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,  to  above the ground, and shielded from direct sunlight intensity (hence the term x degrees "in the shade"). 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 may have been an alleged reading of  at Furnace Creek, California, United States, on 15 July 1972. In 2011, a ground temperature of  was 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 five of the seven years measured (2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2009). 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 (WMO), the highest temperature ever recorded was  on 10 July 1913 in Furnace Creek (Greenland Ranch), California, United States, but the validity of this record is challenged
as 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 still 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. 2016 and 2017 readings in Kuwait and Iran have also matched the 2013 Death Valley record, while readings in 2020 and 2021 also at Furnace Creek went even higher, up to 54.4 °C (129.9 °F), however, they have not yet been validated by WMO. The WMO has stated they stand by the 1913 record pending any future investigations.

The former highest official temperature on Earth, , measured in ʽAziziya, Libya on 13 September 1922, 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, but these temperatures have never been officially validated by national weather services/WMO, and are currently considered to have been recorder's errors, thus not being recognised as world records.

Highest global average temperature 
The warmest day on record for the entire planet was 6 July 2023, when the highest global average temperature was recorded at . The month of July 2023 was the hottest month on record globally.

Table

Other high-temperature records

 Highest natural ground surface temperature: , in Death Valley, California, 15 July 1972.
 Highest temperature during rain:  48.3 °C (119.0 °F) in Imperial, California, 24 July 2018
 Highest overnight low temperature:  at the Khasab weather station (WMO Index = 41241) 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.
 Highest temperature north of the Arctic Circle:  in Verkhoyansk, Russia on 20 June 2020.
 Highest temperature ever recorded north of the 50th parallel north:  at Lytton, British Columbia, Canada on 29 June 2021.

Humidity
 Highest dew point temperature: A dew point of  — while the temperature was  — was observed at Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, at 3:00 p.m. on 8 July 2003.
 Highest temperature with 100% relative humidity: A temperature of  with 100% relative humidity in Jask, Iran, on 21 July 2012.

Coldest

Lowest temperatures recorded 

The coldest temperature recorded is , in Antarctica.

Table

Other low-temperature records 
 Coldest summer (month of July in the Northern Hemisphere): ; Summit Camp, Greenland on 4 July 2017.
 Lowest temperature in the Northern Hemisphere: ; Greenland Ice Sheet, Greenland on 22 December 1991.

Record extreme temperature differences
 Greatest 2-minute temperature increase: 27 °C (49 °F), from  to ; Spearfish, South Dakota, on 22 January 1943.
 Greatest 24-hour temperature increase: +57 °C (+102.6 °F), from  to ; Loma, Montana, on 15 January 1972.
 Fastest temperature drop: 27.2 °C (49 °F) in 5 minutes; Rapid City, South Dakota, 10 January 1911.
 Largest temperature range ever in 1 area: 105.8 °C (190.4 °F), from  on 15 January 1885, 5,7 February 1892 to  on 20 June 2020; Verhoyansk, Sakha Republic, Russia

Precipitation
 Least per year (locale):  per year or less, Quillagua, Antofagasta Region, Chile.

Rain
 Most in 60 seconds (1 minute): . Barot, Sainte-Anne, Grande-Terre, Guadeloupe, France 11:03–11:04 am on 26 November 1970.
 Most in 180 seconds (3 minutes): . Portobelo, Colón, Panama, 29 November 1911
 Most in 300 seconds (5 minutes): . Portobelo, Colón, Panama, 29 November 1911
 Most in 60 minutes (1 hour): . Holt, Missouri, United States, 22 June 1947.
 Most in 12 hours (-day): ; Cilaos, Réunion, 8 January 1966, during Tropical Cyclone Denise.
 Most in 24 hours (1 day): ; Cilaos, Réunion, 7–8 January 1966, during Tropical Cyclone Denise.
 Most in 48 hours (2 days): ; Cherrapunji, Meghalaya, India, 15–16 June 1995.
 Most in 72 hours (3 days): ; Commerson, Réunion, 24–26 February 2007, during Cyclone Gamede.
 Most in 96 hours (4 days): ; Commerson, Réunion, 24–27 February 2007, during Cyclone Gamede.
 Most in one year: ; Cherrapunji, Meghalaya, India, 1860–1861.
 Most from a single tropical cyclone: ; Commerson, Réunion, during Cyclone Hyacinthe in January 1980.
 Highest average annual total (observed over 10 years):  (over 38 years) and  (1998–2010); Mawsynram, Meghalaya, India or  (1980–2011); López de Micay, Cauca, Colombia.
 Most consecutive days with measurable rain a day with at least  of rainfall: 331 days in Oahu, Hawaii, 1939-1940

Snow
Most in a 24-hour period:  of snow on Mount Ibuki, Japan on 14 February 1927.
Most in one calendar month: 9.91 meters (390 inches) of snow fell in Tamarack, California in January 1911, leading to a snow depth in March of 11.46 meters (451 inches) (greatest measured in North America).
Most in one season (1 July – 30 June): 29.0 meters, (95 ft); Mount Baker, Washington, United States, 1998 through 1999.
 Most in one-year period: 31.5 meters (102 ft); Mount Rainier, Washington, United States, 19 February 1971 to 18 February 1972.
Deepest snowfall recorded: 11.82 meters (38.8 ft) on Mount Ibuki, Japan on 14 February 1927.
 Lowest latitude that snow has been recorded at sea level in North America: Snow fell as far south as the city of Tampico, Mexico in February 1895 during the Great Freeze.

Wind speeds
 Fastest ever recorded: 484±32 km/h (301±20 mph) (3-second gust); observed by a DOW (Doppler On Wheels) radar unit in the 1999 Bridge Creek–Moore tornado between Oklahoma City and Moore, Oklahoma, USA, 3 May 1999.
 Fastest non-tornadic winds:  (3-second gust); recorded by anemometer in Severe Tropical Cyclone Olivia passing over Barrow Island, Western Australia, 10 April 1996.
 Fastest non-cyclonic winds: 372 km/h (231 mph) (1-minute average); recorded by anemometer on Mount Washington, New Hampshire, USA, 12 April 1934.
 Fastest daily average: 174 km/h (108 mph); Port Martin (Adélie Land), Antarctica, 24-hour period from 21 March 1951 to 22 March 1951.

Tornadoes

Deadliest in history 
 On Earth: Approximately 1,300 deaths (Daulatpur–Saturia tornado); Manikganj District, Bangladesh on 26 April 1989.
 In North America: 695 deaths (Tri-State Tornado); Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, United States, 18 March 1925.
 In Europe: 600 or more deaths (Grand Harbour Tornado); Valletta, Malta, 23 September 1551 or 1556 (sources conflict).
 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 (25.69 inHg); eye of Super Typhoon Tip over the northwest Pacific Ocean, 12 October 1979.
 Most intense in the Western Hemisphere: 872 hPa (25.75 inHg); eye of Hurricane Patricia over the eastern Pacific Ocean, 23 October 2015.
 Most intense ever recorded on land: 892 hPa (26.35 inHg); 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 (estimated): 884 hPa (26.10 inHg); 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 29 April 2020 in the southern United States.
 Longest duration for a single lightning flash: 17.1 seconds on 18 June 2020 in Uruguay and northern 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 [above 750 meters (2,461 feet)]: 1084.8 hPa (32.03 inHg); Tosontsengel, Zavkhan, 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 (below 750 meters) was at Agata, Evenkiyskiy, Russia (66°53'N, 93°28'E, elevation: 261 m (856.3 ft)) on 31 December 1968 of 1083.3 hectopascals (hPa) (31.99 inHg). 
The discrimination is due to the problematic assumptions (assuming a standard lapse rate) associated with reduction of sea level from high elevations.

See also

 Weather of 2013
 Extremes on Earth
 List of extreme temperatures in Canada
 List of snowiest places in the United States by state
 U.S. state and territory temperature extremes
 United Kingdom weather records
 Weather extremes in Canada
 Climate change

Notes

References

External links
 National Climate Extremes Committee 
 Global Weather & Climate Extremes (Arizona State University)
 Weather and Climate Extremes from US Army Corps of Engineers