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List of costliest tropical cyclones

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NASA flood image after Hurricane Katrina.

This is a list of costliest tropical cyclones, listed by tropical cyclone basin. Damage tolls of tropical cyclones are listed in USD of the year of the tropical cyclone. The main effects of tropical cyclones include strong winds, heavy rainfall, storm surge, floods, tornadoes, and landslides.[1] This list is based on property damage done directly by a tropical cyclone.

Overall costliest

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The costliest tropical cyclones on record are Hurricanes Katrina and Harvey, both causing $125 billion in damages in 2005 and 2017 respectively. In 2024, Hurricane Helene became the third most costly tropical cyclone on record. In 2022, Hurricane Ian became the fourth costliest tropical cyclone on record.[2][3][4][5] Maria, Irma, Ida, and Milton also have damage tolls of over $70 billion.[6][7][8]

Costliest Tropical Cyclones
Rank Hurricane Season Damage
1  5  Katrina 2005 $125 billion
 4  Harvey 2017
3  4  Helene 2024 $124 billion[note 1]
4  5  Ian 2022 $113 billion
5  5  Maria 2017 $91.6 billion
6  5  Milton 2024 $85 billion[note 2]
7  5  Irma 2017 $77.2 billion
8  4  Ida 2021 $75.3 billion
9  3  Sandy 2012 $68.7 billion
10  4  Ike 2008 $37 billion

North Atlantic Ocean

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Main article: List of costliest Atlantic hurricanes
Hurricane Katrina at peak intensity
Hurricane Harvey shortly before peak intensity
Hurricanes Katrina (left) and Harvey (right) both caused $125 billion in damage, more than any other tropical cyclone worldwide.

The costliest Atlantic hurricanes on record are Hurricanes Katrina and Harvey, both causing $125 billion in damages in 2005 and 2017 respectively. In 2022, Hurricane Ian became the third costliest Atlantic hurricane on record.[2][3][4][5] Hurricanes Maria, Milton, Helene, Irma, and Ida also have damage tolls of over $70 billion.[6][7][8] The costliest tropical cyclone in the Atlantic that did not become a hurricane is Tropical Storm Allison, which caused $9 billion in damages in 2001.[9] The costliest Atlantic hurricane to not have its name retired is Hurricane Sally in 2020, which caused $7.3 billion in damages.[10]

Costliest Atlantic hurricanes
Rank Hurricane Season Damage
1  5  Katrina 2005 $125 billion
 4  Harvey 2017
3  4  Helene 2024 $124 billion[note 3]
4  5  Ian 2022 $113 billion
5  5  Maria 2017 $91.6 billion
6  5  Milton 2024 $85 billion[note 4]
7  5  Irma 2017 $77.2 billion
8  4  Ida 2021 $75.3 billion
9  3  Sandy 2012 $68.7 billion
10  4  Ike 2008 $37 billion

Northeastern Pacific Ocean

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See also: List of Pacific hurricanes § Costliest tropical cyclones
Hurricane Iniki at peak intensity near landfall in Kauai

The costliest Pacific hurricane on record was Hurricane Otis in 2023.[11] Hurricane Manuel in 2013 is the second costliest Pacific hurricane on record.[12] Hurricane Iniki of the 1992 Pacific hurricane season is still the costliest central Pacific hurricane on record.[13] Only six Pacific hurricanes have caused over one billion dollars in damage; the three mentioned above, as well as Hurricane John, Hurricane Odile and Tropical Storm Agatha.[14][15][16]

Costliest Pacific hurricanes
Rank Hurricane Season Damage
1  5  Otis 2023 $12–16 billion
2  1  Manuel 2013 $4.2 billion
3  4  Iniki 1992 $3.1 billion
4  3  John 2024 $2.5 billion
5  4  Odile 2014 $1.25 billion
6  TS  Agatha 2010 $1.1 billion
7  4  Hilary 2023 $915 million
8  5  Willa 2018 $825 million
9  1  Madeline 1998 $750 million
10  2  Rosa 1994 $700 million

Northwestern Pacific Ocean

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The costliest typhoon on record was Typhoon Doksuri in 2023, which caused over $28 billion in damages, primarily in China.[17][18][19] Typhoon Hagibis in 2019 was responsible for nearly $18 billion in damages.[20] Typhoon Yagi in 2024 is the third costliest in nominal terms, causing $16.5 billion in damages, while Typhoon Jebi in 2018 is the fourth-costliest, causing $14 billion in damages. Adjusting for inflation, Typhoon Mireille of 1991 is the second-costliest typhoon on record with it causing $18.4 billion (2018 USD) in damages.[21] Without adjusting for inflation, it is tied with Typhoon Faxai of 2019 with causing $10 billion in damages.[22][23] Typhoons Lekima and Songda caused $9 billion in damages in 2019 and 2004 respectively.[24][23]

Costliest Pacific typhoons
Rank Typhoon Season Damage
1  4  Doksuri 2023 $28.5 billion
2  4  Mireille 1991 $22.4 billion
3  5  Hagibis 2019 $20.6 billion
4  5  Jebi 2018 $17 billion
5  5  Yagi 2024 $16.9 billion
6  4  Songda 2004 $15 billion
7  2  Fitow 2013 $13.6 billion
8  4  Faxai 2019 $11.9 billion
9  5  Saomai 2000 $11.1 billion
10  4  Lekima 2019 $11.1 billion

North Indian Ocean

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The costliest North Indian Ocean cyclone on record was Cyclone Amphan in 2020, which caused $15.5 billion in damages.[25] Cyclone Nargis became the second costliest cyclone in 2008 after causing $15.3 billion in damages.[26] Cyclone Gonu is the costliest tropical cyclone in the Arabian Sea.[27] Other costly cyclones include Cyclones Fani, the 1999 Odisha cyclone, and Cyclone Phailin.[28][29][30]

Costliest North Indian Ocean tropical cyclones
Rank Tropical cyclones Season Damage
1  5  Amphan 2020 $15.5 billion
2  4  Nargis 2008 $15.3 Billion
3  5  Fani 2019 $8.1 Billion
4  5  "Odisha" 1999 $4.44 Billion
5  5  Gonu 2007 $4.42 Billion
6  5  Phailin 2013 $4.26 Billion
7  4  Hudhud 2014 $3.41 Billion
8  3  Bulbul 2019 $3.54 Billion
9  2  Vardah 2016 $3.38 Billion
10  3  "Gujarat" 1998 $3 Billion

South-West Indian Ocean

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Only six South-West Indian Ocean tropical cyclones are known to have caused over $300 million in damages. Among these, the costliest on record was Cyclone Idai in 2019, which caused $3.3 billion in damages.[31] The other five cyclones are Freddy in 2023, Chido in 2024, Enawo in 2017, Kenneth in 2019 and Leon–Eline in 2000; respectively, the five cyclones caused $1.53 billion, $675 million, $400 million, $345 million and $311 million in damages.[32][33][31][34][35]

Costliest South-West Indian Ocean tropical cyclones
Rank Tropical cyclones Season Damage
1  4  Idai 2018-19 $3.3 billion
2  SD  Issa 2021–22 $1.57 billion
3  5  Freddy 2022-23 $1.53 billion
4  4  Chido 2024-25 $675 million
5  4  Enawo 2016-17 $400 million
6  4  Kenneth 2018-19 $345 million
7  4  Leon–Eline 1999-00 $311 million
8  4  Dina 2001–02 $287 million
9  5  Gafilo 2003–04 $250 million
10  3  Kamisy 1983–84 $250 million

Australian region

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Cyclone Tracy at landfall in the Northern Territory on December 25, 1974

The costliest Australian region tropical cyclone on record was Cyclone Yasi in 2011, which caused $3.6 billion in damages.[36] The next costliest cyclone, Debbie, caused $2.67 billion in damages[37] and is closely followed by Oswald which caused $2.52 billion in damages.[38] Additionally, Cyclones Veronica, Ita, and Larry caused over $1 billion in damages in 2019, 2014, and 2006 respectively.[39][40][41][42][43] Cyclone Tracy is considered one of Australia's most destructive cyclones. While only causing $645 million in damages,[note 5][44] 71 people were killed and over 25,000 people were left homeless.[45]

Costliest Australian region tropical cyclones
Rank Tropical cyclones Season Damage
1  4  Yasi 2010-11 $3.6 Billion
2  4  Debbie 2016-17 $2.67 Billion
3  TS  Oswald 2012-13 $2.52 Billion
4  4  Veronica 2018-19 $1.2 Billion
5  5  Ita 2013-14 $1.15 Billion
6  4  Larry 2005-06 $1.1 Billion
7  4  Jasper 2023-24 $670 Million
8  4  Trevor 2018-19 $645 Million
9  5  Marcia 2014–15 $587 Million
10  3  Rusty 2012-13 $510 Million

South Pacific Ocean

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The costliest South Pacific tropical cyclone was Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023, which caused $9.2 billion in damages.[46] The next costliest, Cyclone Winston in 2016, caused $1.4 billion in damages.[47] Other costly South Pacific cyclones include Cyclone Pam in 2015[48][49] and Tropical Depression 06F in 2023.[50]

Costliest South Pacific Ocean tropical cyclones
Rank Tropical cyclones Season Damage
1  2  Gabrielle 2022-23 $9.2 billion
2  TD  06F 2022-23 $2.6 billion
3  5  Winston 2015-16 $1.4 billion
4  5  Pam 2014-15 $692 million
5  4  Kevin 2022-23 $433 million
6  4  Evan 2012–13 $313 million
7  4  Gita 2017–18 $253 million
8  5  Niran 2020–21 $250 million
9  5  Yasa 2020–21 $247 million
10  4  Ofa 1989–90 $188 million

Mediterranean Sea

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Storm Daniel was responsible for over 4,000 confirmed deaths in Libya.[51]

The costliest Mediterranean tropical-like cyclone is Storm Daniel in 2023, which caused $21.14 billion in damages in Greece and Libya.[52][53] The next costliest is Tropical Storm Rolf in 2011, which caused over $1.25 billion in damages.[54] Other costly Mediterranean tropical-like cyclones include Cyclone Qendresa in 2014,[55] Cyclone Numa in 2017,[56] Cyclone Ianos in 2020,[57] and Cyclone Apollo in 2021.[58]

Elsewhere

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Only two South Atlantic tropical cyclones have caused measurable amounts of damages. In 2004, Hurricane Catarina caused $350 million in damages when it made a category two landfall in Santa Catarina. In 2022, Subtropical Storm Yakecan caused $50 million in damages in Uruguay and Southern Brazil.[59][60]

In the eastern portion of the South Pacific, tropical cyclone formation is extremely rare, and Cyclone Yaku in 2023 is the only known system to impact land, causing $690 million in damages in Peru and Ecuador.[61]

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Unofficial estimates
  2. ^ Unofficial estimates
  3. ^ Unofficial estimates
  4. ^ Unofficial estimates
  5. ^ Adjusted for inflation, damages are the highest on record, at $7.69 billion.

References

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