Facts + Statistics: Winter storms

Winter storms caused a record $15 billion in insured losses in 2021, according to Aon. Winter storms include snow, ice, freezing and flooding. The 2021 loss was almost entirely due to the February 12 to 22 winter storms that affected a large area of the United States, especially Texas.

U.S. Insured Losses from Winter Storms, 2011-2021

($ millions)

  Insured losses (1)
Year When occurred In 2021 dollars
2012 $589 $684
2013 1,976 2,264
2014 3,470 3,935
2015 3,918 4,440
2016 1,178 1,319
2017 926 1,012
2018 3,726 3,977
2019 1,859 1,955
2020 1,056 1,087
2021 15,520 15,520

(1) Includes losses sustained by private insurers and government-sponsored programs such as the National Flood Insurance Program. Subject to change as loss estimates are further developed.

Source: Aon.

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Top 10 Costliest U.S. Winter Events By Insured Losses, 1950-2021 (1)

($ millions)

        Insured loss
Rank Date Event Location When occurred In 2021 dollars (2)
1 Feb. 12-20, 2021 Polar Vortex, Texas Freeze TX, OR, WA, CO, NV, AR, OK,
GA, NC, FL, IL, IN, IA, WI, OH,
PA, VA, NC, SC, LA, MO, MS		 $15,000 $15,000
2 Mar. 11-14, 1993 Blizzard  AL, CT, DE, FL, GA, KY, LA, MA,
MD, ME, MS, NC, NH, NJ, NY, OH,
PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, VA, VT, WV		 2,000 4,010
3 Feb. 16-22, 2015 Winter storm, winter damage CT, DC, DE, IL, KY, MA, MD,
ME, MI, NC, NH, NJ, NY, OH,
PA, RI, SC, TN, VA, VT		 2,100 2,420
4 Dec. 17-30, 1983 Winter damage, cold wave AL, AR, CO, CT, DE, FL, GA,
IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA,
MD, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC,
ND, NE, NJ, NY, OH, OK, OR,
PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA,
WA, WI, WV, WY		 880 2,350
5 Jan. 5-8, 2014 Winter damage, cold wave  AL, GA, IL, IN, KY, MD, MI,
MO, MS, NC, NJ, NY, OH,
PA, SC, TN, VA		 1,670 1,930
6 Dec. 10-13, 1992 Winter storm CT, DE, MA, MD, NJ, NY, PA,
RI, VA, WV		 1,000 1,910
7 Nov. 24-30, 1950 Winter storm CT, DE, MA, MD, ME, NH, NJ,
NY, PA, RI, VT		 170 1,910
8 Mar. 1-3, 2018 Winter storm CT, DC, DE, MA, MD, NC, NJ,
NY, PA, RI, VA		 1,700 1,850
9 Jan. 29, 1951 Ice Storm TN, TX, VA, AL, KY, MS, LA,
GA, WV, VA, NC, SC		 150 1,600
10 Jan. 17-20, 1994 Winter damage, cold wave CT, DE, IL, IN, KY, MA, MD, ME,
NC, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI		 800 1,480

(1) Includes losses sustained by private insurers and government-sponsored programs such as the National Flood Insurance Program. Ranked on losses in 2021 dollars. Subject to change as loss estimates are further developed. As of February 1, 2022.
(2) Adjusted for inflation by Aon using the U.S. Consumer Price Index.

Source: Aon.

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