Built 2026-10-19 (19 October 2026)

Cold outbreak in United States, 4 to 29 May 2020

Cold outbreak in United States, 4 to 29 May 2020: 3,434 records at 1,841 stations, peak on 9 May 2020. Closed.

Data as of . Last revised (2026-10-17).

Key Facts

  • Cold outbreak in United States, 4 to 29 May 2020 set or tied 3,434 station records at 1,841 stations.
  • It ran from 4 May 2020 to 29 May 2020 (26 days) and its peak day was 9 May 2020.
  • Status: closed.
  • Lake Arthur 7 SW set a daily record low maximum temperature of 17.8 C (64.0 F) on 10 May 2020.
  • The busiest day was 9 May 2020 with 707 records.
  • The oldest broken record in the ranked list had stood for 129 years.

Footprint

4 to 29 May 2020
Footprint of Cold outbreak in United States, 4 to 29 May 2020 The area covered by Cold outbreak in United States, 4 to 29 May 2020 is outlined, with 20 of the stations that set records marked, coloured by record type.
The area covered by Cold outbreak in United States, 4 to 29 May 2020 is outlined, with 20 of the stations that set records marked, coloured by record type. Made with Natural Earth.
Footprint of Cold outbreak in United States, 4 to 29 May 2020: stations that set records in the event
StationTypeValueDate
Lake Arthur 7 SWRecord low maximum temperature17.8 C (64.0 F)2020-05-10
SolomonsRecord low maximum temperature6.1 C (43.0 F)2020-05-06
El DoradoRecord low maximum temperature7.8 C (46.0 F)2020-05-12
Winfield 3NERecord low maximum temperature8.3 C (46.9 F)2020-05-12
Alicia 2 NNERecord low maximum temperature11.7 C (53.1 F)2020-05-13
Howard 2SERecord low maximum temperature7.2 C (45.0 F)2020-05-12
WallaceRecord low maximum temperature5.0 C (41.0 F)2020-05-12
MarshallRecord low maximum temperature8.3 C (46.9 F)2020-05-12
WakeeneyRecord low maximum temperature4.4 C (39.9 F)2020-05-12
Fernandina BeachRecord low maximum temperature17.8 C (64.0 F)2020-05-10
JenningsRecord low maximum temperature17.8 C (64.0 F)2020-05-10
BayardRecord low maximum temperature3.3 C (37.9 F)2020-05-10
FredoniaRecord low maximum temperature8.9 C (48.0 F)2020-05-12
GraylingRecord low minimum temperature-8.9 C (16.0 F)2020-05-12
BridgeportRecord low minimum temperature-10.6 C (12.9 F)2020-05-26
BiloxiRecord low maximum temperature20.0 C (68.0 F)2020-05-09
MontereyRecord low maximum temperature10.6 C (51.1 F)2020-05-09
ChapmanRecord low maximum temperature7.8 C (46.0 F)2020-05-12
MinneapolisRecord low maximum temperature7.2 C (45.0 F)2020-05-12
Yates CtrRecord low maximum temperature8.3 C (46.9 F)2020-05-12

Records per Day

Peak day 707
Records per day during Cold outbreak in United States, 4 to 29 May 2020 Records set or tied each day from 4 May 2020 to 29 May 2020. The most in one day was 707 on 9 May 2020. 0 200 400 600 800 05-0405-0705-1005-1305-1605-1905-2205-2505-28
Records set or tied each day from 4 May 2020 to 29 May 2020. The most in one day was 707 on 9 May 2020.
Records per day during Cold outbreak in United States, 4 to 29 May 2020
DateRecords
2020-05-041
2020-05-0522
2020-05-0689
2020-05-07125
2020-05-08137
2020-05-09707
2020-05-10478
2020-05-11362
2020-05-12566
2020-05-13349
2020-05-1452
2020-05-1516
2020-05-165
2020-05-172
2020-05-187
2020-05-1957
2020-05-2099
2020-05-21118
2020-05-2233
2020-05-2377
2020-05-2451
2020-05-2531
2020-05-2638
2020-05-277
2020-05-281
2020-05-294

Top Records by Margin

Margin over the record replaced
Top records of Cold outbreak in United States, 4 to 29 May 2020 ranked by margin
Wallace, 05-1210.0 C (18.0 F)
Wakeeney, 05-128.4 C (15.1 F)
Winfield 3NE, 05-127.3 C (13.1 F)
El Dorado, 05-127.2 C (13.0 F)
Howard 2SE, 05-126.7 C (12.1 F)
Alicia 2 NNE, 05-136.6 C (11.9 F)
Marshall, 05-126.1 C (11.0 F)
Chapman, 05-126.1 C (11.0 F)
Yates Ctr, 05-125.6 C (10.1 F)
Fredonia, 05-125.5 C (9.9 F)
Lake Arthur 7 SW, 05-105.0 C (9.0 F)
Bridgeport, 05-265.0 C (9.0 F)
Monterey, 05-095.0 C (9.0 F)
Fernandina Beach, 05-103.9 C (7.0 F)
Solomons, 05-063.3 C (5.9 F)

Margin is how far the new value is beyond the record it replaced. Ties are not shown.

Margin Against Age of the Broken Record

Margin against age of the broken record in Cold outbreak in United States, 4 to 29 May 2020 500 records plotted by how far they beat the old record (across) and how many years the old record had stood (up). Long standing records beaten by a wide margin sit in the top right. 0 38 75 113 150 0.02.55.07.510.0 Margin (C) Years the old record stood
500 records plotted by how far they beat the old record (across) and how many years the old record had stood (up). Long standing records beaten by a wide margin sit in the top right.
Margin against age of the broken record in Cold outbreak in United States, 4 to 29 May 2020
Margin (C)Years the old record stood
5.0108
3.3103
6.6108
7.2101
7.3117
6.7101
10.0106
6.196
8.4104
5.0104
3.9127
5.5101
3.3103
1.1120
1.1103
6.1104
0.6127
5.6101
2.8117
5.0114
5.0101
5.0108
0.597
0.5111
0.5102
0.5103
4.4125
5.5106
0.5120
7.767
2.297
5.0117
4.5108
3.9120
6.181
6.192
4.4104
3.9104
6.182
3.9110
0.691
4.5103
6.667
0.587
1.185
3.3111
3.9101
3.9127
6.188
2.2120
5.570
5.681
6.782
3.4124
3.4118
0.691
4.4104
2.8111
3.4124
2.8111
3.8113
5.667
5.581
2.8107
2.8117
2.8104
2.8108
6.287
2.882
2.797
2.2114
5.687
3.3116
3.994
3.495
2.7101
3.996
2.2114
2.2126
2.2115
2.2112
2.7120
4.492
1.1103
0.677
1.7106
1.773
2.3118
1.7107
2.2117
1.7116
2.2110
1.7106
2.7106
2.8113
2.2104
2.297
2.797
1.2103
6.667
1.6120
1.6103
1.7120
2.297
3.981
1.1117
1.6114
1.6114
1.7129
2.2110
1.7113
2.297
1.7111
1.7114
1.6120
2.3103
1.7102
1.695
1.1101
4.582
4.582
1.7121
1.6121
2.296
1.6107
1.6124
0.674
1.7112
1.7114
3.981
2.787
1.767
1.7111
1.7121
1.666
3.389
2.173
1.6110
1.1105
1.1116
1.1116
1.1125
1.796
1.1110
1.2112
1.6126
1.1124
1.697
1.1111
1.797
2.893
5.079
5.051
3.989
1.1113
1.2120
3.981
1.1120
6.267
1.1111
1.1121
1.1116
1.1114
1.1103
1.1124
1.1110
1.1110
1.1118
1.1110
1.1114
1.1103
1.1103
1.1107
4.549
1.697
1.1103
2.893
1.6106
3.981
3.393
6.177
1.2123
0.6114
0.5114
3.981
0.5106
1.197
1.1119
0.6112
1.197
0.6121
1.1112
0.5114
0.6103
0.6113
0.5103
1.297
1.695
2.292
1.197

Compared With Other Events

Station records per event
Station records in Cold outbreak in United States, 4 to 29 May 2020 compared with similar events
Cold outbreak in United States and Mexico, 6 February to 5 March 202112,118 records
Cold outbreak in United States and Mexico, 13 October to 5 November 20209,841 records
Cold outbreak in United States and Mexico, 23 December 2017 to 8 January 20188,263 records
Cold outbreak in United States and Mexico, 3 to 23 January 20247,675 records
Cold outbreak in United States, 15 January to 10 February 20265,568 records
Cold outbreak in United States, 4 to 29 May 2020 (this event)3,434 records

Every Record Set

20 of 3,434
Every record set or tied during Cold outbreak in United States, 4 to 29 May 2020, in date order
DateStationRecordValueMarginYears stoodSignificance
2020-05-06SolomonsRecord low maximum temperature6.1 C (43.0 F)3.3 C (5.9 F)10357 of 100 (Notable)
2020-05-09BiloxiRecord low maximum temperature20.0 C (68.0 F)2.8 C (5.0 F)11751 of 100 (Notable)
2020-05-09MontereyRecord low maximum temperature10.6 C (51.1 F)5.0 C (9.0 F)11451 of 100 (Notable)
2020-05-10Lake Arthur 7 SWRecord low maximum temperature17.8 C (64.0 F)5.0 C (9.0 F)10859 of 100 (Notable)
2020-05-10Fernandina BeachRecord low maximum temperature17.8 C (64.0 F)3.9 C (7.0 F)12752 of 100 (Notable)
2020-05-10JenningsRecord low maximum temperature17.8 C (64.0 F)3.3 C (5.9 F)10352 of 100 (Notable)
2020-05-10BayardRecord low maximum temperature3.3 C (37.9 F)1.1 C (2.0 F)10352 of 100 (Notable)
2020-05-12El DoradoRecord low maximum temperature7.8 C (46.0 F)7.2 C (13.0 F)10155 of 100 (Notable)
2020-05-12Winfield 3NERecord low maximum temperature8.3 C (46.9 F)7.3 C (13.1 F)11755 of 100 (Notable)
2020-05-12Howard 2SERecord low maximum temperature7.2 C (45.0 F)6.7 C (12.1 F)10154 of 100 (Notable)
2020-05-12WallaceRecord low maximum temperature5.0 C (41.0 F)10.0 C (18.0 F)10654 of 100 (Notable)
2020-05-12MarshallRecord low maximum temperature8.3 C (46.9 F)6.1 C (11.0 F)9653 of 100 (Notable)
2020-05-12WakeeneyRecord low maximum temperature4.4 C (39.9 F)8.4 C (15.1 F)10453 of 100 (Notable)
2020-05-12FredoniaRecord low maximum temperature8.9 C (48.0 F)5.5 C (9.9 F)10152 of 100 (Notable)
2020-05-12GraylingRecord low minimum temperature-8.9 C (16.0 F)1.1 C (2.0 F)12052 of 100 (Notable)
2020-05-12ChapmanRecord low maximum temperature7.8 C (46.0 F)6.1 C (11.0 F)10451 of 100 (Notable)
2020-05-12MinneapolisRecord low maximum temperature7.2 C (45.0 F)0.6 C (1.1 F)12751 of 100 (Notable)
2020-05-12Yates CtrRecord low maximum temperature8.3 C (46.9 F)5.6 C (10.1 F)10151 of 100 (Notable)
2020-05-13Alicia 2 NNERecord low maximum temperature11.7 C (53.1 F)6.6 C (11.9 F)10855 of 100 (Notable)
2020-05-26BridgeportRecord low minimum temperature-10.6 C (12.9 F)5.0 C (9.0 F)10452 of 100 (Notable)

The daily ledgers keep a limited number of records per day, so this list has 20 of the 3,434 records the event counts. The counts above use the full total.

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Download the Data

Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Global Historical Climatology Network Daily (GHCN-Daily). Records are computed by World Extreme Weather Monitor and are not official NOAA products. (US Government open data (NOAA NCEI)) Data as of 2026-10-17. Events are found by this site from station records and are not official designations. Records are provisional until reprocessed.