Recent investigations

2019: New WMO Region II (Asia) High Temperatures

The World Meteorological Organization has announced new world records for the highest temperature (54 C with uncertainity values) for WMO Region II (Asia)

2017: New Global Mortality Extremes Records

The World Meteorological Organization has announced new world records for the highest reported death tolls (mortality) from tropical cyclones, tornadoes, lightning and hailstorms

2017: New Western Hemisphere & Global Tropical Cyclone Extremes

New verified Record Extremes now exist for Western Hemisphere's most intense tropical cyclone (by central pressure) and a new (tied) record extreme for World's most intense tropical cyclone (by sustained surface wind speed).

2017: New Highest Antarctic High Temperatures

New records for Antarctic High Temperatures Extremes. New verified Record Extremes now exist for the Antarctic Region's highest temperature (corresponding to all lands/ice south of 60deg;S), the Antarctic Region's highest temperature (continent, including the mainland and adjoining islands), and the Antarctic Region's highest temperature (plateau > 2500 meters).

2016: New "Average" Highest Wave Height

A World Meteorological Organization expert committee has established a new world record wave height of 19 meters (62.3 feet) measured by a buoy in the North Atlantic. The wave was recorded by an automated buoy at 0600 UTC on 4 February 2013 in the North Atlantic ocean between Iceland and the United Kingdom (approximately 59° N, 11° W). It followed the passage of a very strong cold front, which produced winds of up to 43.8 knots (50.4 miles per hour) over the area.

2016: Two New Lightning Extremes

The WMO has announced two new lightning extremes determined by a WMO committee of experts: the longest reported distance and the longest reported duration for a single lightning flash in, respectively, Oklahoma (United States of America) and southern France. The lightning flash over Oklahoma in 2007 covered a horizontal distance of 321 kilometers (199.5 miles). The lightning event over southern France in 2012 lasted continuously for 7.74 seconds, the WMO evaluation committee found.

2015: Coldest Southwest Pacific Temperature: Ranfurly New Zealand

A World Meteorological Organization panel has concluded that a temperature of -25.6°C observed at Eweburn, Ranfurly in New Zealand on 17 July 1903 holds the record as the coldest temperature recorded for the Southwest Pacific Region

2014: METEO France Reanalysis of Tropical Cyclone Gamede

A METEO France reanalysis of the Tropical Cyclone Gamede precipitation data for Reunion has slightly revised upward the 72-hour and 96-hour precipitation world record rainfall totals. The revised 72-hour rainfall record is now 3930 mm (154.72 in) from the previous value of 3929 mm. The revised 96-hour rainfall record is now 4936 mm (194.33 in) from the previous value of 4869 mm.

2011-2013: Investigation of El Azizia 58ºC Temperature Extreme

World Meteorological Organization Assessment of the Purported World Record 58ºC Temperature Extreme at El Azizia, Libya (13 September 1922), K. El Fadli, R.S. Cerveny, C.C. Burt, P. Eden, D. Parker, M. Brunet, T.C. Peterson, G. Mordacchini, V. Pelino, P. Bessemoulin, J.L. Stella, F. Driouech, M.M Abdel wahab, M.B. Pace, Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1175/BAMS-D-12-00093.1

World's Highest Temperature