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| Erratic US 'weather whiplash' accounts for billions of dollars in global losses | Erratic US 'weather whiplash' accounts for billions of dollars in global losses |
| (4 months later) | |
| America has some of the wildest weather on the planet, and it turns out those extremes – which run from heat waves and tornadoes to floods, hurricanes and droughts – carry a heavy price tag. | America has some of the wildest weather on the planet, and it turns out those extremes – which run from heat waves and tornadoes to floods, hurricanes and droughts – carry a heavy price tag. |
| Climate studies have associated more frequent and intense weather events – such as heavy storms and heat waves – with climate change. The wild swings in weather across the midwest over the last few years – including heat waves, floods, and drought – have been cited as an example of what lies ahead with future climate change. | Climate studies have associated more frequent and intense weather events – such as heavy storms and heat waves – with climate change. The wild swings in weather across the midwest over the last few years – including heat waves, floods, and drought – have been cited as an example of what lies ahead with future climate change. |
| A report from the environmental research organisation World Watch Institute on Wednesday provided further evidence of the costs of those extreme shifts – known as "weather whiplash". | A report from the environmental research organisation World Watch Institute on Wednesday provided further evidence of the costs of those extreme shifts – known as "weather whiplash". |
| The report found that the United States alone accounted for more than two-thirds of the $170bn in losses caused by natural disasters around the world last year. | The report found that the United States alone accounted for more than two-thirds of the $170bn in losses caused by natural disasters around the world last year. |
| Hurricane Sandy, the drought that spread across the corn belt last summer, and a spate of tornadoes and other extreme storms together accounted for $100bn of those global losses, the report said. | Hurricane Sandy, the drought that spread across the corn belt last summer, and a spate of tornadoes and other extreme storms together accounted for $100bn of those global losses, the report said. |
| Some $58bn was covered by insurance still making 2012 the most expensive year in terms of natural disasters in the US since hurricane Katrina in 2005. | Some $58bn was covered by insurance still making 2012 the most expensive year in terms of natural disasters in the US since hurricane Katrina in 2005. |
| About a third of those losses, $20bn, was due to a drought which at its height ravaged 60% of the US mainland. | About a third of those losses, $20bn, was due to a drought which at its height ravaged 60% of the US mainland. |
| Last year did not set new records in terms of the sheer number of natural disasters or lives lost through such calamities. | Last year did not set new records in terms of the sheer number of natural disasters or lives lost through such calamities. |
| In all, there were 905 natural disasters around the world last year. Nearly all were weather or climate-related – with 45% attributed to storms, 35% to flooding and 12% to wildfires, drought, extreme heat or cold snaps, the report said. | In all, there were 905 natural disasters around the world last year. Nearly all were weather or climate-related – with 45% attributed to storms, 35% to flooding and 12% to wildfires, drought, extreme heat or cold snaps, the report said. |
| The remaining 7% were caused by earthquakes and volcanos. | The remaining 7% were caused by earthquakes and volcanos. |
| Deaths due to natural disasters reached 9,600 – only a fraction of the 10-year average of 106,000, the report said. | Deaths due to natural disasters reached 9,600 – only a fraction of the 10-year average of 106,000, the report said. |
| But in 2012 weather became far more deadly. Almost all of the fatalities last year, 93%, were due to weather-related events. | But in 2012 weather became far more deadly. Almost all of the fatalities last year, 93%, were due to weather-related events. |
| And the dangerous weather appears to be a trend. Property damage due to weather extremes has risen sharply in North America, including the Caribbean, over the last 30 years, the report said. | And the dangerous weather appears to be a trend. Property damage due to weather extremes has risen sharply in North America, including the Caribbean, over the last 30 years, the report said. |
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