NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information
New Hampshire Summary
From 1980–2024 (as of May 8, 2024), there have been 21 confirmed weather/climate disaster events with losses exceeding $1 billion each to affect New Hampshire. These events included 1 drought event, 2 flooding events, 3 severe storm events, 4 tropical cyclone events, and 11 winter storm events. The 1980–2023 annual average is 0.5 events (CPI-adjusted); the annual average for the most recent 5 years (2019–2023) is 0.8 events (CPI-adjusted).
| Disaster Type | Events | Events/Year | Percent Frequency | Total Costs | Percent of Total Costs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drought | 1 | 0.0 | 4.8% | $5M-$100M | 0.6% |
| Flooding | 2 | 0.0 | 9.5% | $5M-$100M | 3.1% |
| Freeze | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Severe Storm | 3 | 0.1 | 14.3% | $100M-$250M | 7.0% |
| Tropical Cyclone | 4 | 0.1 | 19.0% | $250M-$500M | 19.8% |
| Wildfire | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Winter Storm | 11 | 0.2 | 52.4% | $1.0B-$2.0B | 69.6% |
| All Disasters | 21 | 0.5 | 100.0% | $2.0B-$5.0B | 100.0% |
| Drought | 1 | 0.0 | 6.3% | $5M-$100M | 0.8% |
| Flooding | 2 | 0.0 | 12.5% | $5M-$100M | 5.3% |
| Freeze | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Severe Storm | 3 | 0.1 | 18.8% | $5M-$100M | 7.5% |
| Tropical Cyclone | 3 | 0.1 | 18.8% | $250M-$500M | 23.8% |
| Wildfire | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Winter Storm | 7 | 0.2 | 43.8% | $500M-$1.0B | 62.7% |
| All Disasters | 16 | 0.4 | 100.0% | $1.0B-$2.0B | 100.0% |
| Time Period | Billion-Dollar Disasters | Events/ | Cost | Percent of Total Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s (1980-1989) | 3 | 0.3 | $5M-$100M | 3.3% |
| 1990s (1990-1999) | 7 | 0.7 | $1.0B-$2.0B | 56.9% |
| 2000s (2000-2009) | 1 | 0.1 | $100M-$250M | 4.7% |
| 2010s (2010-2019) | 6 | 0.6 | $500M-$1.0B | 24.4% |
| Last 5 Years (2019-2023) | 4 | 0.8 | $100M-$250M | 10.6% |
| Last 3 Years (2021-2023) | 4 | 1.3 | $100M-$250M | 10.6% |
| Last Year (2023) | 3 | 3.0 | $100M-$250M | 7.5% |
| All Years (1980-2024)* | 21 | 0.5 | $2.0B-$5.0B | 100.0% |
| 1980s (1980-1989) | 0 | 0.0 | $0M | 0% |
| 1990s (1990-1999) | 6 | 0.6 | $500M-$1.0B | 48.0% |
| 2000s (2000-2009) | 1 | 0.1 | $5M-$100M | 5.4% |
| 2010s (2010-2019) | 5 | 0.5 | $250M-$500M | 28.6% |
| Last 5 Years (2019-2023) | 4 | 0.8 | $100M-$250M | 17.9% |
| Last 3 Years (2021-2023) | 4 | 1.3 | $100M-$250M | 17.9% |
| Last Year (2023) | 3 | 3.0 | $100M-$250M | 12.7% |
| All Years (1980-2024)* | 16 | 0.4 | $1.0B-$2.0B | 100.0% |
| Event | Type | Begin Date |
End Date |
Summary |
CPI-AUnadjusted Estimated Cost (in Billions) |
Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
East Coast Storm and Flooding December 2023 | Flooding | December 16, 2023 | December 18, 2023 | Powerful east coast storm from Florida to Maine produced widespread impacts from heavy rainfall, flooding, high winds and coastal erosion. The heavy rainfall and snowmelt were amplified by record-high temperatures in the Northeast. | $1.3 CI | 5 |
Northeastern Flooding and North Central Severe Weather July 2023 | Flooding | July 9, 2023 | July 15, 2023 | Severe storms brought devastation and flooding to portions of the Northeast, as areas reported up to eight inches of rain within a 24-hour period. Montpelier, Vermont received a record-breaking 5.28 inches of rain, flooding the city and damaging thousands of homes and businesses. The wide scale flooding in Vermont was similar to the flood impacts from Hurricane Irene in 2011. Early estimates put the flood damage in West Point, New York at more than $100 ($102.0) million. There was also considerable damage to roads, bridges and agriculture across the Northeast. Severe storms also caused high wind and hail impacts across Wisconsin, Minnesota and Illinois. | $2.2 CI | 10 |
Northeastern Winter Storm/ February 2023 | Winter Storm | February 2, 2023 | February 5, 2023 | A strong winter storm produced snow, high winds and bitter cold across numerous Northeastern states. High winds caused widespread power outages in Massachusetts while Mount Washington, New Hampshire observed a wind chill temperature of -108 degrees Fahrenheit. This was one of the coldest wind chill temperatures ever recorded in the United States. | $1.8 CI | 1 |
Central and Eastern Winter Storm and Cold Wave December 2022 | Winter Storm | December 21, 2022 | December 26, 2022 | Historic winter storm and powerful arctic front caused significant impact across much of the nation, bringing heavy rains, snow, ice and high winds that sent temperatures plummeting. More than 200 million people were under a winter weather advisory or warning and more than a million customers, from Texas to Maine, were left without power. Buffalo, New York was paralyzed by near hurricane force winds and continuous snow squalls, which contributed to dozens of fatalities in the region. Additional impacts were widespread frozen water pipes that led to extensive water damage in many homes, businesses and to other critical infrastructure. | $8.9 CI | 87 |
Central and Eastern Winter Storm January 2018 | Winter Storm | January 3, 2018 | January 5, 2018 | A Nor'easter caused damage across many Northeastern states including MA, NJ, NY, CT, ME, NH, PA, MD, RI, SC, TN, VA, NC and GA. | $1.3 CI | 22 |
West/ 2016 | Drought | January 1, 2016 | December 31, 2016 | California's 5-year drought persisted during 2016 while new areas of extreme drought developed in states across the Northeast and Southeast. The long-term impacts of the drought in California have damaged forests where 100+ million trees have perished and are a public safety hazard. The agricultural impacts were reduced in California as water prices and crop fallowing declined. However, agricultural impacts developed in Northeast and Southeast due to stressed water supplies. | $4.5 CI | 0 |
Central and Eastern Winter storm, Cold Wave February 2015 | Winter Storm | February 14, 2015 | February 20, 2015 | A large winter storm and associated cold wave impacted many central, eastern and northeastern states (CT, DE, GA, IL, KY, MA, MD, ME, MI, NC, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, SC, TN, VA). The city of Boston was particularly impacted as feet of snow continued to accumulate causing load-stress on buildings and clogging transportation corridors. Total, direct losses in Massachusetts alone exceed $1.0 ($1.3) billion for this event, with considerable damage in many other states. | $3.9 CI | 30 |
Hurricane Sandy October 2012 | Tropical Cyclone | October 30, 2012 | October 31, 2012 | Extensive damage across several northeastern states (MD, DE, NJ, NY, CT, MA, RI) due to high wind and coastal storm surge, particularly NY and NJ. Damage from wind, rain and heavy snow also extended more broadly to other states (NC, VA, WV, OH, PA, NH), as Sandy merged with a developing Nor'easter. Sandy's impact on major population centers caused widespread interruption to critical water/electrical services and also caused 159 deaths (72 direct, 87 indirect). Sandy also caused the New York Stock Exchange to close for two consecutive business days, which last happened in 1888 due to a major winter storm. | $87.8 CI | 159 |
Northeastern Winter Storm October 2011 | Winter Storm | October 29, 2011 | October 30, 2011 | Winter storm impacts northeastern states including Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hamsphire, New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. | $1.3* CI | 1 |
Hurricane Irene August 2011 | Tropical Cyclone | August 26, 2011 | August 28, 2011 | Category 1 hurricane made landfall over coastal NC and moved northward along the Mid-Atlantic Coast (NC, VA, MD, NJ, NY, CT, RI, MA, VT) causing torrential rainfall and flooding across the Northeast. Wind damage in coastal NC, VA, and MD was moderate with considerable damage resulting from falling trees and power lines, while flooding caused extensive flood damage across NJ, NY, and VT. Over seven million homes and businesses lost power during the storm. Numerous tornadoes were also reported in several states further adding to the damage. | $18.6 CI | 45 |
East/ April 2007 | Severe Storm | April 13, 2007 | April 17, 2007 | Flooding, hail, tornadoes, and severe thunderstorms across numerous states (CT, DE, GA, LA, ME, MD, MA, MS, NH, NJ, NY, NC, PA, RI, SC, TX, VT, VA) in mid-April, including 3 "killer" tornadoes. | $3.8 CI | 9 |
Hurricane Floyd September 1999 | Tropical Cyclone | September 14, 1999 | September 16, 1999 | Large, category 2 hurricane makes landfall in eastern NC, causing 10-20 inch rains in 2 days, with severe flooding in NC and some flooding in SC, VA, MD, PA, NY, NJ, DE, RI, CT, MA, NH, and VT. | $12.1 CI | 77 |
Central and Eastern Winter Storm Mid-January 1999 | Winter Storm | January 13, 1999 | January 16, 1999 | Winter storm affecting the Central and Eastern states including IL, IN, OH, MI, WV, VA, MD, PA, NJ, NY, MA, CT, VT, NH and ME. | $1.7* CI | 0 |
Northern Plains and Great Lakes Derecho, Tornadoes June 1998 | Severe Storm | May 30, 1998 | June 2, 1998 | Severe storms in late May through early June hit the Midwest, North, Northeast, and Southeast | $2.2 CI | 20 |
Northeast Ice Storm January 1998 | Winter Storm | January 5, 1998 | January 9, 1998 | Intense ice storm hits Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and New York, with extensive forestry losses | $2.7 CI | 16 |
Mississippi and Ohio Valley Severe Weather and Flooding March 1997 | Severe Storm | February 28, 1997 | March 5, 1997 | Tornadoes and severe flooding hit the states of AR, MO, MS, TN, IL, IN, KY, OH, and WV, with over 10 inches of rain in 24 hours in Louisville. | $1.9 CI | 67 |
Winter Storm, Cold Wave January 1994 | Winter Storm | January 17, 1994 | January 20, 1994 | Winter storm affects the Southeast and Northeast regions. The states impacted include CT, DE, IL, IN, KY, MA, MD, ME, NC, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, SC, TN, VA, VT and WV. | $2.2 CI | 70 |
East Coast Blizzard and Severe Weather March 1993 | Winter Storm | March 11, 1993 | March 14, 1993 | The "Storm of the Century" impacts the entire Eastern seaboard from Florida to Maine. This historic storm dumped 2-4 feet of snow and caused hurricane force winds across many Eastern and Northeastern states. This caused power outages to over 10 million households. Additional impacts included numerous tornadoes across Florida causing substantial damage. This was the most destructive and costly winter storm to affect the United States (since 1980), until it was surpassed by the February 2021 winter storm and cold wave. | $12.0 CI | 270 |
Winter Storm, Cold Wave December 1989 | Winter Storm | December 21, 1989 | December 26, 1989 | Winter storm and deep cold impacts the Northeast, South and Southeast. The states impacted include AL, AR, CT, FL, GA, IL, IN, KY, LA, ME, MO, MS, NC, NH, NY, OH, OK, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA, VT and WV. | $1.7* CI | 100 |
Hurricane Gloria September 1985 | Tropical Cyclone | September 26, 1985 | September 28, 1985 | Category 2 hurricane makes several landfalls along the eastern seaboard, affecting states from North Carolina to Maine. | $2.5* CI | 11 |
Midwest/ January 1982 | Winter Storm | January 8, 1982 | January 16, 1982 | Winter storm and cold wave affect numerous states (AL, AR, CT, DE, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, ND, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, VA, VT, WI, WV) across the Midwest, Southeast and Northeast. | $2.2* CI | 85 |
†Deaths associated with drought are the result of heat waves. (Not all droughts are accompanied by extreme heat waves.)
Flooding events (river basin or urban flooding from excessive rainfall) are separate from inland flood damage caused by tropical cyclone events.
*Statistics valid as of May 8, 2024
Citing this information:
- NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) U.S. Billion-Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters (2024). https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/billions/, DOI: 10.25921/stkw-7w73