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Storm hazard · NOAA Storm Events Database

Volcanic Ashfall in the United States

National statistics for volcanic ashfall events from the NOAA Storm Events Database (2015–2025): how often they occur, where they hit hardest, and the human and property toll.

74
Events recorded
0
Fatalities
$0
Property damage
2
States affected

How dangerous are Volcanic Ashfall events in the U.S.?

NOAA's Storm Events Database has catalogued 74 volcanic ashfall events across 2 states and territories between 2015 and 2025. The cumulative human toll is 0 fatalities and 0 injuries, and the financial footprint reaches $0 in combined property ($0) and crop ($0) damage. On a per-fatality basis this places volcanic ashfall events at a low severity tier relative to other tracked hazard types in the NOAA catalog.

Where this hazard actually strikes varies sharply by region. The three states absorbing the largest share of events are HI (72 events, 0 fatalities), AK (2 events, 0 fatalities), a pattern driven more by climatology than by any one state's vulnerability.

The annual record is uneven rather than steadily rising or falling. The peak year on record was 2018, logging 65 events and $0 in property damage in a single calendar year. The most recent year in the dataset is 2023 with 7 events recorded. Across the full 3-year window, annual event counts reflect natural year-to-year noise given how infrequently this hazard is recorded at all.

How to interpret this data

NOAA storm event data is filed by local National Weather Service forecast offices, so reporting intensity can vary by jurisdiction and should be interpreted alongside FEMA disaster declarations for a fuller picture.

For household and business preparedness, this state-and-year view should be paired with local-level FEMA National Risk Index ratings, flood-zone maps where applicable, and up-to-date NWS watch/warning information, population exposure and asset value matter as much as raw event frequency for estimating real-world risk.

Volcanic Ashfall by State

# State EventsFatalitiesProperty Damage
1 Hawaii HI 72 0 $0
2 Alaska AK 2 0 $0

Volcanic Ashfall by Year

Year Events Fatalities Injuries Property Damage
2023 7 0 0 $0
2022 2 0 0 $0
2018 65 0 0 $0

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many volcanic ashfall events have occurred in the US?
The NOAA Storm Events Database has recorded 74 volcanic ashfall events across 2 states from 2015 to 2025. These events caused 0 fatalities and 0 injuries.
Which states are most affected by volcanic ashfall events?
The states most affected by volcanic ashfall include HI (72 events), AK (2 events). These three states account for a significant share of all recorded volcanic ashfall incidents in the US.
How much damage do volcanic ashfall events cause?
Volcanic Ashfall events have caused an estimated $0 in combined property and crop damage from 2015 to 2025. Property damage alone accounts for $0, with crop damage at $0.
What year had the most volcanic ashfall events?
The year with the most recorded volcanic ashfall events was 2018, with 65 events resulting in 0 fatalities and $0 in property damage.
How dangerous are volcanic ashfall events?
Volcanic Ashfall events have a low severity rating based on 0 fatalities and 0 injuries recorded from 2015 to 2025 across 2 states. Preparedness and early warning systems are critical for reducing risk.

Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (2015-2025) NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (2015-2025) For informational purposes only

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

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Every figure on PlainHazard is rendered directly from FEMA federal disaster data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on FEMA federal disaster data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or national statistics report, or report a data error.