Built 2026-10-19 (19 October 2026)

Cold outbreak in United States, 1 to 11 May 2023

Cold outbreak in United States, 1 to 11 May 2023: 439 records at 271 stations, peak on 4 May 2023. Closed.

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

Key Facts

  • Cold outbreak in United States, 1 to 11 May 2023 set or tied 439 station records at 271 stations.
  • It ran from 1 May 2023 to 11 May 2023 (11 days) and its peak day was 4 May 2023.
  • Status: closed.
  • Colfax set a daily record low maximum temperature of 6.7 C (44.1 F) on 6 May 2023.
  • The busiest day was 4 May 2023 with 108 records.
  • The oldest broken record in the ranked list had stood for 130 years.

Footprint

1 to 11 May 2023
Footprint of Cold outbreak in United States, 1 to 11 May 2023 The area covered by Cold outbreak in United States, 1 to 11 May 2023 is outlined, with 17 of the stations that set records marked, coloured by record type.
The area covered by Cold outbreak in United States, 1 to 11 May 2023 is outlined, with 17 of the stations that set records marked, coloured by record type. Made with Natural Earth.
Footprint of Cold outbreak in United States, 1 to 11 May 2023: stations that set records in the event
StationTypeValueDate
ColfaxRecord low maximum temperature6.7 C (44.1 F)2023-05-06
AspendellRecord low maximum temperature0.0 C (32.0 F)2023-05-03
Virginia CityRecord low maximum temperature2.2 C (36.0 F)2023-05-03
Davis 2 WSW Exp FarmRecord low maximum temperature15.6 C (60.1 F)2023-05-02
Sierraville RsRecord low maximum temperature7.2 C (45.0 F)2023-05-05
Modesto APRecord low maximum temperature16.7 C (62.1 F)2023-05-04
Redwood CityRecord low maximum temperature14.4 C (57.9 F)2023-05-04
OrlandRecord low maximum temperature14.4 C (57.9 F)2023-05-02
King CityRecord low maximum temperature13.3 C (55.9 F)2023-05-03
San Diego Miramar NASRecord low minimum temperature6.1 C (43.0 F)2023-05-03
Los BanosRecord low maximum temperature15.0 C (59.0 F)2023-05-03
Chico UNIV FarmRecord low maximum temperature14.4 C (57.9 F)2023-05-05
Sacramento AP ASOSRecord low maximum temperature14.4 C (57.9 F)2023-05-01
Stony Gorge RsvrRecord low maximum temperature13.3 C (55.9 F)2023-05-02
Palomar Mtn ObsyRecord low maximum temperature3.9 C (39.0 F)2023-05-04
Twentynine PalmsRecord low maximum temperature20.0 C (68.0 F)2023-05-04
Willows 6 WRecord low maximum temperature15.6 C (60.1 F)2023-05-04

Records per Day

Peak day 108
Records per day during Cold outbreak in United States, 1 to 11 May 2023 Records set or tied each day from 1 May 2023 to 11 May 2023. The most in one day was 108 on 4 May 2023. 0 30 60 90 120 05-0105-0305-0505-0705-0905-11
Records set or tied each day from 1 May 2023 to 11 May 2023. The most in one day was 108 on 4 May 2023.
Records per day during Cold outbreak in United States, 1 to 11 May 2023
DateRecords
2023-05-0134
2023-05-0251
2023-05-0350
2023-05-04108
2023-05-0577
2023-05-0673
2023-05-0736
2023-05-084
2023-05-094
2023-05-101
2023-05-111

Top Records by Margin

Margin over the record replaced
Top records of Cold outbreak in United States, 1 to 11 May 2023 ranked by margin
Colfax, 05-063.9 C (7.0 F)
King City, 05-033.9 C (7.0 F)
Aspendell, 05-033.3 C (5.9 F)
Chico UNIV Farm, 05-052.8 C (5.0 F)
Virginia City, 05-032.2 C (4.0 F)
Colfax, 05-042.2 C (4.0 F)
Sierraville Rs, 05-051.7 C (3.1 F)
San Diego Miramar NAS, 05-031.7 C (3.1 F)
Los Banos, 05-031.7 C (3.1 F)
Modesto AP, 05-021.7 C (3.1 F)
Orland, 05-021.2 C (2.2 F)
Sacramento AP ASOS, 05-011.2 C (2.2 F)
Aspendell, 05-031.1 C (2.0 F)
Palomar Mtn Obsy, 05-041.1 C (2.0 F)
Stony Gorge Rsvr, 05-021.1 C (2.0 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, 1 to 11 May 2023 439 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
439 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, 1 to 11 May 2023
Margin (C)Years the old record stood
3.996
3.392
2.2130
0.5108
1.789
1.189
0.690
0.592
1.281
3.958
1.768
1.772
1.772
2.858
2.258
1.172
1.172
1.172
0.572
1.272
1.272
1.172
0.672
2.252
1.172
1.165
2.858
1.164
0.558
3.348
1.658
0.658
0.558
2.249
3.948
1.653
1.658
0.650
1.157
4.540
5.616
0.648
7.824
1.327
0.656
1.745
0.658
6.729
1.136
0.545
0.558
1.736
2.236
1.148
1.152
0.549
5.634
4.429
4.420
2.828
0.638
0.636
2.214
3.416
0.640
0.550
4.529
2.832
8.916
6.224
5.028
1.632
0.645
0.534
2.736
0.649
1.726
1.124
0.628
4.432
5.520
3.336
1.740
2.821
1.620
0.624
2.232
0.540
3.929
1.136
1.140
1.734
3.920
1.734
4.520
3.628
3.332
4.520
3.929
3.032
2.729
1.732
1.132
1.124
2.224
0.638
2.228
3.420
1.112
1.724
1.136
3.324
1.136
2.832
2.824
3.328
3.328
3.920
4.416
2.432
1.234
0.634
0.617
1.124
2.220
3.320
2.824
3.324
1.132
2.220
5.416
2.228
5.013
2.824
2.724
0.836
2.328
1.636
3.920
3.324
2.232
2.824
4.416
2.928
4.520
2.728
5.016
1.632
1.832
0.536
3.324
2.728
1.732
1.928
2.824
1.832
2.232
3.128
3.324
0.632
0.532
1.18
0.528
1.130
1.228
0.529
0.137
3.320
2.820
2.228
1.232
1.034
2.720
0.636
1.628
1.134
1.628
2.220
1.628
2.820
3.420
0.534
3.913
3.916
0.632
3.917
2.228
2.228
3.320
3.320
2.220
1.032
1.632
2.128
2.228
2.228
1.134
0.136
1.532
2.220

Compared With Other Events

Station records per event
Station records in Cold outbreak in United States, 1 to 11 May 2023 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, 1 to 11 May 2023 (this event)439 records

Every Record Set

20 of 439
Every record set or tied during Cold outbreak in United States, 1 to 11 May 2023, in date order
DateStationRecordValueMarginYears stoodSignificance
2023-05-01Sacramento AP ASOSRecord low maximum temperature14.4 C (57.9 F)1.2 C (2.2 F)7231 of 100 (Routine)
2023-05-02Davis 2 WSW Exp FarmRecord low maximum temperature15.6 C (60.1 F)0.5 C (0.9 F)10840 of 100 (Notable)
2023-05-02OrlandRecord low maximum temperature14.4 C (57.9 F)1.2 C (2.2 F)8136 of 100 (Notable)
2023-05-02Modesto APRecord low maximum temperature15.0 C (59.0 F)1.7 C (3.1 F)7233 of 100 (Routine)
2023-05-02Stony Gorge RsvrRecord low maximum temperature13.3 C (55.9 F)1.1 C (2.0 F)7231 of 100 (Routine)
2023-05-03AspendellRecord low maximum temperature0.0 C (32.0 F)3.3 C (5.9 F)9243 of 100 (Notable)
2023-05-03Virginia CityRecord low maximum temperature2.2 C (36.0 F)2.2 C (4.0 F)13043 of 100 (Notable)
2023-05-03AspendellRecord low minimum temperature-10.0 C (14.0 F)1.1 C (2.0 F)8938 of 100 (Notable)
2023-05-03King CityRecord low maximum temperature13.3 C (55.9 F)3.9 C (7.0 F)5834 of 100 (Routine)
2023-05-03San Diego Miramar NASRecord low minimum temperature6.1 C (43.0 F)1.7 C (3.1 F)6834 of 100 (Routine)
2023-05-03Los BanosRecord low maximum temperature15.0 C (59.0 F)1.7 C (3.1 F)7233 of 100 (Routine)
2023-05-04Redwood CityRecord low maximum temperature14.4 C (57.9 F)0.6 C (1.1 F)9037 of 100 (Notable)
2023-05-04Modesto APRecord low maximum temperature16.7 C (62.1 F)0.5 C (0.9 F)9237 of 100 (Notable)
2023-05-04ColfaxRecord low maximum temperature6.7 C (44.1 F)2.2 C (4.0 F)5831 of 100 (Routine)
2023-05-04Palomar Mtn ObsyRecord low maximum temperature3.9 C (39.0 F)1.1 C (2.0 F)7231 of 100 (Routine)
2023-05-04Twentynine PalmsRecord low maximum temperature20.0 C (68.0 F)1.1 C (2.0 F)7231 of 100 (Routine)
2023-05-04Willows 6 WRecord low maximum temperature15.6 C (60.1 F)0.5 C (0.9 F)7231 of 100 (Routine)
2023-05-05Sierraville RsRecord low maximum temperature7.2 C (45.0 F)1.7 C (3.1 F)8939 of 100 (Notable)
2023-05-05Chico UNIV FarmRecord low maximum temperature14.4 C (57.9 F)2.8 C (5.0 F)5832 of 100 (Routine)
2023-05-06ColfaxRecord low maximum temperature6.7 C (44.1 F)3.9 C (7.0 F)9646 of 100 (Notable)

The daily ledgers keep a limited number of records per day, so this list has 20 of the 439 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.