Oregon Summary

From 1980-2024, there were 41 confirmed weather/climate disaster events with losses exceeding $1 billion each to affect Oregon. These events included 16 drought events, 3 flooding events, 1 freeze event, 2 severe storm events, 16 wildfire events, and 3 winter storm events. The 1980–2024 annual average is 0.9 events (CPI-adjusted); the annual average for the most recent 5 years (2020–2024) is 2.0 events (CPI-adjusted).

Billion-dollar events to affect Oregon from 1980 to 2024 (CPI-AUnadjusted)
Disaster TypeEventsEvents/​YearPercent FrequencyTotal CostsPercent of Total Costs
Drought160.439.0%$2.0B-$5.0B32.4%
Flooding30.17.3%$1.0B-$2.0B12.0%
Freeze10.02.4%$100M-$250M1.0%
Severe Storm20.04.9%$100M-$250M0.8%
Tropical Cyclone----------
Wildfire160.439.0%$5.0B-$10.0B43.0%
Winter Storm30.17.3%$1.0B-$2.0B10.7%
All Disasters410.9100.0%$10.0B-$20.0B100.0%
Drought160.442.1%$2.0B-$5.0B31.2%
Flooding30.17.9%$500M-$1.0B8.4%
Freeze10.02.6%$5M-$100M0.4%
Severe Storm10.02.6%$5M-$100M0.2%
Tropical Cyclone----------
Wildfire140.336.8%$2.0B-$5.0B45.5%
Winter Storm30.17.9%$1.0B-$2.0B14.2%
All Disasters380.8100.0%$5.0B-$10.0B100.0%
Select Time Period Comparisons of Oregon Billion-Dollar Drought, Flooding, Freeze, Severe Storm, Tropical Cyclone, Wildfire, and Winter Storm Statistics (CPI-AUnadjusted)
Time PeriodBillion-Dollar DisastersEvents/YearCostPercent of Total Cost
1980s (1980-1989)30.3$100M-$250M1.7%
1990s (1990-1999)50.5$2.0B-$5.0B15.5%
2000s (2000-2009)131.3$2.0B-$5.0B23.6%
2010s (2010-2019)101.0$2.0B-$5.0B16.2%
Last 5 Years (2020-2024)102.0$5.0B-$10.0B42.9%
Last 3 Years (2022-2024)51.7$1.0B-$2.0B13.3%
Last Year (2024)11.0$500M-$1.0B6.9%
All Years (1980-2024)410.9$10.0B-$20.0B100.0%
1980s (1980-1989)20.2$5M-$100M0.5%
1990s (1990-1999)30.3$500M-$1.0B9.0%
2000s (2000-2009)131.3$1.0B-$2.0B20.2%
2010s (2010-2019)101.0$1.0B-$2.0B17.3%
Last 5 Years (2020-2024)102.0$5.0B-$10.0B52.9%
Last 3 Years (2022-2024)51.7$1.0B-$2.0B17.9%
Last Year (2024)11.0$500M-$1.0B9.6%
All Years (1980-2024)380.8$5.0B-$10.0B100.0%
Billion-Dollar Events to affect Oregon
Event Type Begin
Date
End
Date
Summary CPI-AUnadjusted
Estimated
Cost
(in Billions)
Deaths
Southwest/Southern Plains Drought
Summer-Fall 2018
DroughtJune 1, 2018December 30, 2018Drought conditions were present across numerous Southwestern and Plains states (TX, OK, KS, MO, CO, NM, AZ, UT). The most extreme drought conditions continue to persist across the Four Corners region of the Southwest. The agriculture sector has been impacted across the affected states including damage to field crops from lack of rainfall. Ranchers have also be forced to sell-off livestock early in some regions due to high feeding costs.$3.8 CI0
Texas, New Mexico, Arizona Wildfires
Summer-Fall 2011
WildfireJune 1, 2011November 30, 2011Continued drought conditions and periods of extreme heat provided conditions favorable for a series of historic wildfires across Texas, New Mexico and Arizona. The Bastrop Fire in Texas was the most destructive fire in Texas history destroying over 1,500 homes. The Wallow Fire consumed over 500,000 acres in Arizona making it the largest on record in Arizona. The Las Conchas Fire in New Mexico was also the state's largest wildfire on record scorching over 150,000 acres while threatening the Los Alamos National Laboratory. Over 3 million acres have burned across Texas this wildfire season.$2.5 CI5
Western/Eastern Drought/Heat Wave
Summer-Fall 2007
DroughtJune 1, 2007November 30, 2007Severe drought with periods of extreme heat over most of the southeast and portions of the Great Plains, Ohio Valley, and Great Lakes area, resulting in major reductions in crop yields, along with very low stream-flows and lake levels. Includes states of ND, SD, NE, KS, OK, TX, MN, WI, IA, MO, AR, LA, MS, AL, GA, NC, SC, FL, TN, VA, WV, KY, IN, IL, OH, MI, PA, NY.$5.5 CI15
Western Fire Season
Fall 2002
WildfireSeptember 1, 2002November 30, 2002Major wildfires over 11 western states from the Rockies to the west coast due to drought and periodic high winds, with over 7.1 million acres burned.$2.3 CI21
U.S. Drought
Spring-Fall 2002
DroughtMarch 1, 2002November 30, 2002Moderate to extreme drought over large portions of more than 30 states, including the western states, the Great Plains, and much of the eastern U.S.$16.0 CI0
Western/Central/Southeast Drought/Heat Wave
Spring-Fall 2000
DroughtMarch 1, 2000November 30, 2000Western/Central/Southeast Drought/Heat Wave. The states impacted include AZ, AL, AR, CA, CO, FL, GA, IA, KS, LA, MS, MT, NE, NM, OK, OR, SC, TN, and TX.$9.3 CI140
Western Severe Storms and Flooding
February 1986
Severe StormFebruary 14, 1986February 16, 1986Severe storms and flooding affect the states CA, CO, NV, OR, WY across the West.$1.5* CI13

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.

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