Abstract
A unique historical data set describing the 142 storms each producing losses in excess of $100 million in the United States during the 1950–89 period were analyzed to describe their temporal characteristics. The storms caused $66.2 billion in losses (in 1991 values), 76% of the nation's insured storm losses in this period. These extreme storm catastrophes (SCs) were most prevalent in the south, southeast, northeast, and central U.S., with few in and west of the Rocky Mountains. Storm incidences were high in the 1950s, low in the 1960s-early 1970s, and increased in the 1980s. Losses due to SCs peaked in the 1950s, again in the late 1960s, with a lesser peak after 1985. The areal extent of storm losses peaked after 1975 and was least in the 1960s. The temporal variations of the three storm measures (incidence, losses, and extent) did not agree except when they all peaked in the 1950s. Regionally-derived time distributions of SCs showed a marked north-south differences in the United States with a U-shaped 40-year distribution in the northern half of the nation, and a relatively flat trend until a peak in the 1980s in the southern regions. The temporal distributions of hurricane-caused catastrophes differed regionally with occurrences in the prime areas, the southern, southeastern, and northeastern U.S., each quite different. Temporal distributions of thunderstorm and winter storm catastrophes were regionally more uniform.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Agee, E. M.: 1991, Trends in cyclone and anticyclone frequency and comparison with periods of warming and cooling over North America, J. Climate 4, 263–267.
Karl, R. R. and Koseilny, A. J.: 1982, Drought in the United States, 1895–1982, J. Climate 2, 313–329.
Ludlum, D. M., 1963: Early American Hurricanes, American Meteorological Society, Boston.
Whittaker, L. M. and Horn, L. H.: 1981, Geographical and seasonal distribution of North American cyclogenesis, 1958–1977, Monthly Wea. Rev. 109, 2312–2322.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Changnon, S.A., Changnon, J.M. Storm catastrophes in the United States. Nat Hazards 6, 93–107 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00124618
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00124618