Weather of 2024

The following is a list of weather events that occurred on Earth in the year 2024. There were several weather events which had a significant impact, such as blizzards, cold waves, droughts, heat waves, wildfires, floods, tornadoes, tropical cyclones, and severe weather events. The deadliest weather event of the year was the West African floods, in which heavy rainfall caused the deaths of over 1,500 people. However, the Japan heatwaves may have killed more people after causing record-high temperatures across Japan. The costliest weather event of the year was Hurricane Helene, which caused widespread devastation across the Southeastern United States, causing $78.7 billion in damages, with $59.6 billion occurring in North Carolina. Other significant weather events were Typhoon Yagi, which caused extensive damage in Southeast Asia and South China, leaving over 840 people dead and causing $14.7 billion in damages, and Hurricane Milton, which became the most intense Atlantic hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico, tying with Hurricane Rita in 2005. The storm inflicted $34.4 billion in damages and 45 deaths.

Deadliest events

Types

The following listed different types of special weather conditions worldwide.

Cold snaps and winter storms

On February 19, following a heavy snow, an avalanche in Afghanistan's Nuristan Province killed 25 people.

Heat waves and droughts 2024 Southeast Asia heat wave

For the first time, in each month in a 12-month period (through June 2024), Earth’s average temperature exceeded 1.50 °C (2.70 °F) above the pre-industrial baseline. In a near-record heat wave, temperatures in Antarctica reached 28 °C (50 °F) above normal on certain days. The global average surface temperature in August 2024 was 1.51 °C (2.72 °F) above the pre-industrial level—the 13th month in a 14-month period for which it exceeded the 1.50 °C (2.70 °F) threshold. As reported in September, Brazil was experiencing its worst drought on record, affecting at least 59% of the country. For the week of October 23-28, 48 U.S. states were experiencing at least moderate drought, the greatest number of states in U.S. Drought Monitor history.

Tornadoes

There have been 1,880 preliminary filtered reports of tornadoes in the United States in 2024, of which at least 1,796 have been confirmed. Worldwide, at least 90 tornado-related deaths have been confirmed – 53 in the United States, 14 in China, 12 in South Africa, 5 in India, 3 in Indonesia, 2 in Mexico and 1 in Russia.

Tropical and subtropical cyclones

On January 1, Tropical Storm Alvaro made landfall in Madagascar. Alvaro would kill nineteen people. After a lull in activity, Cyclone Belal would form, bringing heavy wind to the islands of Mauritius and Réunion. A few days later, Tropical Storm Candice would form. Hurricane Beryl, the earliest Category 5 storm on record in the Atlantic (forming 28 June and reaching Category 5 on 1 July), broke records for rapid intensification 65 mph (105 km/h) in 24 hours), overall strength, and location for June. The system killed 73 people. Hurricane Helene in September made landfall near Perry, Florida as a Category 4 hurricane with winds of 140 mph (230 km/h), Killing 252 people, making it the deadliest hurricane in the continental U.S. since Hurricane Katrina. In the southern Appalachians, up to 30 in (76 cm) of rain fell, leading to the National Weather Service having to issue 34 flash flood emergencies. In Mount Mitchell, North Carolina, a 106 mph (171 km/h) gust was recorded, followed by 100 mph (160 km/h) in Alma, Georgia, and 99 mph (159 km/h) in Perry, Florida. In the Tampa–St. Petersburg area, storm surge up to 7.3 ft (2.2 m) was measured, while 12–16 ft (3.7–4.9 m) of surge was measured in Keaton Beach and Steinhatchee, where 80 percent of buildings were destroyed.

Extratropical cyclones and European windstorms

The first European windstorm of 2024 was Storm Henk, which was named by the Met Office on 2 January 2024 and subsequently Annelie by the FUB the same day, due to the threat of very strong winds.

Wildfires

The Park Fire was ignited by arson north of Chico, California on July 24. The fire destroyed 709 structures and damaged 54 others and rapidly spread to 429,603 acres. In September, there were a few wildfires burning outside Los Angeles and San Bernardino, the Line Fire, Bridge Fire, and Airport Fire. They were fueled by strong winds and hot, dry conditions.

Timeline This is a timeline of weather events during 2024.

January

December 30 – January 3 – Tropical Storm Alvaro kills nineteen people. January 2–5 – European windstorm Hank (Annelie) January 2–6 – 2024 France floods of January January 6–7 – January 2024 nor'easter January 8–10 – January 8-10, 2024 North American storm complex January 10–13 – January 10–13, 2024 North American storm complex January 11–18 – Cyclone Belal January 12 – 2024 El Carmen de Atrato landslide January 12–25 – Cyclone Kirrily January 13–16 – January 13-16, 2024 North American winter storm January 23–31 – 2024 Colombia wildfires

February February 1–5 – 2024 Chile wildfires February 4–7 – February 2024 California atmospheric rivers February 6 – 2024 Davao de Oro landslide February 10–18 – February 2024 nor'easter February 14 – March 6 – 2024 Port Hills fire in New Zealand February 19 – an avalanche in Afghanistan's Nuristan Province kills 25 people. February 21–26 – Cyclone Rae February 26 – March 16 – Smokehouse Creek Fire in Texas and Oklahoma February 29 – present – Pakistan floods

March March–September – 2024 Russian wildfires March 6 – September 4 – 2024 Afghanistan–Pakistan floods March 7–13 – 2024 Sumatra flash floods March 11 – 2024 France floods of March 11 March 13–15 – Tornado outbreak of March 13–15, 2024 March 17 – September 27 – 2024 North America heat waves March 18–22 – 2024 Papua New Guinea floods March 18 – May 20 – 2024 Kenya–Tanzania floods March 31 – 2024 France floods of March 31

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