Cold outbreak in United States, 2 to 25 May 2021

Name: Cold outbreak in United States, 2 to 25 May 2021
Start: 2021-05-02
End: 2021-05-25
Location: United States

Cold outbreak in United States, 2 to 25 May 2021: 1,082 records at 794 stations, peak on 13 May 2021. Closed.

Data as of 2026-10-12. Last revised 12 October 2026 (2026-10-12).

Key Facts

Cold outbreak in United States, 2 to 25 May 2021 set or tied 1,082 station records at 794 stations.
It ran from 2 May 2021 to 25 May 2021 (24 days) and its peak day was 13 May 2021.
Status: closed.
Rome set a daily record low maximum temperature of 13.9 C (57.0 F) on 13 May 2021.
The busiest day was 13 May 2021 with 219 records.
The oldest broken record in the ranked list had stood for 125 years.

Footprint

2 to 25 May 2021

The area covered by Cold outbreak in United States, 2 to 25 May 2021 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, 2 to 25 May 2021: stations that set records in the event
Station	Type	Value	Date
Rome	Record low maximum temperature	13.9 C (57.0 F)	2021-05-13
Morganton	Record low maximum temperature	11.7 C (53.1 F)	2021-05-13
Cheraw	Record low maximum temperature	12.8 C (55.0 F)	2021-05-13
Clemson UNIV	Record low maximum temperature	15.0 C (59.0 F)	2021-05-13
Fayetteville (Pwc)	Record low maximum temperature	11.7 C (53.1 F)	2021-05-13
Waynesville 1 E	Record low maximum temperature	8.9 C (48.0 F)	2021-05-13
Winthrop UNIV	Record low maximum temperature	11.7 C (53.1 F)	2021-05-13
Toccoa	Record low maximum temperature	15.0 C (59.0 F)	2021-05-13
Newnan 7 WNW	Record low maximum temperature	15.0 C (59.0 F)	2021-05-13
Cullowhee	Record low maximum temperature	12.2 C (54.0 F)	2021-05-13
Hendersonville 1 NE	Record low maximum temperature	9.4 C (48.9 F)	2021-05-13
Bay City Wtr Wks	Record low maximum temperature	20.6 C (69.1 F)	2021-05-20
Rugby	Record low minimum temperature	-7.8 C (18.0 F)	2021-05-08
Solomons	Record low minimum temperature	3.3 C (37.9 F)	2021-05-12
Waynesboro	Record low maximum temperature	15.0 C (59.0 F)	2021-05-11
Clayton 1 SSW	Record low maximum temperature	13.9 C (57.0 F)	2021-05-13
Palacios Muni AP	Record low maximum temperature	21.7 C (71.1 F)	2021-05-19
Bloomington Indiana UNIV	Record low minimum temperature	-2.2 C (28.0 F)	2021-05-07
Elgin Water	Record low maximum temperature	4.4 C (39.9 F)	2021-05-12
Franklin 3 NW	Record low maximum temperature	22.2 C (72.0 F)	2021-05-12

Records per Day

Peak day 219

Records set or tied each day from 2 May 2021 to 25 May 2021. The most in one day was 219 on 13 May 2021.

Records per day during Cold outbreak in United States, 2 to 25 May 2021
Date	Records
2021-05-02	1
2021-05-03	10
2021-05-04	26
2021-05-05	31
2021-05-06	20
2021-05-07	19
2021-05-08	79
2021-05-09	55
2021-05-10	93
2021-05-11	165
2021-05-12	170
2021-05-13	219
2021-05-14	59
2021-05-15	46
2021-05-16	15
2021-05-17	9
2021-05-18	4
2021-05-19	12
2021-05-20	23
2021-05-21	3
2021-05-22	2
2021-05-23	9
2021-05-24	8
2021-05-25	4

Top Records by Margin

Margin over the record replaced

Top records of Cold outbreak in United States, 2 to 25 May 2021 ranked by margin
Rome, 05-13	6.1 C (11.0 F)
Hendersonville 1 NE, 05-13	5.6 C (10.1 F)
Morganton, 05-13	5.5 C (9.9 F)
Fayetteville (Pwc), 05-13	5.5 C (9.9 F)
Cheraw, 05-13	5.0 C (9.0 F)
Clemson UNIV, 05-13	4.4 C (7.9 F)
Waynesville 1 E, 05-13	4.4 C (7.9 F)
Bay City Wtr Wks, 05-20	4.4 C (7.9 F)
Winthrop UNIV, 05-13	3.9 C (7.0 F)
Toccoa, 05-13	3.9 C (7.0 F)
Cullowhee, 05-13	3.4 C (6.1 F)
Rugby, 05-08	3.4 C (6.1 F)
Newnan 7 WNW, 05-13	3.3 C (5.9 F)
Clayton 1 SSW, 05-13	3.3 C (5.9 F)
Palacios Muni AP, 05-19	3.3 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

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, 2 to 25 May 2021
Margin (C)	Years the old record stood
6.1	102
5.5	104
5.0	104
4.4	104
5.5	96
4.4	104
3.9	104
3.9	114
3.3	114
3.4	104
5.6	83
4.4	68
2.3	108
3.4	116
3.3	90
2.8	96
3.3	76
2.8	107
3.3	96
1.1	104
1.7	102
7.2	58
6.7	60
2.7	67
1.1	116
1.7	125
1.7	111
2.2	96
1.6	116
7.2	60
1.7	100
1.1	104
1.6	102
1.7	112
1.1	107
1.7	111
1.6	108
1.1	106
1.1	115
1.7	96
1.6	115
1.1	114
3.3	83
6.2	60
1.1	116
1.1	102
1.1	104
1.1	107
1.1	111
1.1	104
0.5	102
0.5	104
0.6	104
0.5	107
0.6	104
1.1	98
0.6	115
0.5	125
1.1	96
1.2	96
1.1	96
0.6	100
1.2	115
0.6	115
0.6	120
0.6	103
0.6	104
0.5	120
1.1	96
0.6	104
1.1	96
1.7	92
0.5	112
1.2	92
1.7	95
2.2	80
0.5	99
0.6	98
0.6	96
2.8	83
1.7	92
5.0	72
0.5	96
0.6	92
3.9	75
2.3	76
1.6	88
6.1	32
2.8	71
1.1	92
0.5	90
0.6	92
3.9	60
1.1	55
5.6	60
4.4	58
0.5	96
3.9	67
6.1	51
5.0	68
1.1	80
1.1	60
0.6	92
2.8	67
1.6	82
3.3	75
4.4	48
1.1	83
1.7	78
0.5	92
5.0	58
0.6	88
4.4	60
2.3	75
3.9	60
3.9	62
2.2	67
1.7	78
1.6	75
3.3	58
0.6	82
0.6	83
0.6	82
1.7	67
1.7	67
3.3	50
1.1	75
3.9	55
3.9	67
0.6	76
1.7	68
3.3	51
1.7	67
1.7	67
2.3	67
1.2	67
0.6	75
2.3	67
7.2	50
2.7	58
0.5	76
2.8	60
1.2	67
1.2	67
1.1	67
0.5	82
1.6	67
2.2	60
2.8	75
1.2	75
3.9	48
2.2	58
3.9	55
0.6	72
0.6	70
1.1	68
0.5	75
2.2	68
2.2	67
2.3	67
2.2	58
3.3	58
6.1	30
1.6	67
1.1	67
3.4	56
0.5	75
2.2	67
0.6	71
1.1	70
6.6	52
0.6	67
0.5	67
0.6	67
0.6	67
0.6	76
1.1	67
1.1	68
3.4	32
1.1	60
1.1	67
0.6	67
2.2	60
4.4	48
1.1	68
4.4	52
6.7	32
1.1	67
1.6	58
0.5	67
2.8	67
0.5	67
0.6	67
3.3	56
0.6	67
0.5	67
2.2	67
1.7	70
1.1	72
2.8	67

Compared With Other Events

Station records per event

Station records in Cold outbreak in United States, 2 to 25 May 2021 compared with similar events
Cold outbreak in United States and Mexico, 6 February to 5 March 2021	12,118 records
Cold outbreak in United States and Mexico, 13 October to 5 November 2020	9,841 records
Cold outbreak in United States and Mexico, 23 December 2017 to 8 January 2018	8,263 records
Cold outbreak in United States and Mexico, 3 to 23 January 2024	7,675 records
Cold outbreak in United States, 15 January to 10 February 2026	5,568 records
Cold outbreak in United States, 2 to 25 May 2021 (this event)	1,082 records

Every Record Set

20 of 1,082

Every record set or tied during Cold outbreak in United States, 2 to 25 May 2021, in date order
Date	Station	Record	Value	Margin	Years stood	Significance
2021-05-07	Bloomington Indiana UNIV	Record low minimum temperature	-2.2 C (28.0 F)	3.3 C (5.9 F)	96	44 of 100 (Notable)
2021-05-08	Rugby	Record low minimum temperature	-7.8 C (18.0 F)	3.4 C (6.1 F)	116	46 of 100 (Notable)
2021-05-11	Waynesboro	Record low maximum temperature	15.0 C (59.0 F)	2.8 C (5.0 F)	96	45 of 100 (Notable)
2021-05-12	Solomons	Record low minimum temperature	3.3 C (37.9 F)	2.3 C (4.1 F)	108	46 of 100 (Notable)
2021-05-12	Elgin Water	Record low maximum temperature	4.4 C (39.9 F)	2.8 C (5.0 F)	107	44 of 100 (Notable)
2021-05-12	Franklin 3 NW	Record low maximum temperature	22.2 C (72.0 F)	1.1 C (2.0 F)	104	44 of 100 (Notable)
2021-05-13	Rome	Record low maximum temperature	13.9 C (57.0 F)	6.1 C (11.0 F)	102	55 of 100 (Notable)
2021-05-13	Morganton	Record low maximum temperature	11.7 C (53.1 F)	5.5 C (9.9 F)	104	52 of 100 (Notable)
2021-05-13	Cheraw	Record low maximum temperature	12.8 C (55.0 F)	5.0 C (9.0 F)	104	51 of 100 (Notable)
2021-05-13	Clemson UNIV	Record low maximum temperature	15.0 C (59.0 F)	4.4 C (7.9 F)	104	51 of 100 (Notable)
2021-05-13	Fayetteville (Pwc)	Record low maximum temperature	11.7 C (53.1 F)	5.5 C (9.9 F)	96	50 of 100 (Notable)
2021-05-13	Waynesville 1 E	Record low maximum temperature	8.9 C (48.0 F)	4.4 C (7.9 F)	104	50 of 100 (Notable)
2021-05-13	Winthrop UNIV	Record low maximum temperature	11.7 C (53.1 F)	3.9 C (7.0 F)	104	50 of 100 (Notable)
2021-05-13	Toccoa	Record low maximum temperature	15.0 C (59.0 F)	3.9 C (7.0 F)	114	49 of 100 (Notable)
2021-05-13	Newnan 7 WNW	Record low maximum temperature	15.0 C (59.0 F)	3.3 C (5.9 F)	114	48 of 100 (Notable)
2021-05-13	Cullowhee	Record low maximum temperature	12.2 C (54.0 F)	3.4 C (6.1 F)	104	48 of 100 (Notable)
2021-05-13	Hendersonville 1 NE	Record low maximum temperature	9.4 C (48.9 F)	5.6 C (10.1 F)	83	47 of 100 (Notable)
2021-05-13	Clayton 1 SSW	Record low maximum temperature	13.9 C (57.0 F)	3.3 C (5.9 F)	90	45 of 100 (Notable)
2021-05-19	Palacios Muni AP	Record low maximum temperature	21.7 C (71.1 F)	3.3 C (5.9 F)	76	45 of 100 (Notable)
2021-05-20	Bay City Wtr Wks	Record low maximum temperature	20.6 C (69.1 F)	4.4 C (7.9 F)	68	47 of 100 (Notable)

The daily ledgers keep a limited number of records per day, so this list has 20 of the 1,082 records the event counts. The counts above use the full total.

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 2026-10-12. Events are found by this site from station records and are not official designations. Records are provisional until reprocessed.

Margin (C)	Years the old record stood
6.1	102
5.5	104
5.0	104
4.4	104
5.5	96
4.4	104
3.9	104
3.9	114
3.3	114
3.4	104
5.6	83
4.4	68
2.3	108
3.4	116
3.3	90
2.8	96
3.3	76
2.8	107
3.3	96
1.1	104
1.7	102
7.2	58
6.7	60
2.7	67
1.1	116
1.7	125
1.7	111
2.2	96
1.6	116
7.2	60
1.7	100
1.1	104
1.6	102
1.7	112
1.1	107
1.7	111
1.6	108
1.1	106
1.1	115
1.7	96
1.6	115
1.1	114
3.3	83
6.2	60
1.1	116
1.1	102
1.1	104
1.1	107
1.1	111
1.1	104
0.5	102
0.5	104
0.6	104
0.5	107
0.6	104
1.1	98
0.6	115
0.5	125
1.1	96
1.2	96
1.1	96
0.6	100
1.2	115
0.6	115
0.6	120
0.6	103
0.6	104
0.5	120
1.1	96
0.6	104
1.1	96
1.7	92
0.5	112
1.2	92
1.7	95
2.2	80
0.5	99
0.6	98
0.6	96
2.8	83
1.7	92
5.0	72
0.5	96
0.6	92
3.9	75
2.3	76
1.6	88
6.1	32
2.8	71
1.1	92
0.5	90
0.6	92
3.9	60
1.1	55
5.6	60
4.4	58
0.5	96
3.9	67
6.1	51
5.0	68
1.1	80
1.1	60
0.6	92
2.8	67
1.6	82
3.3	75
4.4	48
1.1	83
1.7	78
0.5	92
5.0	58
0.6	88
4.4	60
2.3	75
3.9	60
3.9	62
2.2	67
1.7	78
1.6	75
3.3	58
0.6	82
0.6	83
0.6	82
1.7	67
1.7	67
3.3	50
1.1	75
3.9	55
3.9	67
0.6	76
1.7	68
3.3	51
1.7	67
1.7	67
2.3	67
1.2	67
0.6	75
2.3	67
7.2	50
2.7	58
0.5	76
2.8	60
1.2	67
1.2	67
1.1	67
0.5	82
1.6	67
2.2	60
2.8	75
1.2	75
3.9	48
2.2	58
3.9	55
0.6	72
0.6	70
1.1	68
0.5	75
2.2	68
2.2	67
2.3	67
2.2	58
3.3	58
6.1	30
1.6	67
1.1	67
3.4	56
0.5	75
2.2	67
0.6	71
1.1	70
6.6	52
0.6	67
0.5	67
0.6	67
0.6	67
0.6	76
1.1	67
1.1	68
3.4	32
1.1	60
1.1	67
0.6	67
2.2	60
4.4	48
1.1	68
4.4	52
6.7	32
1.1	67
1.6	58
0.5	67
2.8	67
0.5	67
0.6	67
3.3	56
0.6	67
0.5	67
2.2	67
1.7	70
1.1	72
2.8	67

Margin (C)	Years the old record stood
6.1	102
5.5	104
5.0	104
4.4	104
5.5	96
4.4	104
3.9	104
3.9	114
3.3	114
3.4	104
5.6	83
4.4	68
2.3	108
3.4	116
3.3	90
2.8	96
3.3	76
2.8	107
3.3	96
1.1	104
1.7	102
7.2	58
6.7	60
2.7	67
1.1	116
1.7	125
1.7	111
2.2	96
1.6	116
7.2	60
1.7	100
1.1	104
1.6	102
1.7	112
1.1	107
1.7	111
1.6	108
1.1	106
1.1	115
1.7	96
1.6	115
1.1	114
3.3	83
6.2	60
1.1	116
1.1	102
1.1	104
1.1	107
1.1	111
1.1	104
0.5	102
0.5	104
0.6	104
0.5	107
0.6	104
1.1	98
0.6	115
0.5	125
1.1	96
1.2	96
1.1	96
0.6	100
1.2	115
0.6	115
0.6	120
0.6	103
0.6	104
0.5	120
1.1	96
0.6	104
1.1	96
1.7	92
0.5	112
1.2	92
1.7	95
2.2	80
0.5	99
0.6	98
0.6	96
2.8	83
1.7	92
5.0	72
0.5	96
0.6	92
3.9	75
2.3	76
1.6	88
6.1	32
2.8	71
1.1	92
0.5	90
0.6	92
3.9	60
1.1	55
5.6	60
4.4	58
0.5	96
3.9	67
6.1	51
5.0	68
1.1	80
1.1	60
0.6	92
2.8	67
1.6	82
3.3	75
4.4	48
1.1	83
1.7	78
0.5	92
5.0	58
0.6	88
4.4	60
2.3	75
3.9	60
3.9	62
2.2	67
1.7	78
1.6	75
3.3	58
0.6	82
0.6	83
0.6	82
1.7	67
1.7	67
3.3	50
1.1	75
3.9	55
3.9	67
0.6	76
1.7	68
3.3	51
1.7	67
1.7	67
2.3	67
1.2	67
0.6	75
2.3	67
7.2	50
2.7	58
0.5	76
2.8	60
1.2	67
1.2	67
1.1	67
0.5	82
1.6	67
2.2	60
2.8	75
1.2	75
3.9	48
2.2	58
3.9	55
0.6	72
0.6	70
1.1	68
0.5	75
2.2	68
2.2	67
2.3	67
2.2	58
3.3	58
6.1	30
1.6	67
1.1	67
3.4	56
0.5	75
2.2	67
0.6	71
1.1	70
6.6	52
0.6	67
0.5	67
0.6	67
0.6	67
0.6	76
1.1	67
1.1	68
3.4	32
1.1	60
1.1	67
0.6	67
2.2	60
4.4	48
1.1	68
4.4	52
6.7	32
1.1	67
1.6	58
0.5	67
2.8	67
0.5	67
0.6	67
3.3	56
0.6	67
0.5	67
2.2	67
1.7	70
1.1	72
2.8	67