Multidimensional Assessment of Meteorological Hazard Impacts: Spatiotemporal Evolution in China (2004–2021)

Meteorological hazards threaten sustainable development by affecting human safety, economic stability, and food security. Climate change increases extreme weather frequency, underscoring the urgency for comprehensive evaluation frameworks. However, existing frameworks rarely integrate multiple impact dimensions, limiting their practical utility. To address this gap, our core objective is to develop two novel index series, a single-hazard composite impact index (SHCI) and a multi-hazard composite impact index (MHCI), employing entropy weighting to integrate demographic and economic factors, enabling a more holistic assessment of meteorological hazard impacts in China. Analysis of 2004–2021 data on drought, rainstorm and flood (RF), hail and lightning (HL), typhoon, and low-temperature freezing (LTF) revealed decreases in the national MHCI and SHCI. Key results include the following: (1) the relative MHCI decreased by 74.8%, exceeding 61.21% of absolute MHCI; (2) nationally, 2010, 2013, and 2016 had high MHCI values, and Sichuan has the most extreme hazard years (three) among all the provinces; and (3) provincially, Ningxia has the highest absolute and relative MHCI, while SHCIs varied spatially. These findings provide specific references for climate adaptation planning and the optimization of hazard risk reduction strategies. The methodology offers a versatile framework for multi-hazard risk assessment in nations experiencing climatic and demographic transitions.