The most expensive weather and climate disaster in 2023 was a drought and heat wave across the South and Midwest that cost $14.5 billion. But weather conditions that don’t cost billions, like extreme cold, still have major community impacts.
Drought most expensive disaster in 2023; cold costly in other ways chicagotribune.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from chicagotribune.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
The United States experienced 28 billion-dollar weather and climate disasters in 2023, surpassing the previous record of 22 in 2020. Nine of these events affected Illinois, with the most expensive in the nation being a drought and heat wave across the South and Midwest that cost $14.5 billion. The total amount incurred nationwide was a staggering $92.9 billion, according to the latest update .
Vast fields of corn line the roads near the village of Beecher. Over one hill, the landscape shifts, revealing plots studded with medicinal and industrial hemp plants.