Weather Records on 16 October 1938

606 weather records were set or tied worldwide on 16 October 1938. Highest significance: Gladstone Post Office, AU.

Key Facts for 16 October 1938

On 16 October 1938, 606 weather records were set or tied at long-record stations worldwide.
458 were record highs and 78 were record lows, counting maximum and minimum temperature.
By timescale, 0 were all-time records, 7 monthly and 599 daily.
Gladstone Post Office set a monthly record daily precipitation of 128.3 mm (5.1 in) on 16 October 1938.
Across 163 earlier years (1796 to 2025) the same calendar date averaged 437 records.

Record Map

606 stations

606 station records on 16 October 1938 are marked on the map, coloured by record type. Dot size shows the significance score. Made with Natural Earth.

Weather records on 16 October 1938: highest significance records shown on the map
Station	Country	Type	Value	Significance
Gladstone Post Office	Australia	Record daily precipitation	128.3 mm (5.1 in)	41 of 100 (Notable)
American Falls 6 NE	United States	Record daily precipitation	26.7 mm (1.1 in)	38 of 100 (Notable)
Ogden 2	United States	Record daily precipitation	28.7 mm (1.1 in)	35 of 100 (Notable)
Buxa	India	Record daily precipitation	136.7 mm (5.4 in)	34 of 100 (Routine)
Portage la Prairie	Canada	Record daily snowfall	10.7 cm (4.2 in)	31 of 100 (Routine)
Tooele	United States	Record daily precipitation	36.8 mm (1.4 in)	31 of 100 (Routine)
Niulii 179	United States	Record daily precipitation	52.1 mm (2.1 in)	31 of 100 (Routine)
Pelee Island	Canada	Record high maximum temperature	31.1 C (88.0 F)	29 of 100 (Routine)
Saint John	Canada	Record high maximum temperature	19.4 C (66.9 F)	29 of 100 (Routine)
Elko Rgnl AP	United States	Record low maximum temperature	4.4 C (39.9 F)	29 of 100 (Routine)
Springfield	United States	Record high maximum temperature	31.1 C (88.0 F)	28 of 100 (Routine)
Austin #2	United States	Record low maximum temperature	-1.1 C (30.0 F)	28 of 100 (Routine)
Esperance Post Office	Australia	Record high minimum temperature	20.5 C (68.9 F)	26 of 100 (Routine)
Indus	India	Record daily precipitation	69.3 mm (2.7 in)	26 of 100 (Routine)
Fernandina Beach	United States	Record daily precipitation	75.7 mm (3.0 in)	26 of 100 (Routine)
Helena Wb City	United States	Record snow depth	12.7 cm (5.0 in)	26 of 100 (Routine)
Stratford	Canada	Record high maximum temperature	26.7 C (80.1 F)	25 of 100 (Routine)
Dhamtari	India	Record daily precipitation	30.5 mm (1.2 in)	25 of 100 (Routine)
Manitowoc	United States	Record high maximum temperature	27.8 C (82.0 F)	25 of 100 (Routine)
Woodstock	Canada	Record high maximum temperature	27.2 C (81.0 F)	24 of 100 (Routine)
Cascade 5 S	United States	Record daily snowfall	5.1 cm (2.0 in)	24 of 100 (Routine)
Santa Fe	United States	Record high minimum temperature	12.2 C (54.0 F)	24 of 100 (Routine)
Dubuque River	United States	Record high maximum temperature	28.9 C (84.0 F)	24 of 100 (Routine)
Welland	Canada	Record high maximum temperature	24.4 C (75.9 F)	23 of 100 (Routine)
Espanola	United States	Record high minimum temperature	12.8 C (55.0 F)	23 of 100 (Routine)
Lakeview 2 NNW	United States	Record low maximum temperature	4.4 C (39.9 F)	23 of 100 (Routine)
Gatcombe Head	Australia	Record daily precipitation	37.1 mm (1.5 in)	22 of 100 (Routine)
Mahespur	India	Record daily precipitation	67.6 mm (2.7 in)	22 of 100 (Routine)
Denair 3 NNE	United States	Record low maximum temperature	14.4 C (57.9 F)	22 of 100 (Routine)
Moab	United States	Record high minimum temperature	13.9 C (57.0 F)	22 of 100 (Routine)
Hayes Center 1NW	United States	Record high minimum temperature	16.7 C (62.1 F)	22 of 100 (Routine)
Tebessa	Algeria	Record high minimum temperature	18.0 C (64.4 F)	21 of 100 (Routine)
Bauhinia Downs Store	Australia	Record daily precipitation	31.8 mm (1.3 in)	21 of 100 (Routine)
Nevada City	United States	Record low maximum temperature	7.2 C (45.0 F)	21 of 100 (Routine)
Rocky Ford 2 SE	United States	Record high minimum temperature	14.4 C (57.9 F)	21 of 100 (Routine)
Tarpon Spgs Sewage Plt	United States	Record daily precipitation	104.4 mm (4.1 in)	21 of 100 (Routine)
Big Rapids Wtp	United States	Record high maximum temperature	28.9 C (84.0 F)	21 of 100 (Routine)
Rapelje	United States	Record daily snowfall	12.7 cm (5.0 in)	21 of 100 (Routine)
Gothenburg	United States	Record high minimum temperature	17.2 C (63.0 F)	21 of 100 (Routine)
Joseph	United States	Record daily precipitation	14.2 mm (0.6 in)	20 of 100 (Routine)
Bustard Head Lighthouse	Australia	Record daily precipitation	22.9 mm (0.9 in)	20 of 100 (Routine)
Perm	Russia	Record daily precipitation	18.2 mm (0.7 in)	20 of 100 (Routine)
Austin #2	United States	Record daily snowfall	2.5 cm (1.0 in)	20 of 100 (Routine)
Aiea Fld 764A	United States	Record daily precipitation	23.1 mm (0.9 in)	20 of 100 (Routine)
Sonnblick	Austria	Record high minimum temperature	2.6 C (36.7 F)	20 of 100 (Routine)
Sydney	Canada	Record high minimum temperature	12.2 C (54.0 F)	20 of 100 (Routine)
Rajathgarh	India	Record daily precipitation	37.3 mm (1.5 in)	20 of 100 (Routine)
Amity	United States	Record high maximum temperature	33.9 C (93.0 F)	20 of 100 (Routine)
Knoxville	United States	Record high maximum temperature	31.7 C (89.1 F)	20 of 100 (Routine)
Colby	United States	Record high minimum temperature	16.1 C (61.0 F)	20 of 100 (Routine)
Hastings	United States	Record high maximum temperature	30.6 C (87.1 F)	20 of 100 (Routine)
Hillsdale	United States	Record high maximum temperature	29.4 C (84.9 F)	20 of 100 (Routine)
Lapeer 2 SE	United States	Record high maximum temperature	30.6 C (87.1 F)	20 of 100 (Routine)
St Charles Elm Pt	United States	Record high maximum temperature	32.8 C (91.0 F)	20 of 100 (Routine)
Curtis	United States	Record high minimum temperature	15.6 C (60.1 F)	20 of 100 (Routine)
Robe Comparison	Australia	Record high maximum temperature	24.4 C (75.9 F)	19 of 100 (Routine)
St Georges	Canada	Record high minimum temperature	9.4 C (48.9 F)	19 of 100 (Routine)
Belle Isle	Canada	Record high minimum temperature	4.4 C (39.9 F)	19 of 100 (Routine)
Talcher	India	Record daily precipitation	18.8 mm (0.7 in)	19 of 100 (Routine)
Mena	United States	Record high maximum temperature	31.1 C (88.0 F)	19 of 100 (Routine)

Counts by Type and Timescale

606 records

Records set or tied on 16 October 1938 by type: Highest daily maximum 359, Lowest daily maximum 32, Highest daily minimum 99, Lowest daily minimum 46, Heaviest daily rainfall 61, Heaviest daily snowfall 5, Deepest snow cover 4.

Records on 16 October 1938 by type
Record type	Records
Highest daily maximum	359
Lowest daily maximum	32
Highest daily minimum	99
Lowest daily minimum	46
Heaviest daily rainfall	61
Heaviest daily snowfall	5
Deepest snow cover	4

Records on 16 October 1938 by timescale: all-time 0, monthly 7, daily 599.

How Much Records Were Beaten By

470 broken records

Margins by which the 470 broken records beat the old ones, in degrees Celsius for temperature and millimetres for precipitation and snow; the largest margin was 107.0. Ties are not counted.

Top 20 by Significance

16 October 1938

Top 20 records on 16 October 1938 by significance
Date	Station	Record	Value	Beat old record by	Old record stood	Significance
16 October 1938	Gladstone Post Office, AU	monthly rain	128.3 mm (5.1 in)	29.2 mm (1.1 in)	24 years	41 of 100 (Notable)
16 October 1938	American Falls 6 NE, US	daily rain	26.7 mm (1.1 in)	16.5 mm (0.6 in)	38 years	38 of 100 (Notable)
16 October 1938	Ogden 2, US	daily rain	28.7 mm (1.1 in)	21.8 mm (0.9 in)	17 years	35 of 100 (Notable)
16 October 1938	Buxa, IN	daily rain	136.7 mm (5.4 in)	70.7 mm (2.8 in)	28 years	34 of 100 (Routine)
16 October 1938	Portage la Prairie, CA	daily snowfall	10.7 cm (4.2 in)	10.7 cm (4.2 in)	33 years	31 of 100 (Routine)
16 October 1938	Tooele, US	daily rain	36.8 mm (1.4 in)	17.7 mm (0.7 in)	29 years	31 of 100 (Routine)
16 October 1938	Niulii 179, US	daily rain	52.1 mm (2.1 in)	17.8 mm (0.7 in)	13 years	31 of 100 (Routine)
16 October 1938	Pelee Island, CA	monthly high max	31.1 C (88.0 F)	0.5 C (0.9 F)	47 years	29 of 100 (Routine)
16 October 1938	Saint John, CA	daily high max	19.4 C (66.9 F)	1.6 C (2.9 F)	63 years	29 of 100 (Routine)
16 October 1938	Elko Rgnl AP, US	daily low max	4.4 C (39.9 F)	6.7 C (12.1 F)	44 years	29 of 100 (Routine)
16 October 1938	Springfield, US	daily high max	31.1 C (88.0 F)	6.7 C (12.1 F)	37 years	28 of 100 (Routine)
16 October 1938	Austin #2, US	daily low max	-1.1 C (30.0 F)	5.5 C (9.9 F)	45 years	28 of 100 (Routine)
16 October 1938	Esperance Post Office, AU	daily high min	20.5 C (68.9 F)	5.6 C (10.1 F)	17 years	26 of 100 (Routine)
16 October 1938	Indus, IN	daily rain	69.3 mm (2.7 in)	35.0 mm (1.4 in)	12 years	26 of 100 (Routine)
16 October 1938	Fernandina Beach, US	daily rain	75.7 mm (3.0 in)	43.4 mm (1.7 in)	1 year	26 of 100 (Routine)
16 October 1938	Helena Wb City, US	daily snow depth	12.7 cm (5.0 in)	7.6 cm (3.0 in)	38 years	26 of 100 (Routine)
16 October 1938	Stratford, CA	daily high max	26.7 C (80.1 F)	0.6 C (1.1 F)	58 years	25 of 100 (Routine)
16 October 1938	Dhamtari, IN	daily rain	30.5 mm (1.2 in)	23.6 mm (0.9 in)	33 years	25 of 100 (Routine)
16 October 1938	Manitowoc, US	daily high max	27.8 C (82.0 F)	4.5 C (8.1 F)	43 years	25 of 100 (Routine)
16 October 1938	Woodstock, CA	daily high max	27.2 C (81.0 F)	1.1 C (2.0 F)	58 years	24 of 100 (Routine)

Significance is a score from 0 to 100 combining margin, the age of the old record and the length of the station's record. How it is computed.

The Same Date in Other Years

1796 to 1938

Records set or tied on this calendar date in each year from 1796 to 1938. 1938 had 606 records.

Counts for years before the ledger starts come from the same station rules.

Records on 10-16 in each year
Year	Records
1796	1
1808	1
1810	1
1811	3
1817	1
1826	1
1830	1
1836	2
1838	1
1839	1
1856	1
1859	2
1862	2
1865	2
1870	3
1873	2
1876	2
1877	3
1878	2
1879	4
1880	1
1881	3
1882	1
1883	2
1884	2
1885	1
1886	4
1887	3
1889	1
1890	4
1891	5
1892	6
1893	12
1894	5
1895	2
1896	2
1897	9
1898	4
1899	8
1901	4
1902	7
1903	6
1904	7
1905	16
1906	3
1907	6
1908	49
1909	20
1910	10
1911	18
1912	16
1913	25
1914	52
1915	17
1916	28
1917	19
1918	25
1919	58
1920	44
1921	54
1922	57
1923	84
1924	81
1925	304
1926	180
1927	122
1928	543
1929	118
1930	312
1931	515
1932	379
1933	218
1934	712
1935	395
1936	244
1937	1,200
1938	606
1939	494
1940	531
1941	220
1942	426
1943	1,233
1944	609
1945	414
1946	398
1947	865
1948	279
1949	378
1950	344
1951	266
1952	698
1953	508
1954	1,068
1955	427
1956	620
1957	354
1958	494
1959	319
1960	540
1961	790
1962	504
1963	464
1964	513
1965	498
1966	669
1967	516
1968	987
1969	845
1970	789
1971	979
1972	464
1973	539
1974	1,061
1975	487
1976	1,053
1977	549
1978	822
1979	580
1980	1,383
1981	897
1982	430
1983	432
1984	1,507
1985	672
1986	450
1987	1,259
1988	703
1989	820
1990	890
1991	1,543
1992	1,646
1993	999
1994	1,176
1995	1,061
1996	585
1997	939
1998	934
1999	705
2000	519
2001	754
2002	1,079
2003	530
2004	687
2005	684
2006	1,330
2007	645
2008	778
2009	1,931
2010	1,049
2011	816
2012	728
2013	546
2014	695
2015	1,142
2016	1,063
2017	1,014
2018	1,558
2019	463
2020	484
2021	541
2022	676
2023	608
2024	721
2025	559

Download the Data

Data for records on 1938-10-16: CSV or JSON. Field meanings are on the data page.

Sources: 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)) Made with Natural Earth. Public domain map data. Borders are Natural Earth's de facto depiction. Data as of 2026-10-17 (17 October 2026). Records are computed by this site and are not official.

Data as of 2026-10-15. Last revised 15 October 2026 (2026-10-15).

Margin	Records
0 to 20	451
20 to 40	9
40 to 60	4
60 to 80	4
80 to 100	0
100 to 120	2