Topics Weather
Hot Zones: Urban Heat Islands
A new Climate Central analysis evaluates the intensity of urban heat islands in cities around the country. Read the report to find out about the factors that cause hotter temperatures in urban areas, the impacts, and the solutions.
National map: top disaster by state (2020)
Not all disasters are created equal—check which type of billion-dollar weather and climate disaster has occurred the most in your state.
National map: Number of Disasters by State (2020)
Can you guess which state has experienced the most billion-dollar climate disasters? See NOAA’s 40-year dataset
National: Bar graph of overall U.S. billion-dollar disasters by decade (2020)
The 2010s had the most billion-dollar disasters in 34 of 52 states and territories (65%)
State: Bar graph of billion-dollar disasters by decade (2020)
With four decades of disaster data, the trend is not our friend. Billion-dollar weather and climate disasters are rising in most states, even after adjusting for inflation
Hotter Summers Mean More Stagnant Air
Hotter summers often lead to more stagnant air—trapping air pollutants that can cause health problems.
Nationwide Trends in Air Stagnation Since 1973
Since NOAA’s Index began in 1973, the number of annual stagnant days has increased in 83% of the contiguous U.S. cities analyzed.
More Extremely Hot Days (2019)
Climate change is making summer scorchers all the more extreme—check the trend for area.