America's weather disasters of 2022, from storms and floods to heat waves and droughts

Rain and rapid snowmelt sent the Yellowstone River and nearby creeks raging beyond their banks in June 2022. William Campbell/Getty Images </figure><p>The year 2022 will be remembered in the United States for its devastating floods and storms, as well as its extreme heat waves and droughts.</p> <p>As of October, the United States had already experienced 15 disasters each causing more than $1 billion in damage, well above the average. The year began and ended with severe, widespread winter storms from Texas to Maine, affecting tens of millions of people and causing extensive damage. Then, March set the record for the most tornadoes reported during the month: 233.</p> <p>During a five-week period during the summer, five thousand-year-old rainfall events occurred in St. Louis, eastern Kentucky, southern Illinois, Valley of death in California and Dallas, causing devastating and sometimes deadly flash floods. Severe flooding in Mississippi cut off Jackson's water supply for weeks. A historic flood in Montana, caused by heavy rains and melting snow, has forced the evacuation of large areas of Yellowstone National Park.</p> <p>In the fall, Hurricanes Ian and Fiona inundated Florida and Puerto Rico with more than 6.6 meters of rain in places and deadly and destructive storm surges. Ian became one of the costliest hurricanes in US history. And a typhoon slammed 1,000 miles off the Alaskan coast.</p> <figure class=Flash flooding swept through the mountain valleys of eastern Kentucky in July 2022, killing more than three dozen people. It was the one of many destructive flash floods. Enlarge / Flash floods swept through the mountain valleys of eastern Kentucky in July 2022, killing more than three dozen people. It was one of many destructive flash floods.

  Technology   Dec 31, 2022   0   47  Add to Reading List
America's weather disasters of 2022, from storms and floods to heat waves and droughts
Rain and rapid snowmelt sent the Yellowstone River and nearby creeks raging beyond their banks in June 2022. William Campbell/Getty Images </figure><p>The year 2022 will be remembered in the United States for its devastating floods and storms, as well as its extreme heat waves and droughts.</p> <p>As of October, the United States had already experienced 15 disasters each causing more than $1 billion in damage, well above the average. The year began and ended with severe, widespread winter storms from Texas to Maine, affecting tens of millions of people and causing extensive damage. Then, March set the record for the most tornadoes reported during the month: 233.</p> <p>During a five-week period during the summer, five thousand-year-old rainfall events occurred in St. Louis, eastern Kentucky, southern Illinois, Valley of death in California and Dallas, causing devastating and sometimes deadly flash floods. Severe flooding in Mississippi cut off Jackson's water supply for weeks. A historic flood in Montana, caused by heavy rains and melting snow, has forced the evacuation of large areas of Yellowstone National Park.</p> <p>In the fall, Hurricanes Ian and Fiona inundated Florida and Puerto Rico with more than 6.6 meters of rain in places and deadly and destructive storm surges. Ian became one of the costliest hurricanes in US history. And a typhoon slammed 1,000 miles off the Alaskan coast.</p> <figure class=Flash flooding swept through the mountain valleys of eastern Kentucky in July 2022, killing more than three dozen people. It was the one of many destructive flash floods. Enlarge / Flash floods swept through the mountain valleys of eastern Kentucky in July 2022, killing more than three dozen people. It was one of many destructive flash floods.

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