World Weather/Climate Extremes Website

Global Weather & Climate Extremes

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New World Greatest Rainfall (72-Hour and 96 Hour) Records

World Weather Element World Element Characteristic Value Date Site Observations Geopolitical Location Longitude/ Latitude Elevation
temperature Highest Temp 57.8°C (136°F) 13/9/1922 1880- present El Azizia, Libya 32°32'N, 13°01'E 112m (367ft)
Lowest Temp -89.2°C (-128.5°F) 21/7/1983 1912- present Vostok, Antarctica 77°32'S, 106°40'E 3420m (11,220 ft)
pressure Highest Sea Lvl Air Pressure 1083.3 hPa 13/12/1968 1961- present Agata, Russia 66°53'N, 93°28'E 261m (856.3ft)
Lowest Sea Lvl Air Pressure (excluding tornadoes) 870 hPa 12/10/1979 1951- present Eye of Typhoon Tip 16°44'N, 137°46'E 0m
rainfall Greatest 1-Min Rainfall 31.2mm (1.23") 4/7/1956 1948- present Unionville, MD, USA 38°48'N, 76°08'W 152m (499ft)
Greatest 60-Min Rainfall 305mm (12.0") 22/6/1947   Holt, MO, USA 39°27'N, 94°20'W 263m (863ft)
Greatest 12-Hr Rainfall 1144 mm(35.7'') 7-8/1/1966 1966-1990 Foc-Foc, La Réunion 21°14'S, 55°41'E 2290m (7513ft)
Greatest 24-Hr Rainfall 1825mm (72.0") 7-8/1/1966 1966-1990 Foc-Foc, La Réunion 21°14'S, 55°41'E 2290m (7513ft)
Greatest 48-Hr Rainfall 2.467m (97.1") 8-10/1/1958 1952-1980 / 2004-present Aurère, La Réunion 21°00'S, 55°26'E 940m (3084ft)
Greatest 72-Hr Rainfall 3.929m(154.7") 24-26/2/2007 1968-present Cratère Commerson, La Réunion 21°14'S, 55°41'E 2310m (7579ft)
Greatest 96-Hr Rainfall 4.869m(190.7") 24-27/2/2007 1968-present Cratère Commerson, La Réunion 21°14'S, 55°41'E 2310m (7579ft)
Greatest 12-Mo Rainfall 26.47m (1042") 8/1860-7/1861 1851- present Cherrapunji, India 25°02'N, 91°08'E 1313m (4308ft)
hail Heaviest Hailstone 1.02kg (2.25lb) 14/4/1986   Gopalganj district, Bangladesh 23°00'N, 89°56'E 4m (13.1ft)
aridity Longest Dry Period 142 months 10/1903-1/1918   Arica, Chile 18°29'S, 70°18'W 65m (213ft)
wind Maximum Gust 103.3m/s (231mph) 12/4/1934 1932- present Mt. Washington, NH, USA 44°16'N, 71°18'W 1856m (6089ft)

Hemispheric Weather & Climate Extremes

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Continent/ Hemisphere Continental Element Characteristic Value Date Length of Record Geopolitical Location Longitude/ Latitude Elevation
northern hemisphere Highest Temperature 57.8°C (136°F) 13/9/1922 1880- present El Azizia, Libya 32°32'N, 13°01'E 112m (367ft)
southern hemisphere Highest Temperature 50.7°C (123°F) 2/1/1960 59 years Oodnadatta, Australia 27°32'S, 135°26'E 112m (367 ft)
eastern hemisphere Highest Temperature 57.8°C (136°F) 13/9/1922 1880- present El Azizia, Libya 32°32'N, 13°01'E 112m (367 ft)
western hemisphere Highest Temperature 56.7°C (134°F) 10/7/1913 1911- present Furnace Creek Ranch, CA, USA 36°27'N, 116°51'W -54m (-179 ft)
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
1. 67°33'N, 133°23'E
2. 63°28'N, 142°23'E
1. 107m (350 ft)
2. 800m (2625 ft)
southern hemisphere Lowest Temperature -89.2°C (-129°F) 21/7/1983 1912-present Vostok, Antarctica 77°32'S, 106°40'E 3420m (11220 ft)
eastern hemisphere Lowest Temperature -89.2°C (-129°F) 21/7/1983 1912-present Vostok, Antarctica 77°32'S, 106°40'E 3420m (11220 ft)
western hemisphere Lowest Temperature -66.1°C (-87°F) 9/1/1954 11/1952-6/1954 Northice, Greenland 78°04'N, 38°29'W 2341m (7680 ft)
northern hemisphere 24-hour Rainfall 1633.98mm (64.3") 21-22/10/2005   Isla Mujeres, Mexico 21°15'N, 86°44'W 3m (10 ft)
southern hemisphere 24-hour Rainfall 1825mm (72.0") 7-8/1/1966 1966-1990 Foc-Foc, La Reunion 21°14'S, 55°40'E 2990m (9810ft)
eastern hemisphere 24-hour Rainfall 1825mm (72.0") 7-8/1/1966 1966-1990 Foc-Foc, La Reunion 21°14'S, 55°40'E 2990m (9810ft)
western hemisphere 24-hour Rainfall 1633.98mm (64.3") 21-22/10/2005   Isla Mujeres, Mexico 21°15'N, 86°44'W 3m (10 ft)

Continental Weather & Climate Extremes

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Continent/ Hemisphere Continental Element Characteristic Value Date Length of Record Geopolitical Location Longitude/ Latitude Elevation
north america Highest Temperature 56.7°C (134°F) 10/7/1913 1911- present Furnace Creek Ranch, CA, USA 36°28'N, 116°51'W -54m (-179 ft)
south america Highest Temperature 48.9°C (120°F) 11/12/1905   Rivadavia, Argentina 33°11'S, 68°12'W 668m (2192 ft)
europe Highest Temperature 47.2°C (117°F) 4/7/1994   Murcia, Spain 37°59'N, 1°8'W 46m (150 ft)
asia Highest Temperature 53.9°C (129°F) 21/6/1942   Tirat Tsvi (Tirat Zevi) Israel 32°25'N, 35°32'E -220m (-722 ft)
africa Highest Temperature 57.8°C (136°F) 13/9/1922 1880- present El Azizia, Libya 32°32'N, 13°01'E 112m (367 ft)
australia Highest Temperature 50.7°C (123°F) 2/1/1960 59 years Oodnadatta, Australia 27°32'S, 135°26'E 112m (367 ft)
oceania Highest Temperature 42.2°C (108°F) 29/4/1912   Tuguegarao, Philippines 17°37'N, 121°42'E 206m (676 ft)
antarctica Highest Temperature 15°C (59°F) 1/5/1974   Vanda Station, Antarctica 77°32'S, 161°40'E 15m (49 ft)
north america Lowest Temperature -63.0°C (-81.4°F) 2/3/1947 1943-1966 Snag, Yukon Territory, Canada 140°22'W, 62°23'N 646m (2120 ft)
south america Lowest Temperature -32.8°C (-27°F) 1/6/1907   Sarmiento, Argentina 54°21'S 68°11'W 268m (879 ft)
europe Lowest Temperature -58.1°C (-72.6°F) 31/12/1978   Ust 'Schugor, Russia 57°45'E, 64°15'N 85m (279 ft)
africa Lowest Temperature -23.9°C (-11°F) 11/2/1935 1912-present Ifrane, Morocco 33°30'N, 5°06'W 1635m (5364 ft)
australia Lowest Temperature -23°C (-9.4°F) 29/6/1994   Charlotte Pass, New South Wales 36°31'S, 148°19'E 1755m (5758 ft)
antarctica Lowest Temperature -89.2°C (-129°F) 21/7/1983 1912-present Vostok, Antarctica 77°32'S, 106°40'E 3420m (11220 ft)
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
1. 67°33'N, 133°23'E
2. 63°28'N, 142°23'E
1. 107m (350 ft)
2. 800m (2625 ft)
south america Greatest Rainfall (average annual) 13.299m (354.0")   29 years Quibdo, Colombia 5°41'N, 76°40'W 70m (230 ft)
asia Greatest Rainfall (average annual) 11.872m (467.4")   38 years Mawsynram, India 25°18'N, 91°35'E 1431m (4695 ft)
africa Greatest Rainfall (annual) 10.287m (405.0")   32 years Debundscha, Cameroon 4°06'N, 8°59'E 9m (30 ft)
australia Greatest Rainfall (average annual) 8.034m (316.3")   34 years Bellenden Ker, Queensland 17°16'S, 145°51'E 1555m (5102 ft)
north america Greatest Rainfall (annual) 7m (276") 1923-1935; 1998-2000 15 years Henderson Lake, BC, Canada 48°08'N, 125°08'W 35m (115 ft)
europe Greatest Rainfall (average annual) 4.648m (183.0")   22 years Crkvica, Bosnia- Hercegovina 43°54'N, 17°43'E 1310m (4298 ft)
antarctica Greatest Rainfall (average annual)            
oceania Greatest Rainfall (average annual)            
south america Least Rainfall (average annual) 0.76mm (0.03")   59 years Arica, Chile 18°29'S, 70°18'W 65m (213 ft)
asia Least Rainfall (average annual) 45.7mm (1.8")   50 years Aden, Yemen 12°45'N, 45°4'E 19m (63 ft)
africa Least Rainfall (average annual) < 2.54mm (< 0.1")   39 years Wadi Halfa, Sudan 21°47'N, 31°22'E 180m (590 ft)
australia Least Rainfall (average annual) 102.9mm (4.05")   42 years Troudaninna, South Australia 29°03'S, 139°10'E 14m (46 ft)
north america Least Rainfall (average annual) 30.5 mm (1.2")   14 years Batagues, Mexico 32°33'N, 115°04'W 21m (69 ft)
europe Least Rainfall (average annual) 162.6mm (6.4")   25 years Astrakhan, Russia 46°22'N, 48°00'E 20m (66 ft)
antarctica Least Rainfall (average annual) 2mm (~0.8")   10 years Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station 90°S 2,835m (9,301 ft)
oceania Least Rainfall (average annual)            

World Tornado Records

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Tornado Characteristic Value Date Length of Record Geopolitical Location Longitude/ Latitude Elevation
World's Deadliest Single Tornado 1,300 killed / 12,000 injured 26/4/1989 1091- present Manikganj District Bangladesh 23°50'N, 90°5'E 9m (30 ft)
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 40°34'N, 96°47'W 151m (1480 ft)
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 35°14'N, 97°44'W 416m (1365 ft)
Longest Tornado Transport A personal check carried 359 km (223 mi.) 11/4/1991 1871- present Stockton, KS USA to Winnetoon, NE USA    

World Tropical Cyclone Records

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Tropical Cyclone Characteristic Value Date Length of Record Tropical Cyclone Latitude/ Longitude
Most Intense - by Central Pressure (World and Eastern Hemisphere) 870mb (25.69") 12/10/1979 1951- present Typhoon Tip in the Northwest Pacific Ocean 16°44'N, 137°46'E
Most Intense - by Central Pressure (western hemisphere) 882mb (26.05") 19/10/2005 1951- present Hurricane Wilma in Caribbean Sea 17°18'N, 82°48'W
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 15°30'N, 137°30'E
Fastest Intensification 100mb (976 to 876 mb) in just under 24 hours 22-23/9/1983 1951- present Typhoon Forrest in Northwest Pacific Ocean 18°0'N, 136°0'E
Highest Storm Surge 13m (42 feet) 3/5/1899   Tropical Cyclone Mahina; Bathurst Bay, Queensland, Australia 14°15'S, 144°23'E
Largest Rainfall of Tropical Cyclones Value Date Length of Record Tropical Cyclone Latitude/ Longitude
12 hr 1444mm (45.0") 7-8/1/1966 1966-1990 Tropical Cyclone Denise in South Indian Ocean 21°14'S, 55°41'E
24 hr 1825mm (71.8") 7-8/1/1966 1966- 1990 Tropical Cyclone Denise in South Indian Ocean 21°14'S, 55°41'E
48 hr 2467mm (97.1") 8-10/1/1958 1952-1980/ 2004- present Unnamed Tropical Cyclone In South Indian Ocean 21°00'S, 55°26'E
72 hr 3929mm (154.7") 24-26/2/2007 1968-present Tropical Cyclone Gamede in South Indian Ocean 21°12'S, 55°39'E
96 hr 4869mm (191.7") 24-27/2/2007 1968-present Tropical Cyclone Gamede in South Indian Ocean 21°12'S, 55°39'E
10-day 5678mm (223.5") 18-27/1/1980 1968- present Tropical Cyclone Hyacinte in South Indian Ocean 21°12'S, 55°39'E
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 16°44'N, 137°46'E
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 12°12'S, 130°00'E
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 12°12'S, 130°00'E
Largest eye 93.3km (56 mile) 21/2/1979 1956-present Tropical Cycle Kerry, Coral Sea 17°30'S, 154°06'W