Weather Records on 21 January 1939

305 weather records were set or tied worldwide on 21 January 1939. Highest significance: Minot Exp STN, US.

Key Facts for 21 January 1939

On 21 January 1939, 305 weather records were set or tied at long-record stations worldwide.
79 were record highs and 20 were record lows, counting maximum and minimum temperature.
By timescale, 1 were all-time records, 12 monthly and 292 daily.
Minot Exp STN set a daily record snow depth of 25.4 cm (10.0 in) on 21 January 1939.
Across 163 earlier years (1793 to 2026) the same calendar date averaged 468 records.

Record Map

305 stations

305 station records on 21 January 1939 are marked on the map, coloured by record type. Dot size shows the significance score. Made with Natural Earth.

Weather records on 21 January 1939: highest significance records shown on the map
Station	Country	Type	Value	Significance
Minot Exp STN	United States	Record snow depth	25.4 cm (10.0 in)	51 of 100 (Notable)
Herschel	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	61.0 mm (2.4 in)	50 of 100 (Notable)
Kendenup	Australia	Record daily precipitation	38.1 mm (1.5 in)	49 of 100 (Notable)
Woogenellup	Australia	Record daily precipitation	58.7 mm (2.3 in)	49 of 100 (Notable)
Busselton Shire	Australia	Record daily precipitation	29.2 mm (1.1 in)	48 of 100 (Notable)
King River	Australia	Record daily precipitation	57.2 mm (2.3 in)	48 of 100 (Notable)
Mount Barker	Australia	Record daily precipitation	53.3 mm (2.1 in)	48 of 100 (Notable)
Youngs Siding	Australia	Record daily precipitation	52.6 mm (2.1 in)	48 of 100 (Notable)
Peppermint Grove	Australia	Record daily precipitation	91.4 mm (3.6 in)	46 of 100 (Notable)
Broomehill	Australia	Record daily precipitation	58.2 mm (2.3 in)	46 of 100 (Notable)
Wilgarrup	Australia	Record daily precipitation	29.7 mm (1.2 in)	45 of 100 (Notable)
Katanning Comparison	Australia	Record daily precipitation	34.3 mm (1.4 in)	45 of 100 (Notable)
Ellensfield	Australia	Record daily precipitation	50.3 mm (2.0 in)	45 of 100 (Notable)
Wagin	Australia	Record daily precipitation	44.5 mm (1.8 in)	44 of 100 (Notable)
Jerramungup	Australia	Record daily precipitation	25.4 mm (1.0 in)	44 of 100 (Notable)
Changenachery	India	Record daily precipitation	39.9 mm (1.6 in)	43 of 100 (Notable)
Nannup	Australia	Record daily precipitation	51.1 mm (2.0 in)	41 of 100 (Notable)
Pardelup	Australia	Record daily precipitation	28.2 mm (1.1 in)	41 of 100 (Notable)
Bridgetown Comparison	Australia	Record daily precipitation	30.7 mm (1.2 in)	39 of 100 (Notable)
Grassmere	Australia	Record daily precipitation	75.7 mm (3.0 in)	39 of 100 (Notable)
Dyliabing	Australia	Record daily precipitation	56.4 mm (2.2 in)	39 of 100 (Notable)
Napoklu	India	Record daily precipitation	51.6 mm (2.0 in)	38 of 100 (Notable)
Wellwood	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	36.1 mm (1.4 in)	36 of 100 (Notable)
Albany	Australia	Record daily precipitation	87.6 mm (3.4 in)	34 of 100 (Routine)
Cape Riche	Australia	Record daily precipitation	86.4 mm (3.4 in)	34 of 100 (Routine)
Roper River Police	Australia	Record daily precipitation	74.9 mm (2.9 in)	33 of 100 (Routine)
Smithfield (Mun)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	59.4 mm (2.3 in)	31 of 100 (Routine)
Steamboat Springs	United States	Record daily snowfall	25.4 cm (10.0 in)	28 of 100 (Routine)
Ravensthorpe	Australia	Record daily precipitation	29.5 mm (1.2 in)	26 of 100 (Routine)
The Oaks	Australia	Record daily precipitation	27.7 mm (1.1 in)	26 of 100 (Routine)
Dynevor Downs	Australia	Record daily precipitation	26.7 mm (1.1 in)	26 of 100 (Routine)
Kotkhai	India	Record daily precipitation	58.4 mm (2.3 in)	26 of 100 (Routine)
Boyanup	Australia	Record daily precipitation	31.5 mm (1.2 in)	25 of 100 (Routine)
Leyburn Post Office	Australia	Record daily precipitation	105.2 mm (4.1 in)	25 of 100 (Routine)
Kotarh	India	Record daily precipitation	48.3 mm (1.9 in)	24 of 100 (Routine)
Marree (Farina)	Australia	Record high minimum temperature	32.0 C (89.6 F)	23 of 100 (Routine)
Cuerindi	Australia	Record daily precipitation	43.7 mm (1.7 in)	23 of 100 (Routine)
Klipplaat (Sar)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	26.7 mm (1.1 in)	23 of 100 (Routine)
Bethesdaweg (Sar)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	27.2 mm (1.1 in)	23 of 100 (Routine)
Greenbushes	Australia	Record daily precipitation	36.3 mm (1.4 in)	21 of 100 (Routine)
Sterkspruit	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	43.2 mm (1.7 in)	21 of 100 (Routine)
Tombstone	United States	Record high minimum temperature	10.6 C (51.1 F)	21 of 100 (Routine)
Cowalla	Australia	Record daily precipitation	21.8 mm (0.9 in)	20 of 100 (Routine)
Donnybrook	Australia	Record daily precipitation	24.1 mm (0.9 in)	20 of 100 (Routine)
Cooeearup	Australia	Record daily precipitation	24.9 mm (1.0 in)	20 of 100 (Routine)
Deeside	Australia	Record daily precipitation	16.5 mm (0.6 in)	20 of 100 (Routine)
Trida (Cogie)	Australia	Record daily precipitation	15.2 mm (0.6 in)	20 of 100 (Routine)
Westbourne	Australia	Record daily precipitation	17.8 mm (0.7 in)	20 of 100 (Routine)
Bannister	Australia	Record daily precipitation	6.1 mm (0.24 in)	20 of 100 (Routine)
Steamboat Springs	United States	Record daily precipitation	19.6 mm (0.8 in)	20 of 100 (Routine)
Yathroo	Australia	Record daily precipitation	9.1 mm (0.36 in)	20 of 100 (Routine)
Amelup	Australia	Record daily precipitation	18.3 mm (0.7 in)	20 of 100 (Routine)
Bordeaux-Merignac	France	Record daily precipitation	18.2 mm (0.7 in)	20 of 100 (Routine)
Moana	Australia	Record daily precipitation	17.0 mm (0.7 in)	20 of 100 (Routine)
Tibooburra (Onepah)	Australia	Record daily precipitation	12.7 mm (0.5 in)	20 of 100 (Routine)
Mercara Obsy Sr	India	Record daily precipitation	18.0 mm (0.7 in)	20 of 100 (Routine)
Sarpsborg	Norway	Record daily precipitation	22.0 mm (0.9 in)	20 of 100 (Routine)
Brakfontein	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	22.9 mm (0.9 in)	20 of 100 (Routine)
Cape Leeuwin	Australia	Record daily precipitation	12.7 mm (0.5 in)	20 of 100 (Routine)
Lake Muir	Australia	Record daily precipitation	17.0 mm (0.7 in)	20 of 100 (Routine)

Counts by Type and Timescale

305 records

Records set or tied on 21 January 1939 by type: Highest daily maximum 31, Lowest daily maximum 6, Highest daily minimum 48, Lowest daily minimum 14, Heaviest daily rainfall 188, Heaviest daily snowfall 12, Deepest snow cover 6.

Records on 21 January 1939 by type
Record type	Records
Highest daily maximum	31
Lowest daily maximum	6
Highest daily minimum	48
Lowest daily minimum	14
Heaviest daily rainfall	188
Heaviest daily snowfall	12
Deepest snow cover	6

Records on 21 January 1939 by timescale: all-time 1, monthly 12, daily 292.

How Much Records Were Beaten By

258 broken records

Margins by which the 258 broken records beat the old ones, in degrees Celsius for temperature and millimetres for precipitation and snow; the largest margin was 178.0. Ties are not counted.

Top 20 by Significance

21 January 1939

Top 20 records on 21 January 1939 by significance
Date	Station	Record	Value	Beat old record by	Old record stood	Significance
21 January 1939	Minot Exp STN, US	daily snow depth	25.4 cm (10.0 in)	17.8 cm (7.0 in)	27 years	51 of 100 (Notable)
21 January 1939	Herschel, ZA	daily rain	61.0 mm (2.4 in)	38.6 mm (1.5 in)	46 years	50 of 100 (Notable)
21 January 1939	Kendenup, AU	daily rain	38.1 mm (1.5 in)	32.3 mm (1.3 in)	23 years	49 of 100 (Notable)
21 January 1939	Woogenellup, AU	daily rain	58.7 mm (2.3 in)	53.9 mm (2.1 in)	23 years	49 of 100 (Notable)
21 January 1939	Busselton Shire, AU	daily rain	29.2 mm (1.1 in)	28.4 mm (1.1 in)	7 years	48 of 100 (Notable)
21 January 1939	King River, AU	daily rain	57.2 mm (2.3 in)	52.9 mm (2.1 in)	16 years	48 of 100 (Notable)
21 January 1939	Mount Barker, AU	daily rain	53.3 mm (2.1 in)	47.7 mm (1.9 in)	16 years	48 of 100 (Notable)
21 January 1939	Youngs Siding, AU	daily rain	52.6 mm (2.1 in)	46.2 mm (1.8 in)	16 years	48 of 100 (Notable)
21 January 1939	Peppermint Grove, AU	daily rain	91.4 mm (3.6 in)	83.0 mm (3.3 in)	11 years	46 of 100 (Notable)
21 January 1939	Broomehill, AU	daily rain	58.2 mm (2.3 in)	55.4 mm (2.2 in)	7 years	46 of 100 (Notable)
21 January 1939	Wilgarrup, AU	daily rain	29.7 mm (1.2 in)	24.6 mm (1.0 in)	16 years	45 of 100 (Notable)
21 January 1939	Katanning Comparison, AU	daily rain	34.3 mm (1.4 in)	28.7 mm (1.1 in)	7 years	45 of 100 (Notable)
21 January 1939	Ellensfield, AU	daily rain	50.3 mm (2.0 in)	48.8 mm (1.9 in)	7 years	45 of 100 (Notable)
21 January 1939	Wagin, AU	daily rain	44.5 mm (1.8 in)	30.3 mm (1.2 in)	7 years	44 of 100 (Notable)
21 January 1939	Jerramungup, AU	daily rain	25.4 mm (1.0 in)	20.3 mm (0.8 in)	7 years	44 of 100 (Notable)
21 January 1939	Changenachery, IN	daily rain	39.9 mm (1.6 in)	36.9 mm (1.5 in)	37 years	43 of 100 (Notable)
21 January 1939	Nannup, AU	monthly rain	51.1 mm (2.0 in)	14.3 mm (0.6 in)	21 years	41 of 100 (Notable)
21 January 1939	Pardelup, AU	daily rain	28.2 mm (1.1 in)	22.9 mm (0.9 in)	16 years	41 of 100 (Notable)
21 January 1939	Bridgetown Comparison, AU	daily rain	30.7 mm (1.2 in)	29.4 mm (1.2 in)	3 years	39 of 100 (Notable)
21 January 1939	Grassmere, AU	monthly rain	75.7 mm (3.0 in)	16.5 mm (0.6 in)	12 years	39 of 100 (Notable)

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

1793 to 1939

Records set or tied on this calendar date in each year from 1793 to 1939. 1939 had 305 records.

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

Records on 01-21 in each year
Year	Records
1793	1
1795	2
1796	1
1798	1
1800	2
1803	1
1804	2
1829	1
1838	3
1840	2
1845	2
1846	1
1850	2
1864	2
1866	4
1867	1
1869	1
1871	1
1873	2
1876	1
1878	4
1880	3
1881	4
1884	1
1885	1
1886	1
1888	3
1890	2
1891	3
1892	2
1893	1
1894	3
1895	2
1896	2
1897	3
1898	3
1899	15
1900	5
1901	4
1902	8
1903	18
1904	30
1905	3
1906	53
1907	10
1908	11
1909	25
1910	11
1911	8
1912	7
1913	23
1914	37
1915	47
1916	38
1917	83
1918	49
1919	14
1920	75
1921	54
1922	35
1923	62
1924	535
1925	103
1926	157
1927	447
1928	206
1929	132
1930	616
1931	112
1932	167
1933	572
1934	255
1935	771
1936	314
1937	852
1938	250
1939	305
1940	562
1941	205
1942	522
1943	1,168
1944	324
1945	290
1946	339
1947	205
1948	387
1949	452
1950	643
1951	367
1952	436
1953	325
1954	1,094
1955	399
1956	653
1957	527
1958	506
1959	936
1960	319
1961	746
1962	741
1963	761
1964	771
1965	251
1966	636
1967	511
1968	1,179
1969	927
1970	1,770
1971	672
1972	598
1973	573
1974	992
1975	496
1976	860
1977	549
1978	1,301
1979	1,675
1980	425
1981	972
1982	1,339
1983	1,179
1984	2,132
1985	2,457
1986	883
1987	934
1988	771
1989	511
1990	927
1991	559
1992	447
1993	1,763
1994	1,195
1995	1,276
1996	528
1997	950
1998	606
1999	1,387
2000	686
2001	736
2002	796
2003	690
2004	535
2005	1,111
2006	1,116
2007	1,955
2008	1,061
2009	788
2010	1,166
2011	836
2012	1,148
2013	455
2014	522
2015	426
2016	580
2017	1,248
2018	664
2019	526
2020	894
2021	626
2022	430
2023	517
2024	1,015
2025	1,386
2026	201

Download the Data

Data for records on 1939-01-21: 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 2026-10-14 (14 October 2026). Records are computed by this site and are not official.

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

Margin	Records
0 to 25	235
25 to 50	16
50 to 75	4
75 to 100	2
100 to 125	0
125 to 150	0
150 to 175	0
175 to 200	1