Weather Records on 18 May 1939

169 weather records were set or tied worldwide on 18 May 1939. Highest significance: Fort St James, CA.

Key Facts for 18 May 1939

On 18 May 1939, 169 weather records were set or tied at long-record stations worldwide.
52 were record highs and 46 were record lows, counting maximum and minimum temperature.
By timescale, 0 were all-time records, 2 monthly and 167 daily.
Fort St James set a daily record precipitation of 30.5 mm (1.2 in) on 18 May 1939.
Across 164 earlier years (1796 to 2026) the same calendar date averaged 444 records.

Record Map

169 stations

169 station records on 18 May 1939 are marked on the map, coloured by record type. Dot size shows the significance score. Made with Natural Earth.

Weather records on 18 May 1939: highest significance records shown on the map
Station	Country	Type	Value	Significance
Fort St James	Canada	Record daily precipitation	30.5 mm (1.2 in)	54 of 100 (Notable)
Tyrrell Downs	Australia	Record daily precipitation	33.5 mm (1.3 in)	47 of 100 (Notable)
College STN 6 SW	United States	Record daily precipitation	102.6 mm (4.0 in)	40 of 100 (Notable)
Geneve Observatoire	Switzerland	Record daily precipitation	42.1 mm (1.7 in)	34 of 100 (Routine)
Alexandria	United States	Record daily precipitation	74.4 mm (2.9 in)	33 of 100 (Routine)
Greenwood	Australia	Record daily precipitation	43.2 mm (1.7 in)	30 of 100 (Routine)
Logansport	United States	Record daily precipitation	89.7 mm (3.5 in)	29 of 100 (Routine)
Koyah	India	Record daily precipitation	141.5 mm (5.6 in)	26 of 100 (Routine)
Richfield Radio Ksvc	United States	Record high minimum temperature	11.7 C (53.1 F)	25 of 100 (Routine)
Castra Central	Australia	Record daily precipitation	46.7 mm (1.8 in)	23 of 100 (Routine)
Tashkent	Uzbekistan	Record low minimum temperature	4.9 C (40.8 F)	22 of 100 (Routine)
Central Kin Kin	Australia	Record daily precipitation	34.3 mm (1.4 in)	21 of 100 (Routine)
Orleans	United States	Record daily precipitation	27.7 mm (1.1 in)	21 of 100 (Routine)
Quesnel	Canada	Record daily precipitation	23.6 mm (0.9 in)	20 of 100 (Routine)
Glen Boree	Australia	Record daily precipitation	17.8 mm (0.7 in)	20 of 100 (Routine)
Kargopol	Russia	Record daily precipitation	18.0 mm (0.7 in)	20 of 100 (Routine)
Hood Rvr Exp STN	United States	Record daily precipitation	14.2 mm (0.6 in)	20 of 100 (Routine)
Robben Island (Vrt)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	12.4 mm (0.5 in)	20 of 100 (Routine)
Penong	Australia	Record daily precipitation	17.0 mm (0.7 in)	20 of 100 (Routine)
Kareekloof	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	7.1 mm (0.28 in)	20 of 100 (Routine)
Redbank Post Office	Australia	Record daily precipitation	23.6 mm (0.9 in)	20 of 100 (Routine)
Boonah Stark Ave	Australia	Record daily precipitation	25.4 mm (1.0 in)	20 of 100 (Routine)
Lares	Puerto Rico [United States]	Record low minimum temperature	14.4 C (57.9 F)	20 of 100 (Routine)
Fergana	Uzbekistan	Record low minimum temperature	6.9 C (44.4 F)	20 of 100 (Routine)
Fruita	United States	Record high minimum temperature	12.2 C (54.0 F)	19 of 100 (Routine)
Twin Falls 2 NNE	United States	Record daily precipitation	16.3 mm (0.6 in)	19 of 100 (Routine)
Fowlers Bay	Australia	Record daily precipitation	18.0 mm (0.7 in)	18 of 100 (Routine)
Wynnum Railway Station	Australia	Record daily precipitation	18.3 mm (0.7 in)	18 of 100 (Routine)
Maple Creek	Canada	Record daily precipitation	39.4 mm (1.6 in)	18 of 100 (Routine)
The Towers	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	7.6 mm (0.30 in)	18 of 100 (Routine)
Woudzicht	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	17.8 mm (0.7 in)	18 of 100 (Routine)
Red Lodge	United States	Record high minimum temperature	11.1 C (52.0 F)	18 of 100 (Routine)
Hay Springs	United States	Record high minimum temperature	11.7 C (53.1 F)	18 of 100 (Routine)
Bloomfield 3 SE	United States	Record high minimum temperature	14.4 C (57.9 F)	18 of 100 (Routine)
Sewanee	United States	Record high minimum temperature	18.9 C (66.0 F)	18 of 100 (Routine)
Gracemere Russell St	Australia	Record daily precipitation	1.8 mm (0.07 in)	17 of 100 (Routine)
Stanwell Post Office	Australia	Record daily precipitation	2.3 mm (0.09 in)	17 of 100 (Routine)
Caloundra Signal Station	Australia	Record daily precipitation	30.5 mm (1.2 in)	17 of 100 (Routine)
Reitz 36	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	6.4 mm (0.25 in)	17 of 100 (Routine)
Buckland Downs	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	3.8 mm (0.15 in)	17 of 100 (Routine)
Leavenworth	United States	Record high maximum temperature	32.8 C (91.0 F)	17 of 100 (Routine)
Highmore	United States	Record high minimum temperature	16.7 C (62.1 F)	17 of 100 (Routine)
Brenham	United States	Record daily precipitation	53.1 mm (2.1 in)	17 of 100 (Routine)
Toowong Bowls Club	Australia	Record daily precipitation	11.4 mm (0.4 in)	16 of 100 (Routine)
St Georges	Canada	Record daily snowfall	0.5 cm (0.2 in)	16 of 100 (Routine)
Tunhovd	Norway	Record daily precipitation	5.9 mm (0.23 in)	16 of 100 (Routine)
Alexandria	United States	Record low maximum temperature	20.6 C (69.1 F)	16 of 100 (Routine)
Cheneyville 1 NE	United States	Record low maximum temperature	21.1 C (70.0 F)	16 of 100 (Routine)
Crystal Springs Exp STN	United States	Record low maximum temperature	22.2 C (72.0 F)	16 of 100 (Routine)
Redfield	United States	Record high minimum temperature	16.7 C (62.1 F)	16 of 100 (Routine)
Pacific Salt	Australia	Record daily precipitation	1.8 mm (0.07 in)	15 of 100 (Routine)
Monierkhal	India	Record daily precipitation	67.3 mm (2.6 in)	15 of 100 (Routine)
Gangajalghati	India	Record daily precipitation	30.7 mm (1.2 in)	15 of 100 (Routine)
Hallettsville 2 N	United States	Record daily precipitation	68.6 mm (2.7 in)	15 of 100 (Routine)
Hakalau 142	United States	Record high maximum temperature	31.1 C (88.0 F)	15 of 100 (Routine)
Penong (Penalumba)	Australia	Record daily precipitation	13.2 mm (0.5 in)	14 of 100 (Routine)
Theebine	Australia	Record daily precipitation	2.5 mm (0.10 in)	14 of 100 (Routine)
Milton	Australia	Record daily precipitation	14.2 mm (0.6 in)	14 of 100 (Routine)
Uralla (Salisbury Court)	Australia	Record daily precipitation	5.6 mm (0.22 in)	14 of 100 (Routine)
Lakhipur	India	Record daily precipitation	77.5 mm (3.1 in)	14 of 100 (Routine)

Counts by Type and Timescale

169 records

Records set or tied on 18 May 1939 by type: Highest daily maximum 20, Lowest daily maximum 14, Highest daily minimum 32, Lowest daily minimum 32, Heaviest daily rainfall 70, Heaviest daily snowfall 1.

Records on 18 May 1939 by type
Record type	Records
Highest daily maximum	20
Lowest daily maximum	14
Highest daily minimum	32
Lowest daily minimum	32
Heaviest daily rainfall	70
Heaviest daily snowfall	1
Deepest snow cover	0

Records on 18 May 1939 by timescale: all-time 0, monthly 2, daily 167.

How Much Records Were Beaten By

135 broken records

Margins by which the 135 broken records beat the old ones, in degrees Celsius for temperature and millimetres for precipitation and snow; the largest margin was 57.2. Ties are not counted.

Top 20 by Significance

18 May 1939

Top 20 records on 18 May 1939 by significance
Date	Station	Record	Value	Beat old record by	Old record stood	Significance
18 May 1939	Fort St James, CA	daily rain	30.5 mm (1.2 in)	27.7 mm (1.1 in)	34 years	54 of 100 (Notable)
18 May 1939	Tyrrell Downs, AU	daily rain	33.5 mm (1.3 in)	20.3 mm (0.8 in)	28 years	47 of 100 (Notable)
18 May 1939	College STN 6 SW, US	daily rain	102.6 mm (4.0 in)	51.8 mm (2.0 in)	36 years	40 of 100 (Notable)
18 May 1939	Geneve Observatoire, CH	daily rain	42.1 mm (1.7 in)	16.8 mm (0.7 in)	24 years	34 of 100 (Routine)
18 May 1939	Alexandria, US	daily rain	74.4 mm (2.9 in)	48.2 mm (1.9 in)	28 years	33 of 100 (Routine)
18 May 1939	Greenwood, AU	daily rain	43.2 mm (1.7 in)	25.9 mm (1.0 in)	12 years	30 of 100 (Routine)
18 May 1939	Logansport, US	daily rain	89.7 mm (3.5 in)	44.0 mm (1.7 in)	22 years	29 of 100 (Routine)
18 May 1939	Koyah, IN	daily rain	141.5 mm (5.6 in)	57.2 mm (2.3 in)	5 years	26 of 100 (Routine)
18 May 1939	Richfield Radio Ksvc, US	daily high min	11.7 C (53.1 F)	3.4 C (6.1 F)	41 years	25 of 100 (Routine)
18 May 1939	Castra Central, AU	daily rain	46.7 mm (1.8 in)	14.9 mm (0.6 in)	28 years	23 of 100 (Routine)
18 May 1939	Tashkent, UZ	daily low min	4.9 C (40.8 F)	2.6 C (4.7 F)	36 years	22 of 100 (Routine)
18 May 1939	Central Kin Kin, AU	daily rain	34.3 mm (1.4 in)	26.7 mm (1.1 in)	4 years	21 of 100 (Routine)
18 May 1939	Orleans, US	daily rain	27.7 mm (1.1 in)	9.9 mm (0.39 in)	12 years	21 of 100 (Routine)
18 May 1939	Quesnel, CA	daily rain	23.6 mm (0.9 in)	16.7 mm (0.7 in)	16 years	20 of 100 (Routine)
18 May 1939	Glen Boree, AU	daily rain	17.8 mm (0.7 in)	10.4 mm (0.4 in)	28 years	20 of 100 (Routine)
18 May 1939	Kargopol, RU	daily rain	18.0 mm (0.7 in)	4.8 mm (0.19 in)	44 years	20 of 100 (Routine)
18 May 1939	Hood Rvr Exp STN, US	daily rain	14.2 mm (0.6 in)	9.4 mm (0.37 in)	20 years	20 of 100 (Routine)
18 May 1939	Robben Island (Vrt), ZA	daily rain	12.4 mm (0.5 in)	7.3 mm (0.29 in)	36 years	20 of 100 (Routine)
18 May 1939	Penong, AU	daily rain	17.0 mm (0.7 in)	8.1 mm (0.32 in)	21 years	20 of 100 (Routine)
18 May 1939	Kareekloof, ZA	daily rain	7.1 mm (0.28 in)	7.1 mm (0.28 in)	37 years	20 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 1939

Records set or tied on this calendar date in each year from 1796 to 1939. 1939 had 169 records.

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

Records on 05-18 in each year
Year	Records
1796	1
1798	1
1802	2
1832	1
1833	1
1845	1
1847	1
1848	1
1855	1
1859	1
1861	2
1863	3
1864	1
1866	2
1868	2
1869	1
1870	1
1871	2
1872	1
1874	2
1877	4
1878	1
1879	1
1881	1
1883	2
1884	2
1885	1
1887	1
1888	4
1889	2
1891	1
1893	2
1894	4
1895	5
1896	2
1897	2
1898	1
1899	1
1900	13
1901	6
1902	9
1903	7
1904	11
1905	2
1906	24
1907	18
1908	5
1909	12
1910	50
1911	64
1912	5
1913	11
1914	45
1915	55
1916	74
1917	30
1918	42
1919	30
1920	26
1921	41
1922	33
1923	61
1924	92
1925	220
1926	133
1927	180
1928	160
1929	193
1930	475
1931	191
1932	460
1933	380
1934	390
1935	400
1936	282
1937	348
1938	382
1939	169
1940	315
1941	334
1942	421
1943	744
1944	496
1945	706
1946	651
1947	231
1948	426
1949	597
1950	473
1951	279
1952	493
1953	393
1954	498
1955	848
1956	795
1957	595
1958	334
1959	435
1960	404
1961	187
1962	1,199
1963	477
1964	329
1965	345
1966	438
1967	410
1968	817
1969	865
1970	703
1971	666
1972	499
1973	1,233
1974	1,097
1975	383
1976	733
1977	1,126
1978	1,090
1979	399
1980	614
1981	1,218
1982	452
1983	1,093
1984	717
1985	498
1986	1,131
1987	823
1988	1,154
1989	721
1990	753
1991	1,218
1992	921
1993	707
1994	1,015
1995	1,849
1996	1,767
1997	1,115
1998	1,060
1999	584
2000	922
2001	898
2002	1,833
2003	1,270
2004	847
2005	630
2006	1,493
2007	1,133
2008	999
2009	1,368
2010	894
2011	1,406
2012	523
2013	816
2014	609
2015	785
2016	597
2017	1,855
2018	557
2019	810
2020	706
2021	418
2022	711
2023	554
2024	551
2025	619
2026	1,131

Download the Data

Data for records on 1939-05-18: 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).

Histogram of margins by which records were beaten on 18 May 1939
Margin	Records
0 to 10	115
10 to 20	12
20 to 30	4
30 to 40	0
40 to 50	2
50 to 60	2