The US endured a record number of 28 weather and climate disasters in 2023, each causing $1 billion or more in damage and collectively killing at least 492 people.

The disasters, which included major floods in California, the Northeast and Florida and wildfires in Hawaii, broke the previous mark of 22 such disasters set in 2020, the National Centers for Environmental Information reported.

The number of deaths was the eighth-highest in records for the contiguous US going back to 1980. The disasters caused a total of $92.9 billion in damages and losses, but that figure could rise after a final analysis is done for storms and flooding that hit the East Coast in mid-December.

The annual number of disasters has increased significantly in recent years as climate change sparks more extreme weather. (Bloomberg)