Record-Setting Weather

TEMPERATURE EXTREMES, HIGHEST

Temperature extremes depend upon a number of factors, important among which are altitude, latitude, surface conditions, and the density and length of record of observing stations.

The world's highest temperatures, as well as the greatest range of extremes and the greatest and most rapid temperature fluctuations, occur over continental areas in the temperate zones .

A reading of 136°F, observed at Azizia (elevation about 380 ft, Tripolitania, Libya, North Africa) on September 13, 1922, is generally accepted as the world's highest temperature recorded under standard conditions.

The highest temperature ever observed in Canada was 115°F at Gleichen, Alberta on July 28, 1903. A high of 120°F or higher has been recorded on all the continents except Antarctica, where the high is only 58.3°F.

Greenland Ranch, California, with 134°F on July 10, 1913, holds the record for the highest temperature ever officially recorded in the United States. This station is located in barren Death Valley which is about 140 mi long and 4–16 mi wide and runs north and south in southeastern California and southwestern Nevada. The valley is below sea level and is flanked by towering mountain ranges with Mt. Whitney, the highest landmark in the 48 states, rising to 14,495 ft, less than 100 mi to the west. Death Valley has the hottest summers in the Western Hemisphere, and is the only known place in the United States where nighttime temperatures sometimes remain above 100°F.

The highest average annual temperature in the world, possibly a world record, is the 94°F, at Dalol (or Dallol), Ethiopia. The station is in a salt desert and is based on only 6 years of data, October 1960–November 1966. Lugh (or Luuq), Somalia, East Africa has an annual mean recorded temperature of 88°F. In the United States the station normally having the highest annual average is Key West, Florida, 77.8°F; the highest summer average, Death Valley, California, 98.2°F; and the highest winter average, Key West, Florida, 70.2°F.

Amazing temperature rises of 40–50°F in a few minutes occasionally may be brought about by chinook winds. Some outstanding extreme temperature rises in short periods are:

12 hours: 83°F, Granville, ND, Feb. 21, 1918, from–33°F to 50°F from early morning to late afternoon.

15 minutes: 42°F, Fort Assiniboine, MT, Jan. 19, 1892, from–5°F to 37°F.

7 minutes: 34°F, Kipp, MT, Dec. 1, 1896; observer also reported that a total rise of 80°F occurred in a few hours and that 30 in of snow disappeared in one-half day.

2 minutes: 49°F, Spearfish, SD, Jan. 22, 1943, from–4°F at 7:30 A.M ., to 45°F at 7:32 A.M .

The range of temperature extremes over large bodies of water is much less than over land. Temperature extremes over the sea likely range from 100°F recorded by the SS Titan on August 8, 1920, in the Red Sea to–40°F observed by the SS Baychino , January 27, 1932, when beset by ice at latitude 70° 50′ N, longitude 159° 11′ W. Sea-surface temperatures in the Persian Gulf average as high as 88°F for July and August, and a high of 96°F was measured by the SS Frankenfels on August 5, 1924. These are among the highest—if not the highest—sea-surface temperatures ever observed. (Any official record of these over-the-sea temperatures has been lost over the years, so these measurements are not confirmed.)

Sunniest U.S. Cities Yuma, AZ Redding, CA Phoenix, AZ; Tucson, AZ; Las Vegas, NV El Paso, TX Fresno, CA; Reno, NV

TEMPERATURE EXTREMES, LOWEST

Antarctica, a vast, elevated, snow-covered continent at the South Pole is one of the most favorable regions in the world for extremely low temperatures. Several stations there now have records dating back through 1957. A new world-record low temperature was observed at–128.6°F and was recorded at Vostok (Russian station) on July 21,1983. At the Amundsen-Scott station (elevation 9,186 ft), located on a snow plain within a few hundred yards of the geographical South Pole, the average annual temperature from 1957 to 1964 was–59°F. For July, the average maximum temperature was–69°F, the minimum–80°F; and for January, these values were–17°F and–22°F, respectively. The average temperature at Vostok for the two-year period 1958–59 was–67°F. Even colder locations may exist on the continent.

Other regions favorable for unusually low winter extremes include Greenland, a high snow-covered area located mostly in the north polar regions; and north central Siberia, part of a great land mass at high latitudes. Minima of–90°F (Verhoyansk–89.7°F, February 5 and 7, 1892 and Oimekon–89.9°F, February 6, 1933) in the latter region stood as the world's lowest temperatures prior to observations in Antarctica. The lowest temperature on the Greenland Icecap,–86.8°F was observed at Northice January 9,1954. Canada's lowest temperature,–81°F, was observed at Snag, Yukon Territory, near the border of Alaska at an altitude of 2,120 ft on February 3, 1947.

In the United States, the lowest temperature on record,–79.8°F, was recorded on January 23, 1971, at Prospect Creek Camp, which is located in the Endicott Mountains of Northern Alaska at latitude 66° 48′N, longitude 150° 40′W. The lowest temperature in the contiguous 48 states,–69.7°F, occurred on January 20, 1954, at Rogers Pass, in Lewis and Clark County, Montana. This location is in mountainous and heavily forested terrain, about 0.5 mi east of and 140 ft below the summit of the Continental Divide.

The lowest average annual temperature recorded in the United States is 9.4°F at Barrow, Alaska, which lies on the Arctic coast. Barrow also has the coolest summers (June, July, August) with an average of 41.9°F. The lowest average winter (December, January, February) temperature is–20.1°F at Barter Island on the Arctic coast of northeast Alaska. In Hawaii, average annual temperatures range from 44°F at Mauna Loa Slope Observatory (elevation 11,146 ft) on the island of Hawaii to 77.2°F at Honolulu on the island of Oahu.

In the contiguous 48 states, Mt. Washington, New Hampshire (elevation 6,262 ft) has the lowest mean annual temperature, 26.5°F, and the lowest mean summer (June, July, August) temperature, 51.6°F. A few stations in the Northeast and upper Rockies have mean annuals in the high 30s, and at the same stations in the latter area, summers may average in the high 40s. Winter (December, January, February) mean temperature are lowest in northeastern North Dakota where the average is 5.9°F at the Langdon Experiment Farm and northwestern Minnesota where the average is 6.1°F at Hallock.

In continental areas of the temperate zone, 40–50°F temperature falls in a few hours caused by advection of cold air masses are not uncommon. Sometimes, following these large drops due to advection, radiation may cause a further temperature fall resulting in remarkable changes. Some outstanding extreme temperature falls are:

24 hours: 100°F, Browning, MT, Jan. 23–24, 1916, from 44°F to–56°F.

12 hours: 84°F, Fairfield, MT, Dec. 24, 1924, from 63°F at noon to–21°F at midnight.

2 hours: 62°F, Rapid City, SD, Jan. 12, 1911, from 49°F at 6 A.M . to–13°F at 8 A.M .

27 minutes: 58°F, Spearfish, SD, Jan. 22, 1943, from 54°F at 9 A.M ., to–4°F at 9:27 A.M .

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15 minutes: 47°F, Rapid City, SD, Jan. 10, 1911, from 55°F at 7 A.M ., to 8°F at 7:15 A.M .

Highest Temperature Extremes Continent Highest Temp. (deg F) Place Elevation (Feet) Date Africa 136 El Azizia, Libya 367 13 Sep 1922 North America 134 Death Valley, CA (Greenland Ranch) –178 10 Jul 1913 Asia 129 Tirat Tsvi, Israel –722 21 Jun 1942 Australia 128 Cloncurry, Queensland 622 16 Jan 1889 Europe 122 Seville, Spain 26 4 Aug 1881 South America 120 Rivadavia, Argentina 676 11 Dec 1905 Oceania 108 Tuguegarao, Philippines 72 29 Apr 1912 Antarctica 59 Vanda Station, Scott Coast 49 5 Jan 1974

Lowest Temperature Extremes Continent Lowest Temp. (deg F) Place Elevation (Feet) Date *Exact date unknown, lowest in 15-year period Antarctica –129 Vostok 11220 21 Jul 1983 Asia -90 Oimekon, Russia 2625 6 Feb 1933 Asia -90 Verkhoyansk, Russia 350 7 Feb 1892 Greenland -87 Northice 7687 9 Jan 1954 North America –81.4 Snag, Yukon, Canada 2120 3 Feb 1947 Europe -67 Ust'Shchugor, Russia 279 January* South America -27 Sarmiento, Argentina 879 1 Jun 1907 Africa -11 Ifrane, Morocco 5364 11 Feb 1935 Australia –9.4 Charlotte Pass, NSW 5758 29 Jun 1994 Oceania 14 Haleakala Summit, Maui, HI 9750 2 Jan 1961

(Courtesy of National Climatic Data Center/NOAA.)

Highest Average Annual Precipitation Extremes Continent Highest Avg. (Inches) Place Elevation (Feet) Years of Record !The value given is continent's highest and possibly the world's depending on measurement practices, procedures and period of record variations. ^The official greatest average annual precipitation for South America is 354 inches at Quibdo, Colombia. The 523.6 inches average at Lloro, Colombia [14 miles SE and at a higher elevation than Quibdo] is an estimated amount. *Approximate elevation. South America 523.6!^ Lloro, Colombia 520* 29 Asia 467.4! Mawsynram, India 4597 38 Oceania 460.0! Mt. Waialeale, Kauai, HI 5148 30 Africa 405.0 Debundscha, Cameroon 30 32 South America 354.0^ Quibdo, Colombia 120 16 Australia 340.0 Bellenden Ker, Queensland 5102 9 North America 256.0 Henderson Lake, British Colombia 12 14 Europe 183.0 Crkvica, Bosnia-Hercegovina 3337 22

Lowest Average Annual Precipitation Extremes Continent Lowest Avg. (Inches) Place Elevation (Feet) Years of Record The value given is the average amount of solid snow accumulating in one year as indicated by snow markers. The liquid content of the snow is undetermined. *Approximate elevation. South America 0.03 Arica, Chile 95 59 Africa <0.1 Wadi Halfa, Sudan 410 39 Antarctica 0.8 Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station 9186 10 North America 1.2 Batagues, Mexico 16 14 Asia 1.8 Aden, Yemen 22 50 Australia 4.05 Mulka (Troudaninna), South Australia 160* 42 Europe 6.4 Astrakhan, Russia 45 25 Oceania 8.93 Puako, Hawaii, HI 5 13

(Courtesy of National Climatic Data Center/NOAA.)

Record Highest Temperatures by State (Thru December 2000) State Temp. °F. Date Station Elevation Feet *Also on earlier dates at the same time or other places. Alabama 112 Sep. 5, 1925 Centerville 345 Alaska 100 Jun. 27, 1915 Fort Yukon est. 420 Arizona 128 Jun. 29, 1994 Lake Havasu City 505 Arkansas 120 Aug. 10, 1936 Ozark 396 California 134 Jul. 10, 1913 Greenland Ranch –178 Colorado 118 Jul. 11, 1888 Bennett 5,484 Connecticut 106 Jul. 15, 1995 Danbury 450 Delaware 110 Jul. 21, 1930 Millsboro 20 Florida 109 Jun. 29, 1931 Monticello 207 Georgia 112 Aug. 20, 1983 Greenville 860 Hawaii 100 Apr. 27, 1931 Pahala 850 Idaho 118 Jul. 28, 1934 Orofino 1,027 Illinois 117 Jul. 14, 1954 East St. Louis 410 Indiana 116 Jul. 14, 1936 Collegeville 672 Iowa 118 Jul. 20, 1934 Keokuk 614 Kansas 121 Jul. 24, 1936* Alton (near) 1,651 Kentucky 114 Jul. 28, 1930 Greensburg 581 Louisiana 114 Aug. 10, 1936 Plain Dealing 268 Maine 105 Jul. 10, 1911* North Bridgton 450 Maryland 109 Jul. 10, 1936* Cumberland & Frederick 623, 325 Massachusetts 107 Aug. 2, 1975 New Bedford & Chester 120; 640 Michigan 112 Jul. 13, 1936 Mio 963 Minnesota 114 Jul. 6, 1936 Moorhead 904 Mississippi 115 Jul. 29, 1930 Holly Springs 600 Missouri 118 Jul. 14, 1954* Warsaw & Union 705; 560 Montana 117 Jul. 5, 1937 Medicine Lake 1,950 Nebraska 118 Jul. 24, 1936* Minden 2,169 Nevada 125 Jun. 29, 1994* Laughlin 605 New Hampshire 106 Jul. 4, 1911 Nashua 125 New Jersey 110 Jul. 10, 1936 Runyon 18 New Mexico 122 Jun. 27, 1994 Waste Isolat. Pilot Plt 3,418 New York 108 Jul. 22, 1926 Troy 35 North Carolina 110 Aug. 21, 1983 Fayetteville 213 North Dakota 121 Jul. 6, 1936 Steele 1,857 Ohio 113 Jul. 21, 1934* Gallipolis (near) 673 Oklahoma 120 Jun. 27, 1994* Tipton 1,350 Oregon 119 Aug. 10, 1898* Pendleton 1,074 Pennsylvania 111 Jul. 10, 1936* Phoenixville 100 Rhode Island 104 Aug. 2, 1975 Providence 51 South Carolina 111 Jun. 28, 1954* Camden 170 South Dakota 120 Jul. 5, 1936 Gannvalley 1,750 Tennessee 113 Aug. 9, 1930* Perryville 377 Texas 120 Jun. 28, 1994* Monahans 2,660 Utah 117 Jul. 5, 1985 Saint George 2,880 Vermont 105 Jul. 4, 1911 Vernon 310 Virginia 110 Jul. 15, 1954 Balcony Falls 725 Washington 118 Aug. 5, 1961* Ice Harbor Dam 475 West Virginia 112 Jul. 10, 1936* Martinsburg 435 Wisconsin 114 Jul. 13, 1936 Wisconsin Dells 900 Wyoming 115 Aug. 8, 1983 Basin 3,500