Billion-dollar Weather Disasters Database Relaunched by Nonprofit | AI News Digest
The nonprofit Climate Central has announced the relaunch of its Billion-Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters Database, which had been shelved by the Trump administration in May. This vital resource monitors the financial repercussions of severe weather events in the United States that result in damages exceeding $1 billion. In its inaugural update, the database revealed staggering losses of $101.4 billion in the first half of 2025, making it the most expensive start to a year since 1980. Adam Smith, a former economist with NOAA, will lead the database, which has already recorded 14 billion-dollar disasters in just six months, including major wildfires and tornado outbreaks. The return of this database is essential for assessing the economic fallout from climate-related disasters, particularly as their frequency and intensity continue to escalate due to factors such as population growth and urban expansion.
Read more...
