The Effect of Extreme Weather on Mortality: Evidence from the United States

Abstract

This paper estimates the impact of extreme weather on mortality rates associated with 5 specific causes and total mortality across the counties in the United States, period of 1979-2002. Using the county-level panel data I explored how significantly the deviations in the temperatures and precipitation impact mortality rates specifically cardiovascular, respiratory, neoplasms, transport injuries, self-harm and interpersonal mortalities. By using a comprehensive methodological framework that points to the standardized z-scores to identify the significant weather anomalies, uses average temperature bins to explore the non-linear effects and sets the temperature thresholds to see the consequences of extreme heat and cold. This study enhances our understanding of climate health. Key findings show that average temperature ranges between <0◦F -60◦F have a significant impact on total and cardiovascular mortalities. The extreme maximum and minimum temperatures are significantly associated with motor vehicle accidents, likely due to tire blowouts and wet ice road conditions. This research contributes to the understanding of how extreme weather affects health, offering important insights into how such conditions impact mortality. .