List of weather records
This is a list of weather records, a list of the most extreme occurrences of weather phenomena for various categories. Many weather records are measured under specific conditions—such as surface temperature and wind speed—to keep consistency among measurements around the Earth. Each of these records is understood to be the record value officially observed, as these records may have been exceeded before modern weather instrumentation was invented, or in remote areas without an official weather station. This list does not include remotely sensed observations such as satellite measurements, since those values are not considered official records.
Temperature
Measuring conditions
The standard measuring conditions for temperature are in the air, above the ground, and shielded from direct sunlight intensity. The following lists include all officially confirmed claims measured by those methods.Temperatures measured directly on the ground may exceed air temperatures by. The highest natural ground surface temperature ever recorded was at Furnace Creek, Death Valley, California, United States on 15 July 1972. In recent years a ground temperature of has been recorded in Port Sudan, Sudan. The theoretical maximum possible ground surface temperature has been estimated to be between for dry, darkish soils of low thermal conductivity.
Satellite measurements of ground temperature taken between 2003 and 2009, taken with the MODIS infrared spectroradiometer on the Aqua satellite, found a maximum temperature of, which was recorded in 2005 in the Lut Desert, Iran. The Lut Desert was also found to have the highest maximum temperature in 5 of the 7 years measured. These measurements reflect averages over a large region and so are lower than the maximum point surface temperature.
Satellite measurements of the surface temperature of Antarctica, taken between 1982 and 2013, found a coldest temperature of on 10 August 2010, at. Although this is not comparable to an air temperature, it is believed that the air temperature at this location would have been lower than the official record lowest air temperature of.
Hottest
Highest temperatures ever recorded
According to the World Meteorological Organization, the highest temperature ever recorded was on 10 July 1913 in Furnace Creek, California, United States, but the validity of this record is challengedas possible problems with the reading have since been discovered. Christopher C. Burt, a weather historian writing for Weather Underground, believes that the 1913 Death Valley reading is "a myth", and is at least too high. Burt proposes that the highest reliably recorded temperature on Earth could be at Death Valley, but is instead recorded on 30 June 2013. This is lower than a 1931 record of recorded in Kebili, Tunisia and is matched by a 1942 record of from Tirat Zvi, Israel. Recent readings in Kuwait and Iran have also matched the 2013 Death Valley record. The WMO has stated they stand by the 1913 record pending any future investigations.
The former highest official temperature on Earth was reassessed in July 2012 by the WMO which published a report that invalidated the record. There have been other unconfirmed reports of high temperatures, with readings as high as in the Flaming Mountains of China in 2008. However, these temperatures have never been confirmed, and are currently considered to have been recorder's errors, thus not being recognised as world records.
By continent
Africa
Antarctica
Asia
Europe
North America
Oceania
South America
Other high-temperature records
- Most consecutive days above 37.8 °C : 160 days; Marble Bar, Western Australia from 31 October 1923 to 7 April 1924.
- Most consecutive days above 48.9 °C : 43 days; Death Valley, California from 6 July through 17 August 1917.
- Highest natural ground surface temperature:, in Death Valley, California, 15 July 1972.
- Highest temperature during rain: 48.3 °C in Imperial, California, 24 July 2018
- Highest overnight low temperature: at the Khasab weather station in Oman on 17 June 2017.
- Highest minimum temperature for a 24-hour period and for a calendar day: at Qurayyat, Oman on 25 June 2018.
- Highest average monthly temperature: , in Death Valley, California, for the month of July 2018.
Humidity
- Highest dew point temperature: A dew point of was observed at Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, at 3:00 p.m. on 8 July 2003.
- Highest temperature while the humidity is literally at 100%: Jask, Iran on 21 July 2012.
Coldest
Lowest temperatures recorded
By continent
Africa
Antarctica
| Country/Region | Temperature | Town/Location | Date |
| Vostok Station | |||
| Dome A | Dome A | ||
| South Pole | Amundsen–Scott South Pole Station |
Asia
| Country/Region | Temperature | Town/Location | Date |
| Shahrak | |||
| Paghakn and Ashocq | |||
| Julfa and Ordubad | ? | ||
| Tetulia Upazila, Panchagarh | |||
| Bumthang | |||
| Genhe, Inner Mongolia | |||
| Cambodia | Mondolkiri, Ratanakkiri and Preah Vihear | ||
| Tai Mo Shan | |||
| Dras, Jammu and Kashmir | |||
| Saqqez | |||
| Merom Golan | |||
| Asahikawa, Hokkaidō | |||
| Shoubak | |||
| Atbasar | ? | ||
| Salmy | |||
| Fergana Valley | ? | ||
| Cameron Highlands | |||
| Hulhulé Island, located at Ibrahim Nasir International Airport | |||
| Züüngovi, Uvs Province | |||
| Hakha | |||
| Sagarmantha | ? | ||
| Chunggangjin | |||
| Skardu | |||
| Baguio | |||
| Abu Samra | |||
| Verkhoyansk and Oymyakon, both in Sakha Republic | 7 February 1892 6 February 1933 | ||
| Turaif | ? | ||
| Paya Lebar | |||
| Yangpyeong | 5 January 1981 | ||
| Idlib | |||
| Yushan | |||
| Sakon Nakhon | |||
| Çaldıran, Van Province | |||
| Daşoguz Region | ? | ||
| Jebel Jais | |||
| Sa Pa |
Europe
| Country/Region | Temperature | Town/Location | Date |
| ? | ? | ||
| Grünloch doline | |||
| Slavnom, Vitsebsk Voblast | |||
| Valley of the Lesse in Rochefort | |||
| Igman in Sarajevo Canton | |||
| Tran | |||
| Gračac | |||
| ? | ? | ||
| Litvínovice | |||
| Thisted Municipality, North Denmark Region | |||
| Jõgeva, Jõgeva County | |||
| Pokka, Kittilä, Lapland | |||
| Mouthe, Doubs | |||
| Funtensee, Berchtesgadener Land, Bavaria | |||
| Ptolemaida | |||
| Görömbölytapolca | |||
| Grímsstaðir | |||
| Markree Castle, County Sligo | |||
| Busa Fradusta, Pale di San Martino | |||
| Daugavpils | |||
| Utena, Utena County | |||
| Malta International Airport | |||
| Brătușeni, Edineț District | |||
| Winterswijk | |||
| Berovo, Berovo Municipality | |||
| Karasjok, Finnmark | |||
| Siedlce, Masovian Voivodeship | |||
| Penhas da Saúde, Covilhã Municipality Miranda do Douro | and 5 February 1954 | ||
| Bod, Braşov County | |||
| European Russia | Ust' Shchugor, Komi Republic | ||
| Karajukica Bunari, Zlatibor District | |||
| Vígľaš-Pstruša | |||
| Babno Polje | 16 February 1956 13 January 1968 | ||
| Calamocha Airport, Teruel Province | |||
| Vuoggatjålme, Lappland | |||
| La Brévine | |||
| Luhansk | |||
| Braemar, Aberdeenshire Altnaharra, Sutherland | 10 January 1982 30 December 1995 |
North America
| Country/Region | Temperature | Town/Location | Date |
| V. C. Bird International Airport, Antigua | 31 December 1974 and 28 January 1976 | ||
| Snag, Yukon | 3 February 1947 | ||
| Owen Roberts International Airport, Grand Cayman | ? | ||
| Bainoa, Mayabeque Province | 18 February 1996 | ||
| Valle Nuevo, La Vega Province | 17 January 1983 | ||
| North Ice | 9 January 1954 | ||
| Olintepeque, Quetzaltenango Department | ? | ||
| Le Lamentin | |||
| Bajo Grande, Chiriquí Province | 20 February 1995 | ||
| Aibonito San Sebastian | 9 March 1911 24 January 1966 | ||
| Anna's Hope, Saint Croix | 31 January 1954 | ||
| Prospect Creek, Alaska | 23 January 1971 | ||
| Rogers Pass, Montana | 20 January 1954 |
South America
| Country/Region | Temperature | Town/Location | Date |
| Sarmiento, Chubut Province | |||
| Caçador, Santa Catarina | |||
| Páramo de Berlín, Tona, Santander | |||
| Maripasoula | |||
| Pratts Gill, Boquerón Department | |||
| Mazo Cruz, Puno Region | |||
| Melo, Cerro Largo Department |
Oceania
| Country/Region | Temperature | Town/Location | Date |
| Charlotte Pass, New South Wales | |||
| Mauna Kea, Hawaii | |||
| Ranfurly, Central Otago | |||
| Afiamalu | |||
| Rennell Tingoa | Early June 2016 |
Other low-temperature records
- Coldest summer : ; Summit Camp, Greenland on 4 July 2017.
Record extreme temperature differences
- Greatest 2-minute temperature increase: 27 °C, from to ; Spearfish, South Dakota, on 22 January 1943.
- Greatest 24-hour temperature increase: +57 °C, from to ; Loma, Montana, on 15 January 1972.
- Fastest temperature drop: 27.2 °C in 5 minutes; Rapid City, South Dakota, 10 January 1911.
- Largest temperature range ever in 1 area: 105.8 °C, from on 15 January 1885, 5,7 February 1892 to on 20 June 2020; Verhoyansk, Sakha Republic, Russia
Precipitation
- Least per year : per year or less, Quillagua, Antofagasta Region, Chile.
Rain
- Most in one minute:. 4 July 1956. Unionville, Frederick County, Maryland.
- Most in one hour: in 60 minutes. Holt, Missouri, United States, 22 June 1947.
- Most in 12 hours : ; Cilaos, Réunion, 8 January 1966, during Tropical Cyclone Denise.
- Most in 24 hours : ; Cilaos, Réunion, 7–8 January 1966, during Tropical Cyclone Denise.
- Most in 48 hours : ; Cherrapunji, Meghalaya, India, 15–16 June 1995.
- Most in 72 hours : ; Commerson, Réunion, 24–26 February 2007, during Cyclone Gamede.
- Most in 96 hours : ; Commerson, Réunion, 24–27 February 2007, during Cyclone Gamede.
- Most in one year: ; Cherrapunji, Meghalaya, India, 1860–1861.
- Most from a single tropical storm: ; Commerson, Réunion, during Cyclone Hyacinthe in January 1980.
- Highest average annual total : and ; Mawsynram, Meghalaya, India or ; López de Micay, Cauca, Colombia.
- Most consecutive days with measurable rain a day with at least of rainfall: 331 days in Oahu, Hawaii
Snow
- Most in a 24-hour period: 2.56 meters in Capracotta, Italy on 5 March 2015.
- Most in one calendar month: 9.91 meters of snow fell in Tamarack, California in January 1911, leading to a snow depth in March of 11.46 meters .
- Most in one season : 29.0 meters, ; Mount Baker, Washington, United States, 1998 through 1999.
- Most in one-year period: 31.5 meters ; Mount Rainier, Washington, United States, 19 February 1971 to 18 February 1972.
- Deepest snowfall recorded: 11.82 meters on Mt. Ibuki, Japan on 14 February 1927.
Wind speeds
- Fastest ever recorded: 484±32 km/h 3-second gust; Observed by a DOW radar unit in a tornado between Oklahoma City and Moore, Oklahoma on 3 May 1999.
- Fastest recorded with an anemometer: 113.2 m/s or 3-second gust; one of five extreme gusts during a series of 5-min time periods; Barrow Island, 10 April 1996, during Cyclone Olivia.
- Fastest recorded with an anemometer outside a tropical cyclone: 372 km/h sustained 1-minute average; Mount Washington, New Hampshire, 12 April 1934.
- Fastest daily average: 174 km/h ; Port Martin, Antarctica, 24-hour period from 21 March 1951 to 22 March 1951.
Tornadoes
Deadliest in history
- On Earth: Approximately 1,300 deaths ; Manikganj District, Bangladesh on 26 April 1989.
- In North America: 695 deaths ; Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, United States, 18 March 1925.
- In Europe: 600 or more ; Valletta, Malta, 23 September 1551 or 1556.
- In South America: 63 deaths, San Justo, Santa Fe, Argentina, 10 January 1973.
- In Australia: Three deaths, Kin Kin, Queensland tornado, 14 August 1971.
Outbreaks
- Largest and most severe: The 2011 Super Outbreak: 207 confirmed tornadoes occurred in a span of 24 hours, with a total of 337 occurring throughout the duration of the outbreak. They affected six US states, and included 11 rated EF4 and 4 rated EF5.
Tropical cyclones
Most intense (by minimum surface air pressure)
- Most intense ever recorded: 870 hPa ; eye of Super Typhoon Tip over the northwest Pacific Ocean, 12 October 1979.
- Most intense in the Western Hemisphere: 872 hPa ; eye of Hurricane Patricia over the eastern Pacific Ocean, 23 October 2015.
- Most intense ever recorded on land: 892 hPa ; Craig Key, Florida, United States, eye of the Labor Day Hurricane, 2 September 1935. While other landfalling tropical cyclones potentially had lower pressures, data is vague from areas other than the Atlantic basin, especially before the invention of weather satellites.
- Most intense landfall : 884 hPa ; Rakiraki District, Viti Levu, Fiji, during Cyclone Winston, 20 February 2016. Although no official land pressure readings were recorded at the landfall site, it is estimated the Winston made landfall with the aforementioned pressure.
Most precipitation
- Most precipitation from a single tropical storm: ; Commerson, Réunion, during Cyclone Hyacinthe in January 1980.
Other severe weather
Hail
- Heaviest officially recorded: ; Gopalganj District, Bangladesh, 14 April 1986.
- Largest diameter officially measured: diameter, circumference; Vivian, South Dakota, 23 July 2010.
- Largest circumference officially measured: circumference, diameter; Aurora, Nebraska, 22 June 2003.
Lightning
- Longest lightning bolt: on 31 October 2018 in Rio Grande do Sul, southern Brazil.
- Longest duration for a single lightning flash: 16.7 seconds on 4 March 2019 in Argentina.
Ultraviolet index
- Highest ultraviolet index measured: On 29 December 2003, a UV index of 43.3 was detected at Chile/Bolivia's Licancabur volcano, at altitude. A light-skinned individual in such conditions may experience moderate sunburn in as little as 4 minutes.
Other categories
- Highest air pressure ever recorded : 1,084.8 hPa ; Tosontsengel, Khövsgöl Province, Mongolia, 19 December 2001. This is the equivalent sea-level pressure; Tosontsengel is located at above sea level. The highest adjusted-to-sea-level barometric pressure ever recorded was at Agata, Evenhiyskiy, Russia on 31 December 1968 of 1,083.3 hectopascals . The discrimination is due to the problematic assumptions associated with reduction of sea level from high elevations.