NOAA's database documents weather-related disasters causing at least $1 billion in damage (adjusted for inflation) since 1980. During that time, the number of expensive extreme weather events has increased significantly. Last year, 27 billion-dollar disasters struck the U.S. and caused an estimated $183 billion in damage.

NOAA announced that it is decommissioning several databases, including its widely reported annual compilation of billion-dollar weather and climate disasters.