Weather Records on 16 May 1951

558 weather records were set or tied worldwide on 16 May 1951. Highest significance: Claude, US.

Key Facts for 16 May 1951

On 16 May 1951, 558 weather records were set or tied at long-record stations worldwide.
260 were record highs and 97 were record lows, counting maximum and minimum temperature.
By timescale, 4 were all-time records, 16 monthly and 538 daily.
Claude set an all-time record daily precipitation of 163.1 mm (6.4 in) on 16 May 1951.
Across 165 earlier years (1802 to 2026) the same calendar date averaged 438 records.

Record Map

558 stations

558 station records on 16 May 1951 are marked on the map, coloured by record type. Dot size shows the significance score. Made with Natural Earth.

Weather records on 16 May 1951: highest significance records shown on the map
Station	Country	Type	Value	Significance
Claude	United States	Record daily precipitation	163.1 mm (6.4 in)	65 of 100 (Major)
Hvar	Croatia	Record daily precipitation	36.9 mm (1.5 in)	62 of 100 (Major)
Enzelberg	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	43.2 mm (1.7 in)	57 of 100 (Notable)
Estes Park	United States	Record daily precipitation	41.1 mm (1.6 in)	57 of 100 (Notable)
Nylsvley	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	42.4 mm (1.7 in)	53 of 100 (Notable)
Minocqua	United States	Record daily precipitation	81.3 mm (3.2 in)	53 of 100 (Notable)
Derdekraal	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	33.5 mm (1.3 in)	52 of 100 (Notable)
Bronkhorstspruit (Mun)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	50.8 mm (2.0 in)	50 of 100 (Notable)
Sterkfontein	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	35.8 mm (1.4 in)	49 of 100 (Notable)
Steinkopf (Pol)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	40.1 mm (1.6 in)	48 of 100 (Notable)
Spearman	United States	Record daily precipitation	101.6 mm (4.0 in)	48 of 100 (Notable)
Phelps	United States	Record daily precipitation	53.1 mm (2.1 in)	46 of 100 (Notable)
Rankins Pass	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	31.8 mm (1.3 in)	45 of 100 (Notable)
Perryton	United States	Record daily precipitation	64.5 mm (2.5 in)	45 of 100 (Notable)
The Downs	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	29.0 mm (1.1 in)	44 of 100 (Notable)
Hooker	United States	Record daily precipitation	62.7 mm (2.5 in)	44 of 100 (Notable)
Buffelshoek	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	46.5 mm (1.8 in)	43 of 100 (Notable)
Botataboomen	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	31.8 mm (1.3 in)	43 of 100 (Notable)
Miami	United States	Record daily precipitation	110.5 mm (4.4 in)	43 of 100 (Notable)
Naboomspruit (Pol)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	43.9 mm (1.7 in)	42 of 100 (Notable)
Ashland	United States	Record daily precipitation	87.9 mm (3.5 in)	42 of 100 (Notable)
Dullstroom (Sar)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	27.4 mm (1.1 in)	41 of 100 (Notable)
Whiteriver 1 SW	United States	Record low maximum temperature	11.7 C (53.1 F)	41 of 100 (Notable)
Buffalo 2 SSW	United States	Record daily precipitation	122.7 mm (4.8 in)	40 of 100 (Notable)
Kokstad	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	33.0 mm (1.3 in)	39 of 100 (Notable)
Hondo	United States	Record daily precipitation	104.1 mm (4.1 in)	39 of 100 (Notable)
Rhinelander	United States	Record daily precipitation	47.2 mm (1.9 in)	39 of 100 (Notable)
Medicine Lodge	United States	Record daily precipitation	91.4 mm (3.6 in)	38 of 100 (Notable)
Moorddrift	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	45.7 mm (1.8 in)	37 of 100 (Notable)
Bucklin 1SE	United States	Record daily precipitation	71.4 mm (2.8 in)	37 of 100 (Notable)
Sabinal	United States	Record daily precipitation	112.0 mm (4.4 in)	37 of 100 (Notable)
Big St Germain Dam	United States	Record daily precipitation	78.2 mm (3.1 in)	37 of 100 (Notable)
Green Rvr	United States	Record daily precipitation	25.4 mm (1.0 in)	37 of 100 (Notable)
Herington	United States	Record daily precipitation	49.5 mm (1.9 in)	36 of 100 (Notable)
Plainview	United States	Record daily precipitation	43.4 mm (1.7 in)	36 of 100 (Notable)
Ny City Cntrl Park	United States	Record high maximum temperature	32.2 C (90.0 F)	36 of 100 (Notable)
Randolph	United States	Record daily precipitation	60.2 mm (2.4 in)	35 of 100 (Notable)
Hamilton	Canada	Record high maximum temperature	30.6 C (87.1 F)	34 of 100 (Routine)
Fredericton Unb	Canada	Record high minimum temperature	12.8 C (55.0 F)	34 of 100 (Routine)
Cimarron 4 SW	United States	Record daily precipitation	26.2 mm (1.0 in)	34 of 100 (Routine)
Escanaba	United States	Record daily precipitation	35.6 mm (1.4 in)	34 of 100 (Routine)
Strehla	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	42.9 mm (1.7 in)	33 of 100 (Routine)
Planknek	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	30.5 mm (1.2 in)	33 of 100 (Routine)
Tracy	United States	Record daily precipitation	49.8 mm (2.0 in)	32 of 100 (Routine)
River Falls	United States	Record daily precipitation	43.9 mm (1.7 in)	32 of 100 (Routine)
Sub-Nigel (Gm)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	44.5 mm (1.8 in)	31 of 100 (Routine)
Hugoton	United States	Record daily precipitation	35.6 mm (1.4 in)	31 of 100 (Routine)
Koloa 936	United States	Record high minimum temperature	23.3 C (73.9 F)	31 of 100 (Routine)
Middletown 4 W	United States	Record high maximum temperature	30.0 C (86.0 F)	30 of 100 (Routine)
Pawnee City	United States	Record daily precipitation	40.9 mm (1.6 in)	30 of 100 (Routine)
Mochudi	Botswana	Record daily precipitation	39.1 mm (1.5 in)	29 of 100 (Routine)
Welverdiend (Pol)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	31.8 mm (1.3 in)	29 of 100 (Routine)
Twyfelspoort	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	41.9 mm (1.6 in)	29 of 100 (Routine)
Holbrook	United States	Record low maximum temperature	14.4 C (57.9 F)	29 of 100 (Routine)
Table Rock 4N	United States	Record daily precipitation	44.2 mm (1.7 in)	29 of 100 (Routine)
Long Lake Dam	United States	Record daily precipitation	69.6 mm (2.7 in)	29 of 100 (Routine)
Winter	United States	Record daily precipitation	46.2 mm (1.8 in)	29 of 100 (Routine)
Chapman	United States	Record daily precipitation	38.1 mm (1.5 in)	28 of 100 (Routine)
Portales	United States	Record daily precipitation	36.8 mm (1.4 in)	28 of 100 (Routine)
Beaver	United States	Record daily precipitation	64.0 mm (2.5 in)	28 of 100 (Routine)

Counts by Type and Timescale

558 records

Records set or tied on 16 May 1951 by type: Highest daily maximum 147, Lowest daily maximum 62, Highest daily minimum 113, Lowest daily minimum 35, Heaviest daily rainfall 196, Heaviest daily snowfall 1, Deepest snow cover 4.

Records on 16 May 1951 by type
Record type	Records
Highest daily maximum	147
Lowest daily maximum	62
Highest daily minimum	113
Lowest daily minimum	35
Heaviest daily rainfall	196
Heaviest daily snowfall	1
Deepest snow cover	4

Records on 16 May 1951 by timescale: all-time 4, monthly 16, daily 538.

How Much Records Were Beaten By

442 broken records

Margins by which the 442 broken records beat the old ones, in degrees Celsius for temperature and millimetres for precipitation and snow; the largest margin was 160.0. Ties are not counted.

Top 20 by Significance

16 May 1951

Top 20 records on 16 May 1951 by significance
Date	Station	Record	Value	Beat old record by	Old record stood	Significance
16 May 1951	Claude, US	all-time rain	163.1 mm (6.4 in)	56.4 mm (2.2 in)	6 years	65 of 100 (Major)
16 May 1951	Hvar, HR	daily rain	36.9 mm (1.5 in)	23.3 mm (0.9 in)	76 years	62 of 100 (Major)
16 May 1951	Enzelberg, ZA	monthly rain	43.2 mm (1.7 in)	21.9 mm (0.9 in)	16 years	57 of 100 (Notable)
16 May 1951	Estes Park, US	daily rain	41.1 mm (1.6 in)	35.5 mm (1.4 in)	40 years	57 of 100 (Notable)
16 May 1951	Nylsvley, ZA	daily rain	42.4 mm (1.7 in)	42.4 mm (1.7 in)	33 years	53 of 100 (Notable)
16 May 1951	Minocqua, US	monthly rain	81.3 mm (3.2 in)	22.9 mm (0.9 in)	40 years	53 of 100 (Notable)
16 May 1951	Derdekraal, ZA	daily rain	33.5 mm (1.3 in)	33.5 mm (1.3 in)	30 years	52 of 100 (Notable)
16 May 1951	Bronkhorstspruit (Mun), ZA	daily rain	50.8 mm (2.0 in)	47.5 mm (1.9 in)	40 years	50 of 100 (Notable)
16 May 1951	Sterkfontein, ZA	daily rain	35.8 mm (1.4 in)	35.8 mm (1.4 in)	37 years	49 of 100 (Notable)
16 May 1951	Steinkopf (Pol), ZA	daily rain	40.1 mm (1.6 in)	35.3 mm (1.4 in)	12 years	48 of 100 (Notable)
16 May 1951	Spearman, US	monthly rain	101.6 mm (4.0 in)	38.1 mm (1.5 in)	15 years	48 of 100 (Notable)
16 May 1951	Phelps, US	daily rain	53.1 mm (2.1 in)	39.4 mm (1.6 in)	8 years	46 of 100 (Notable)
16 May 1951	Rankins Pass, ZA	daily rain	31.8 mm (1.3 in)	31.8 mm (1.3 in)	33 years	45 of 100 (Notable)
16 May 1951	Perryton, US	daily rain	64.5 mm (2.5 in)	43.9 mm (1.7 in)	13 years	45 of 100 (Notable)
16 May 1951	The Downs, ZA	daily rain	29.0 mm (1.1 in)	22.9 mm (0.9 in)	36 years	44 of 100 (Notable)
16 May 1951	Hooker, US	daily rain	62.7 mm (2.5 in)	42.9 mm (1.7 in)	12 years	44 of 100 (Notable)
16 May 1951	Buffelshoek, ZA	daily rain	46.5 mm (1.8 in)	41.9 mm (1.6 in)	16 years	43 of 100 (Notable)
16 May 1951	Botataboomen, ZA	daily rain	31.8 mm (1.3 in)	31.8 mm (1.3 in)	32 years	43 of 100 (Notable)
16 May 1951	Miami, US	all-time rain	110.5 mm (4.4 in)	11.9 mm (0.5 in)	29 years	43 of 100 (Notable)
16 May 1951	Naboomspruit (Pol), ZA	daily rain	43.9 mm (1.7 in)	42.1 mm (1.7 in)	21 years	42 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

1802 to 1951

Records set or tied on this calendar date in each year from 1802 to 1951. 1951 had 558 records.

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

Records on 05-16 in each year
Year	Records
1802	1
1806	1
1820	1
1825	1
1832	1
1837	1
1847	1
1856	1
1858	1
1861	1
1862	1
1863	1
1864	1
1866	1
1867	2
1871	1
1874	3
1878	1
1879	1
1880	1
1881	1
1882	1
1883	1
1884	1
1885	1
1886	1
1887	2
1888	2
1889	2
1890	1
1891	4
1892	3
1893	1
1894	2
1895	6
1896	2
1897	1
1898	11
1899	6
1900	7
1901	2
1902	10
1903	9
1904	17
1905	13
1906	25
1907	13
1908	6
1909	57
1910	24
1911	22
1912	13
1913	24
1914	11
1915	104
1916	38
1917	48
1918	395
1919	28
1920	69
1921	106
1922	31
1923	126
1924	152
1925	177
1926	211
1927	230
1928	121
1929	273
1930	170
1931	254
1932	441
1933	268
1934	304
1935	320
1936	520
1937	279
1938	299
1939	448
1940	334
1941	429
1942	721
1943	652
1944	531
1945	888
1946	327
1947	344
1948	281
1949	360
1950	210
1951	558
1952	773
1953	421
1954	251
1955	525
1956	697
1957	610
1958	361
1959	680
1960	370
1961	378
1962	1,295
1963	552
1964	313
1965	442
1966	420
1967	611
1968	790
1969	423
1970	520
1971	509
1972	625
1973	869
1974	1,207
1975	544
1976	518
1977	1,269
1978	808
1979	506
1980	830
1981	896
1982	427
1983	1,579
1984	981
1985	536
1986	747
1987	1,369
1988	946
1989	938
1990	1,068
1991	1,094
1992	809
1993	653
1994	705
1995	1,235
1996	1,835
1997	1,932
1998	1,500
1999	778
2000	1,129
2001	1,110
2002	694
2003	1,289
2004	869
2005	870
2006	1,345
2007	692
2008	1,034
2009	897
2010	836
2011	1,398
2012	770
2013	596
2014	1,483
2015	782
2016	793
2017	710
2018	1,013
2019	572
2020	431
2021	419
2022	717
2023	653
2024	601
2025	993
2026	558

Download the Data

Data for records on 1951-05-16: 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	391
20 to 40	36
40 to 60	11
60 to 80	2
80 to 100	1
100 to 120	0
120 to 140	0
140 to 160	1