Final answer:
Extreme weather events, which consist of extreme heat, cold, storms, and floods, are the top weather-related killers in the United States, not to be confused with the leading causes of death overall which are heart disease and various forms of cancer.
Step-by-step explanation:
The number one weather-related killer in the United States is extreme weather events which include extreme heat and cold, storms, and floods. These events can lead to direct fatalities from the events themselves or indirectly through the spread of diseases or aggravation of pre-existing health conditions. While cancer, specifically lung cancer, is a leading cause of death in the United States, and weather conditions can influence respiratory health, heart disease is actually the leading cause of death overall. However, it is the extreme weather events, intensified by climate change, that specifically account for the highest number of weather-related deaths historically.