AccuWeather Estimates $500 Billion in Hurricane Damage

As the hurricane season came to an end, AccuWeather experts estimate that the five hurricanes and one unnamed tropical storm that made landfall in the U.S. caused an estimated $500 billion in total damage and economic loss.

“The 2024 hurricane season was explosive and will be remembered for shattering records and causing approximately half a trillion dollars in total damage,” said Chief Meteorologist Jon Porter. “For perspective, this would equate to almost 2% of the nation’s gross domestic product.”

More than 230 deaths have been directly linked to tropical storm and hurricane impacts in the U.S. this year.

AccuWeather’s estimates include impacts like long-term medical costs, job and wage losses, crop losses, infrastructure damage, business and supply chain disruptions, and many other impacts that most projections don’t account for.  Hurricane Helene was the most costly system this year, costing the United States was between $225 and $250 billion.

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