs exceeding $100 billion for the fifth time in six years. This significant financial impact was primarily driven by frequent and severe thunderstorms, along with devastating wildfires in Los Angeles. Notably, this occurred without a single hurricane making landfall in the U.S. for the first time in a decade.
Record-setting weather systems played a major role, with 21 thunderstorm events each causing at least $1 billion in damages. These storms, which produced tornadoes and large hail, accounted for approximately $51 billion in losses nationwide. The majority of these severe storms originated in the central U.S., fueled by atmospheric conditions conducive to towering cloud formation.
Beyond the storms, Los Angeles wildfires contributed substantially to the year's costs, accounting for $61 billion in damages alone. While population sprawl in vulnerable areas exacerbates these damages, climate change also plays a role, increasing the potential severity of weather events. The tracking of these "billion-dollar disasters" is crucial for public awareness and planning, despite past governmental uncertainty.
