Study Links Rising Power Outages in the U.S. to Increasing Severe Weather Events

Research highlights the growing overlap of extreme weather and prolonged power outages, driven by climate change and aging infrastructure.

A Columbia University-led study analyzed data from 2018–2020, revealing that 75% of U.S. counties experienced major power outages during severe weather events.
Over 50% of counties faced outages during multiple simultaneous weather events, such as wildfires paired with heatwaves or heavy precipitation with cyclones.
Precipitation-related outages were most common in the Northeast, while heat-related outages were more frequent in the Southeast; the West Coast saw a rise in outages linked to wildfires.
Severe weather-driven outages disrupt critical systems, including medical equipment and climate control, posing significant economic and health risks.
Researchers call for further data collection and simulations to improve hazard response strategies as climate change intensifies extreme weather patterns.