From Katherine Seelye at NY Times:

The weather this year has not only been lousy, it has been as destructive in terms of economic loss as any on record.

Normally, three or four weather disasters a year in the United States will cause at least $1 billion in damages each. This year, there were nine such disasters. They included the huge snow dump in late January and early February on the Midwest and Northeast, the rash of tornadoes this spring across the Midwest and the more recent flooding of the Missouri and SourisRivers. The disasters are responsible for at least 589 deaths, including 160 in May when tornadoes ripped through Joplin, Mo.

These nine billion-dollar disasters tie the record set in 2008, according to a report by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The total damage done by all storms, tornadoes, flooding and heat waves so far this year adds up to about $35 billion…

The nine weather events that have caused at least $1 billion in damages so far this year are:

Central/East Groundhog Day blizzard (Jan. 29-Feb. 3). This storm was tied to 36 deaths. The losses totaled more than $2 billion.

Midwest/Southeast tornadoes (April 4-5). Nine people were killed. Total losses were more than $2 billion.

Southeast/Midwest tornadoes (April 8-11). Resulted in more than $2 billion in losses.

Midwest/Southeast tornadoes (April 14-16). Caused 38 deaths. Total losses are more than $2 billion.

Southeast/Ohio Valley/Midwest tornadoes (April 25-30). Caused 327 deaths. Losses total more than $9 billion.

Midwest/Southeast tornadoes (May 22-27). Caused 177 deaths. Total losses are more than $7 billion.

Southern Plains/Southwest drought, heat waves, wildfires. Direct losses are more than $5 billion.

Mississippi River flooding. At least two deaths and losses ranging from $2 billion-$4 billion.

Upper Midwest flooding. Losses estimated at $2 billion.

And this does not count the swamp fires in the south, posted here….

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