Billion-Dollar Disaster dataset returns -- now at Climate Central

PRINCETON, N.J., Oct. 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Climate Central is excited to announce the return of the Billion-Dollar Disaster research analysis and website, now hosted and maintained by the Climate Central team. Originally managed by NOAA and discontinued earlier this year, the research analysis continues under the leadership of Adam Smith, formerly the lead scientist for NOAA's U.S. Billion-Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters program.

The dataset remains a vital resource for tracking the economic and societal costs of extreme weather and climate events across the United States. Climate Central will now provide routine updates, building on the robust foundation established by NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI).

Here's what you may have missed while the dataset was offline:

• 14 separate billion-dollar weather and climate disasters have occurred across the U.S. during the first six months of 2025, costing $101.4 billion in damages.
• The January LA wildfires were the costliest event so far this year — and the costliest wildfire on record — with damages exceeding $60 billion, nearly doubling the previous record.
• The 14 events recorded just in the first half of this year, between January and June, are well above the inflation-adjusted annual average of 9 events over the past 46 years.
• The first half of 2025 was the most expensive on record, driven by unprecedented damage from the LA wildfires and damaging Spring severe weather.

Climate Central is committed to keeping this critical dataset accessible, timely, and transparent, and will continue to update the analysis to monitor the growing risk of weather and climate-related disasters.

Adam Smith, Climate Central's Senior Climate Impacts Scientist, said:

"The return of the Billion-Dollar Disaster dataset comes at a critical time. As the frequency and cost of extreme weather events continue to rise, having consistent, comprehensive data is essential for understanding the true toll of climate change on communities and the economy. I'm proud to continue this work with Climate Central and to ensure that this vital information remains accessible to the public, researchers, and decision-makers."

The dataset will be available at: https://www.climatecentral.org/climate-services/billion-dollar-disasters

SOURCE Climate Central