Weather Records on 18 December 1948

354 weather records were set or tied worldwide on 18 December 1948. Highest significance: Delaware 3 WSW, US.

Key Facts for 18 December 1948

On 18 December 1948, 354 weather records were set or tied at long-record stations worldwide.
71 were record highs and 49 were record lows, counting maximum and minimum temperature.
By timescale, 1 were all-time records, 3 monthly and 350 daily.
Delaware 3 WSW set a daily record snowfall of 10.2 cm (4.0 in) on 18 December 1948.
Across 156 earlier years (1793 to 2025) the same calendar date averaged 480 records.

Record Map

354 stations

354 station records on 18 December 1948 are marked on the map, coloured by record type. Dot size shows the significance score. Made with Natural Earth.

Weather records on 18 December 1948: highest significance records shown on the map
Station	Country	Type	Value	Significance
Delaware 3 WSW	United States	Record daily snowfall	10.2 cm (4.0 in)	55 of 100 (Notable)
Broken Hill (Stephens Creek Re	Australia	Record daily precipitation	35.3 mm (1.4 in)	51 of 100 (Notable)
Versamelhoek	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	90.2 mm (3.6 in)	50 of 100 (Notable)
Groblersplaas	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	87.6 mm (3.4 in)	50 of 100 (Notable)
Banderlierkop (Pol)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	79.8 mm (3.1 in)	49 of 100 (Notable)
Racine Wwtp	United States	Record daily precipitation	31.8 mm (1.3 in)	47 of 100 (Notable)
New Westminster	Canada	Record daily snowfall	25.4 cm (10.0 in)	45 of 100 (Notable)
Fitzgerald	United States	Record daily precipitation	63.5 mm (2.5 in)	42 of 100 (Notable)
Wahpeton 3 N	United States	Record snow depth	30.5 cm (12.0 in)	40 of 100 (Notable)
Grinnell 3 SW	United States	Record daily snowfall	7.6 cm (3.0 in)	39 of 100 (Notable)
Botanic Gardens - Pmb	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	36.6 mm (1.4 in)	36 of 100 (Notable)
Hartington	United States	Record snow depth	15.2 cm (6.0 in)	36 of 100 (Notable)
Helidon Post Office	Australia	Record daily precipitation	113.3 mm (4.5 in)	33 of 100 (Routine)
Mt Alford	Australia	Record daily precipitation	69.9 mm (2.8 in)	33 of 100 (Routine)
Guerrero (Smn)	Mexico	Record high minimum temperature	7.8 C (46.0 F)	32 of 100 (Routine)
Avery Rs	United States	Record snow depth	66.0 cm (26.0 in)	31 of 100 (Routine)
Pierce Rs	United States	Record snow depth	121.9 cm (48.0 in)	31 of 100 (Routine)
Fairfield	United States	Record daily snowfall	7.6 cm (3.0 in)	31 of 100 (Routine)
Rock Rapids	United States	Record daily snowfall	5.1 cm (2.0 in)	31 of 100 (Routine)
Storm Lake	United States	Record daily snowfall	7.6 cm (3.0 in)	31 of 100 (Routine)
Le Mars	United States	Record daily snowfall	5.1 cm (2.0 in)	30 of 100 (Routine)
Canton	United States	Record daily snowfall	7.6 cm (3.0 in)	30 of 100 (Routine)
Bonney Downs	Australia	Record daily precipitation	27.9 mm (1.1 in)	29 of 100 (Routine)
Goldstream Lake	Canada	Record daily snowfall	17.8 cm (7.0 in)	29 of 100 (Routine)
Keosauqua	United States	Record daily snowfall	10.2 cm (4.0 in)	29 of 100 (Routine)
Mason City	United States	Record daily snowfall	9.7 cm (3.8 in)	29 of 100 (Routine)
Toowoomba	Australia	Record daily precipitation	56.9 mm (2.2 in)	28 of 100 (Routine)
Vancouver Pmo	Canada	Record daily snowfall	15.2 cm (6.0 in)	28 of 100 (Routine)
Algona	United States	Record daily snowfall	8.1 cm (3.2 in)	28 of 100 (Routine)
Grundy Ctr	United States	Record daily snowfall	7.6 cm (3.0 in)	28 of 100 (Routine)
Tipton	United States	Record daily snowfall	16.5 cm (6.5 in)	28 of 100 (Routine)
Cambooya Post Office	Australia	Record daily precipitation	61.2 mm (2.4 in)	27 of 100 (Routine)
Hoopeston	United States	Record daily snowfall	6.4 cm (2.5 in)	27 of 100 (Routine)
Watseka Public Works	United States	Record daily snowfall	9.7 cm (3.8 in)	27 of 100 (Routine)
Allora Post Office	Australia	Record daily precipitation	54.4 mm (2.1 in)	26 of 100 (Routine)
Chilliwack	Canada	Record daily snowfall	16.5 cm (6.5 in)	26 of 100 (Routine)
Kalkfontein	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	39.4 mm (1.6 in)	25 of 100 (Routine)
Washington	United States	Record daily snowfall	10.2 cm (4.0 in)	25 of 100 (Routine)
Jeanerette 5 NW	United States	Record high minimum temperature	17.8 C (64.0 F)	25 of 100 (Routine)
Dwtn Charleston	United States	Record daily precipitation	28.2 mm (1.1 in)	25 of 100 (Routine)
Emu Creek	Australia	Record daily precipitation	48.3 mm (1.9 in)	24 of 100 (Routine)
Nord-Rana	Norway	Record daily precipitation	70.0 mm (2.8 in)	24 of 100 (Routine)
Glennville 3NW	United States	Record daily precipitation	45.0 mm (1.8 in)	24 of 100 (Routine)
Streator 2SE	United States	Record daily snowfall	6.9 cm (2.7 in)	24 of 100 (Routine)
Delphi 2 N	United States	Record daily snowfall	13.0 cm (5.1 in)	24 of 100 (Routine)
Hatch	United States	Record high minimum temperature	4.4 C (39.9 F)	24 of 100 (Routine)
Burdekin Shire Council	Australia	Record low minimum temperature	14.4 C (57.9 F)	23 of 100 (Routine)
Deniliquin (Wilkinson St)	Australia	Record low maximum temperature	21.1 C (70.0 F)	23 of 100 (Routine)
Shenkursk	Russia	Record low minimum temperature	-34.7 C (-30.5 F)	23 of 100 (Routine)
Elandshoek	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	43.2 mm (1.7 in)	23 of 100 (Routine)
Snowflake	United States	Record high minimum temperature	-0.6 C (30.9 F)	23 of 100 (Routine)
Fayette	United States	Record daily snowfall	6.4 cm (2.5 in)	23 of 100 (Routine)
Nacogdoches	United States	Record daily precipitation	65.5 mm (2.6 in)	23 of 100 (Routine)
Huntly	Australia	Record daily precipitation	25.7 mm (1.0 in)	22 of 100 (Routine)
Murphys Creek Post Office	Australia	Record daily precipitation	66.0 mm (2.6 in)	22 of 100 (Routine)
Pogranichnyj	Russia	Record high maximum temperature	5.8 C (42.4 F)	22 of 100 (Routine)
Walnut	United States	Record daily snowfall	11.7 cm (4.6 in)	22 of 100 (Routine)
Alton	United States	Record daily snowfall	7.6 cm (3.0 in)	22 of 100 (Routine)
Spencer 1 N	United States	Record daily snowfall	7.6 cm (3.0 in)	22 of 100 (Routine)
Williamsburg 1E	United States	Record daily snowfall	5.1 cm (2.0 in)	22 of 100 (Routine)

Counts by Type and Timescale

354 records

Records set or tied on 18 December 1948 by type: Highest daily maximum 12, Lowest daily maximum 25, Highest daily minimum 59, Lowest daily minimum 24, Heaviest daily rainfall 135, Heaviest daily snowfall 80, Deepest snow cover 19.

Records on 18 December 1948 by type
Record type	Records
Highest daily maximum	12
Lowest daily maximum	25
Highest daily minimum	59
Lowest daily minimum	24
Heaviest daily rainfall	135
Heaviest daily snowfall	80
Deepest snow cover	19

Records on 18 December 1948 by timescale: all-time 1, monthly 3, daily 350.

How Much Records Were Beaten By

290 broken records

Margins by which the 290 broken records beat the old ones, in degrees Celsius for temperature and millimetres for precipitation and snow; the largest margin was 432.0. Ties are not counted.

Top 20 by Significance

18 December 1948

Top 20 records on 18 December 1948 by significance
Date	Station	Record	Value	Beat old record by	Old record stood	Significance
18 December 1948	Delaware 3 WSW, US	daily snowfall	10.2 cm (4.0 in)	10.2 cm (4.0 in)	54 years	55 of 100 (Notable)
18 December 1948	Broken Hill (Stephens Creek Re, AU	daily rain	35.3 mm (1.4 in)	33.0 mm (1.3 in)	35 years	51 of 100 (Notable)
18 December 1948	Versamelhoek, ZA	daily rain	90.2 mm (3.6 in)	47.5 mm (1.9 in)	39 years	50 of 100 (Notable)
18 December 1948	Groblersplaas, ZA	daily rain	87.6 mm (3.4 in)	72.4 mm (2.9 in)	24 years	50 of 100 (Notable)
18 December 1948	Banderlierkop (Pol), ZA	daily rain	79.8 mm (3.1 in)	62.0 mm (2.4 in)	19 years	49 of 100 (Notable)
18 December 1948	Racine Wwtp, US	daily rain	31.8 mm (1.3 in)	24.2 mm (1.0 in)	19 years	47 of 100 (Notable)
18 December 1948	New Westminster, CA	daily snowfall	25.4 cm (10.0 in)	24.6 cm (9.7 in)	2 years	45 of 100 (Notable)
18 December 1948	Fitzgerald, US	daily rain	63.5 mm (2.5 in)	39.4 mm (1.6 in)	32 years	42 of 100 (Notable)
18 December 1948	Wahpeton 3 N, US	daily snow depth	30.5 cm (12.0 in)	20.3 cm (8.0 in)	8 years	40 of 100 (Notable)
18 December 1948	Grinnell 3 SW, US	daily snowfall	7.6 cm (3.0 in)	7.6 cm (3.0 in)	54 years	39 of 100 (Notable)
18 December 1948	Botanic Gardens - Pmb, ZA	daily rain	36.6 mm (1.4 in)	22.6 mm (0.9 in)	35 years	36 of 100 (Notable)
18 December 1948	Hartington, US	daily snow depth	15.2 cm (6.0 in)	15.2 cm (6.0 in)	54 years	36 of 100 (Notable)
18 December 1948	Helidon Post Office, AU	monthly rain	113.3 mm (4.5 in)	21.9 mm (0.9 in)	5 years	33 of 100 (Routine)
18 December 1948	Mt Alford, AU	daily rain	69.9 mm (2.8 in)	38.9 mm (1.5 in)	5 years	33 of 100 (Routine)
18 December 1948	Guerrero (Smn), MX	daily high min	7.8 C (46.0 F)	7.8 C (14.0 F)	43 years	32 of 100 (Routine)
18 December 1948	Avery Rs, US	daily snow depth	66.0 cm (26.0 in)	22.8 cm (9.0 in)	32 years	31 of 100 (Routine)
18 December 1948	Pierce Rs, US	daily snow depth	121.9 cm (48.0 in)	43.2 cm (17.0 in)	32 years	31 of 100 (Routine)
18 December 1948	Fairfield, US	daily snowfall	7.6 cm (3.0 in)	7.1 cm (2.8 in)	38 years	31 of 100 (Routine)
18 December 1948	Rock Rapids, US	daily snowfall	5.1 cm (2.0 in)	5.1 cm (2.0 in)	54 years	31 of 100 (Routine)
18 December 1948	Storm Lake, US	daily snowfall	7.6 cm (3.0 in)	5.6 cm (2.2 in)	47 years	31 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

1793 to 1948

Records set or tied on this calendar date in each year from 1793 to 1948. 1948 had 354 records.

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

Records on 12-18 in each year
Year	Records
1793	1
1796	1
1805	1
1814	1
1825	1
1846	1
1849	1
1852	2
1858	1
1859	4
1862	2
1864	1
1868	1
1873	1
1875	1
1876	2
1878	1
1881	2
1882	1
1884	2
1886	1
1887	1
1888	1
1889	4
1890	5
1892	4
1894	8
1895	1
1897	4
1898	9
1899	3
1900	2
1901	6
1902	33
1903	11
1904	25
1905	3
1906	21
1907	15
1908	16
1909	18
1910	19
1911	9
1912	33
1913	38
1914	20
1915	28
1916	57
1917	62
1918	21
1919	117
1920	77
1921	123
1922	108
1923	378
1924	480
1925	74
1926	173
1927	151
1928	165
1929	366
1930	230
1931	360
1932	353
1933	506
1934	209
1935	138
1936	466
1937	459
1938	185
1939	900
1940	242
1941	213
1942	281
1943	419
1944	191
1945	598
1946	199
1947	266
1948	354
1949	561
1950	289
1951	867
1952	450
1953	373
1954	507
1955	611
1956	333
1957	901
1958	524
1959	477
1960	477
1961	885
1962	759
1963	571
1964	840
1965	402
1966	644
1967	1,105
1968	488
1969	376
1970	502
1971	387
1972	375
1973	1,008
1974	229
1975	625
1976	459
1977	992
1978	946
1979	1,087
1980	772
1981	1,362
1982	537
1983	2,014
1984	1,439
1985	1,384
1986	875
1987	1,505
1988	1,061
1989	1,818
1990	1,367
1991	756
1992	1,045
1993	697
1994	643
1995	1,065
1996	1,833
1997	1,195
1998	863
1999	923
2000	1,572
2001	906
2002	1,437
2003	987
2004	506
2005	987
2006	1,167
2007	746
2008	1,014
2009	1,253
2010	1,322
2011	697
2012	729
2013	513
2014	556
2015	1,254
2016	1,821
2017	516
2018	464
2019	679
2020	326
2021	762
2022	536
2023	1,293
2024	780
2025	994

Download the Data

Data for records on 1948-12-18: 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).

Margin	Records
0 to 100	280
100 to 200	6
200 to 300	3
300 to 400	0
400 to 500	1