Global Climate and Weather Extremes
World Weather Element |
Characteristic |
Value |
Date |
Site Observations |
Location |
Temperature |
Highest Temp |
57.8°C (136°F) |
13/9/1922 |
1880- present |
El Azizia, Libya |
Lowest Temp |
-89.2°C (-128.5°F) |
21/7/1983 |
1912- present |
Vostok, Antarctica |
Pressure |
Highest Sea Lvl Air Pressure |
1083.3 hPa |
13/12/1968 |
1961- present |
Agata, Russia |
Lowest Sea Lvl Air Pressure (excluding tornadoes) |
870 hPa |
12/10/1979 |
1951- present |
Eye of Typhoon Tip |
Rainfall |
Greatest 1-Min Rainfall |
31.2mm (1.23") |
4/7/1956 |
1948- present |
Unionville, MD, USA |
Greatest 60-Min Rainfall |
305mm (12.0") |
22/6/1947 |
|
Holt, MO, USA |
Greatest 12-Hr Rainfall |
1144 mm(35.7'') |
7-8/1/1966 |
1966-1990 |
Foc-Foc, La Réunion |
Greatest 24-Hr Rainfall |
1825mm (72.0") |
7-8/1/1966 |
1966-1990 |
Foc-Foc, La Réunion |
Greatest 48-Hr Rainfall |
2.467m (97.1") |
8-10/1/1958 |
1952-1980 / 2004-present |
Aurère, La Réunion |
Greatest 72-Hr Rainfall |
3.929m(154.7") |
24-26/2/2007 |
1968-present |
Cratère Commerson, La Réunion |
Greatest 96-Hr Rainfall |
4.869m(190.7") |
24-27/2/2007 |
1968-present |
Cratère Commerson, La Réunion |
Greatest 12-Mo Rainfall |
26.47m (1042") |
8/1860-7/1861 |
1851- present |
Cherrapunji, India |
Hail |
Heaviest Hailstone |
1.02kg (2.25lb) |
14/4/1986 |
|
Gopalganj district, Bangladesh |
Aridity |
Longest Dry Period |
142 months |
10/1903-1/1918 |
|
Arica, Chile |
Wind |
Maximum Gust |
103.3m/s (231mph) |
12/4/1934 |
1932- present |
Mt. Washington, NH, USA |
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Hemispheric Weather & Climate Extremes
Continent/ Hemisphere |
Characteristic |
Value |
Date |
Length of Record |
Location |
Northern Hemisphere |
Highest Temperature |
57.8°C (136°F) |
13/9/1922 |
1880- present |
El Azizia, Libya |
Southern Hemisphere |
Highest Temperature |
50.7°C (123°F) |
2/1/1960 |
59 years |
Oodnadatta, Australia |
Eastern Hemisphere |
Highest Temperature |
57.8°C (136°F) |
13/9/1922 |
1880- present |
El Azizia, Libya |
Western Hemisphere |
Highest Temperature |
56.7°C (134°F) |
10/7/1913 |
1911- present |
Furnace Creek Ranch, CA, USA |
Northern Hemisphere |
Lowest Temperature |
-67.8°C (-90°F) |
1. 5/2/1892, 7/2/1892
2. 6/2/1933 |
|
1. Verkhoyansk, Russia
2. Oimekon, Russia |
Southern Hemisphere |
Lowest Temperature |
-89.2°C (-129°F) |
21/7/1983 |
1912-present |
Vostok, Antarctica |
Eastern Hemisphere |
Lowest Temperature |
-89.2°C (-129°F) |
21/7/1983 |
1912-present |
Vostok, Antarctica |
Western Hemisphere |
Lowest Temperature |
-66.1°C (-87°F) |
9/1/1954 |
11/1952-6/1954 |
Northice, Greenland |
Northern Hemisphere |
24-hour Rainfall |
1633.98mm (64.3") |
21-22/10/2005 |
|
Isla Mujeres, Mexico |
Southern Hemisphere |
24-hour Rainfall |
1825mm (72.0") |
7-8/1/1966 |
1966-1990 |
Foc-Foc, La Reunion |
Eastern Hemisphere |
24-hour Rainfall |
1825mm (72.0") |
7-8/1/1966 |
1966-1990 |
Foc-Foc, La Reunion |
Western Hemisphere |
24-hour Rainfall |
1633.98mm (64.3") |
21-22/10/2005 |
|
Isla Mujeres, Mexico |
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Continental Weather & Climate Extremes
Continent/ Hemisphere |
Characteristic |
Value |
Date |
Length of Record |
Location |
North America |
Highest Temperature |
56.7°C (134°F) |
10/7/1913 |
1911- present |
Furnace Creek Ranch, CA, USA |
South America |
Highest Temperature |
48.9°C (120°F) |
11/12/1905 |
|
Rivadavia, Argentina |
Europe |
Highest Temperature |
47.2°C (117°F) |
4/7/1994 |
|
Murcia, Spain |
Asia |
Highest Temperature |
53.9°C (129°F) |
21/6/1942 |
|
Tirat Tsvi (Tirat Zevi) Israel |
Africa |
Highest Temperature |
57.8°C (136°F) |
13/9/1922 |
1880- present |
El Azizia, Libya |
Australia |
Highest Temperature |
50.7°C (123°F) |
2/1/1960 |
59 years |
Oodnadatta, Australia |
Oceania |
Highest Temperature |
42.2°C (108°F) |
29/4/1912 |
|
Tuguegarao, Philippines |
Antarctica |
Highest Temperature |
15°C (59°F) |
1/5/1974 |
|
Vanda Station, Antarctica |
North America |
Lowest Temperature |
-63.0°C (-81.4°F) |
2/3/1947 |
1943-1966 |
Snag, Yukon Territory, Canada |
South America |
Lowest Temperature |
-32.8°C (-27°F) |
1/6/1907 |
|
Sarmiento, Argentina |
Europe |
Lowest Temperature |
-58.1°C (-72.6°F) |
31/12/1978 |
|
Ust 'Schugor, Russia |
Africa |
Lowest Temperature |
-23.9°C (-11°F) |
11/2/1935 |
1912-present |
Ifrane, Morocco |
Australia |
Lowest Temperature |
-23°C (-9.4°F) |
29/6/1994 |
|
Charlotte Pass, New South Wales |
Antarctica |
Lowest Temperature |
-89.2°C (-129°F) |
21/7/1983 |
1912-present |
Vostok, Antarctica |
Asia |
Lowest Temperature |
-67.8°C (-90°F) |
1. 5/2/1892, 7/2/1892
2. 6/2/1933 |
|
1. Verkhoyansk, Russia,
2. Oimekon, Russia |
South America |
Greatest Rainfall (average annual) |
13.299m (354.0") |
|
29 years |
Quibdo, Colombia |
Asia |
Greatest Rainfall (average annual) |
11.872m (467.4") |
|
38 years |
Mawsynram, India |
Africa |
Greatest Rainfall (annual) |
10.287m (405.0") |
|
32 years |
Debundscha, Cameroon |
Australia |
Greatest Rainfall (average annual) |
8.034m (316.3") |
|
34 years |
Bellenden Ker, Queensland |
North America |
Greatest Rainfall (annual) |
7m (276") |
1923-1935; 1998-2000 |
15 years |
Henderson Lake, BC, Canada |
Europe |
Greatest Rainfall (average annual) |
4.648m (183.0") |
|
22 years |
Crkvica, Bosnia- Hercegovina |
Antarctica |
Greatest Rainfall (average annual) |
|
|
|
|
Oceania |
Greatest Rainfall (average annual) |
|
|
|
|
South America |
Least Rainfall (average annual) |
0.76mm (0.03") |
|
59 years |
Arica, Chile |
Asia |
Least Rainfall (average annual) |
45.7mm (1.8") |
|
50 years |
Aden, Yemen |
Africa |
Least Rainfall (average annual) |
< 2.54mm (< 0.1") |
|
39 years |
Wadi Halfa, Sudan |
Australia |
Least Rainfall (average annual) |
102.9mm (4.05") |
|
42 years |
Troudaninna, South Australia |
North America |
Least Rainfall (average annual) |
30.5 mm (1.2") |
|
14 years |
Batagues, Mexico |
Europe |
Least Rainfall (average annual) |
162.6mm (6.4") |
|
25 years |
Astrakhan, Russia |
Antarctica |
Least Rainfall (average annual) |
2mm (~0.8") |
|
10 years |
Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station |
Oceania |
Least Rainfall (average annual) |
|
|
|
|
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World Tornado Records
Tornado Characteristic |
Value |
Date |
Length of Record |
Location |
World's Deadliest Single Tornado |
1,300 killed / 12,000 injured |
26/4/1989 |
1091- present |
Manikganj District Bangladesh |
Longest-lasting / Greatest Distance Traveled (single tornado) |
352.4km (219 miles) / 3.5 hours duration |
18/3/1925 |
|
Ellington MO USA to Princeton IN USA |
Biggest (Numerical) Tornado Outbreak |
148 Tornadoes |
3-4/4/1974 |
1787- present |
13 Central US States |
Widest Tornado (maximum diameter) |
Nearly 4000m (2.5 mi.) in width |
22/5/2004 |
|
Hallam, NE F4 Tornado |
Calendar Month with Greatest number of Tornadoes |
543 tornadoes |
5/2003 |
1950- present |
United States |
Highest Recorded Tornadic Wind Speed |
135m/s (302 mph) |
3/5/1999 |
~1996- present |
Bridge Creek, OK USA |
Longest Tornado Transport |
A personal check carried 359 km (223 mi.) |
11/4/1991 |
1871- present |
Stockton, KS USA to Winnetoon, NE USA |
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World Tropical Cyclone Records
Tropical Cyclone Characteristic |
Value |
Date |
Length of Record |
Tropical Cyclone |
Most Intense - by Central Pressure (World and Eastern Hemisphere) |
870mb (25.69") |
12/10/1979 |
1951- present |
Typhoon Tip in the Northwest Pacific Ocean |
Most Intense - by Central Pressure (Western Hemisphere) |
882mb (26.05") |
19/10/2005 |
1951- present |
Hurricane Wilma in Caribbean Sea |
Most Intense - by Maximum Sustained Surface Wind |
95m/s (185 kt, 215 mph) |
12/9/1961 |
1945- present |
Typhoon Nancy in the Northwest Pacific Ocean |
Fastest Intensification |
100mb (976 to 876 mb) in just under 24 hours |
22-23/9/1983 |
1951- present |
Typhoon Forrest in Northwest Pacific Ocean |
Highest Storm Surge |
13m (42 feet) |
3/5/1899 |
|
Tropical Cyclone Mahina; Bathurst Bay, Queensland, Australia |
Largest Rainfall of Tropical Cyclones |
Value |
Date |
Length of Record |
Tropical Cyclone |
12 hr |
1444mm (45.0") |
7-8/1/1966 |
1966-1990 |
Tropical Cyclone Denise in South Indian Ocean |
24 hr |
1825mm (71.8") |
7-8/1/1966 |
1966- 1990 |
Tropical Cyclone Denise in South Indian Ocean |
48 hr |
2467mm (97.1") |
8-10/1/1958 |
1952-1980/ 2004- present |
Unnamed Tropical Cyclone In South Indian Ocean |
72 hr |
3929mm (154.7") |
24-26/2/2007 |
1968-present |
Tropical Cyclone Gamede in South Indian Ocean |
96 hr |
4869mm (191.7") |
24-27/2/2007 |
1968-present |
Tropical Cyclone Gamede in South Indian Ocean |
10-day |
5678mm (223.5") |
18-27/1/1980 |
1968- present |
Tropical Cyclone Hyacinte in South Indian Ocean |
Largest Tropical Cyclone (winds from center) |
Gale winds [17m/s, 34 kt, 39mph] extending 1100km (675 mi) from center |
12/10/1979 |
1945- present |
Typhoon Tip in Northwest Pacific Ocean |
Smallest Tropical Cyclone (winds from center) |
Gale winds [17m/s, 34kt, 39mph] extending 50km (30 mi) from center |
24/12/1974 |
1956- present |
Tropical Cyclone Tracy near Darwin, Australia |
Longest Lasting Tropical Cyclone |
31 days |
10/8/1994- 10/9/1994 |
1945- present |
Hurricane / Typhoon John in Northeast & Northwest Pacific Basins |
Longest Distance Traveled by Tropical Cyclone |
13500 km (8500 st. mi.) |
28/11/1960- 8/12/1960 |
|
Hurricane Ophelia in West Pacific Basin |
Smallest eye |
6.7km (4 mile) |
24/12/1974 |
1956-present |
Tropical Cyclone Tracy at Darwin Australia |
Largest eye |
93.3km (56 mile) |
21/2/1979 |
1956-present |
Tropical Cycle Kerry, Coral Sea |
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Source: Arizona State University World Meteorological Organization
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