Table of Contents
Number of deaths due to weather conditions and storms in the U.S. in 2019
| Characteristic | Number of fatalities |
|---|---|
| Tornado | 42 |
| Thunderstorm wind | 38 |
| Extreme cold | 35 |
| Lightning strike | 20 |
What is the main cause of deaths in a storm?
Overall, the study showed 82 percent of storm victims die as a result of water incidents, 12 percent from wind, 4 percent from tornadoes and 2 percent from other factors.
What is the #1 severe weather killer in the United States?
Tornadoes, hurricanes and floods often capture the public’s attention, but it’s the extreme heat that’s deserving of more awareness — it’s the No. 1 weather-related killer. Excessive heat claimed an average of 138 lives per year in the U.S. from 1990 through 2019, according to the National Weather Service.
What is storm death?
Storms deaths are the most unfortunate aspect of weather. Sudden rushes of water can occur during a flash flood and during the storm surge of a hurricane. Often people are trapped inside a structure or their car and this makes it more difficult to escape.
What is the deadliest weather event?
The largest number of reported injuries resulted from tornadoes, high winds including thunderstorm winds, and wildfires. The most deadly weather events in the United States over the past five years include Hurricane Irma, Hurricane Harvey, and California wildfires.
Is heat the number one killer?
According to NWS data, heat has been the leading cause of death among weather-related fatalities over the past 30 years. Over the last 10 years, heat, floods, and tornadoes have been the top weather-related killers in the U.S., according to NWS. In 2020, tornadoes led to the most weather-related deaths, NWS data shows.
How do most tornado deaths occur?
Most people who die in tornados are killed by coming in contact with flying debris and suffering from blunt force trauma.
What is the number 1 weather-related killer?
heat
However, the No. 1 weather-related killer, by far, is in fact heat.