Weather Records on 21 May 1954

961 weather records were set or tied worldwide on 21 May 1954. Highest significance: Mqanduli (Tnk), ZA.

Key Facts for 21 May 1954

On 21 May 1954, 961 weather records were set or tied at long-record stations worldwide.
210 were record highs and 412 were record lows, counting maximum and minimum temperature.
By timescale, 1 were all-time records, 28 monthly and 932 daily.
Mqanduli (Tnk) set a monthly record daily precipitation of 83.0 mm (3.3 in) on 21 May 1954.
Across 156 earlier years (1793 to 2026) the same calendar date averaged 457 records.

Record Map

961 stations

961 station records on 21 May 1954 are marked on the map, coloured by record type. Dot size shows the significance score. Made with Natural Earth.

Weather records on 21 May 1954: highest significance records shown on the map
Station	Country	Type	Value	Significance
Mqanduli (Tnk)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	83.0 mm (3.3 in)	74 of 100 (Major)
Rjukan	Norway	Record daily precipitation	36.2 mm (1.4 in)	59 of 100 (Notable)
Wilo (Bos)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	120.0 mm (4.7 in)	57 of 100 (Notable)
Mount Coke (Bos)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	68.0 mm (2.7 in)	56 of 100 (Notable)
Cwebe	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	97.0 mm (3.8 in)	56 of 100 (Notable)
Ghatal	India	Record daily precipitation	155.4 mm (6.1 in)	53 of 100 (Notable)
Alexandria (Pol)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	133.0 mm (5.2 in)	52 of 100 (Notable)
Maclear (Mag)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	52.0 mm (2.0 in)	51 of 100 (Notable)
Maseskar	Sweden	Record daily precipitation	26.8 mm (1.1 in)	51 of 100 (Notable)
Mnt Fletcher (Tnk)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	71.5 mm (2.8 in)	50 of 100 (Notable)
Matatiele	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	68.2 mm (2.7 in)	50 of 100 (Notable)
Kentani (Bos)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	61.0 mm (2.4 in)	49 of 100 (Notable)
Nqadu Heights (Bos)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	85.5 mm (3.4 in)	49 of 100 (Notable)
Hawkestone, Howick	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	56.1 mm (2.2 in)	49 of 100 (Notable)
Hogsback (Bos)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	56.5 mm (2.2 in)	48 of 100 (Notable)
Dontsa	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	46.0 mm (1.8 in)	48 of 100 (Notable)
Gemsbokfontein	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	60.5 mm (2.4 in)	48 of 100 (Notable)
Grace	United States	Record daily precipitation	25.9 mm (1.0 in)	48 of 100 (Notable)
Elliot	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	40.0 mm (1.6 in)	47 of 100 (Notable)
Nongoma	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	51.0 mm (2.0 in)	47 of 100 (Notable)
Qacha's Nek	Lesotho	Record daily precipitation	50.3 mm (2.0 in)	46 of 100 (Notable)
Mvenyane (Bos)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	71.0 mm (2.8 in)	46 of 100 (Notable)
Tonti (Bos)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	88.2 mm (3.5 in)	46 of 100 (Notable)
Kokstad	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	54.0 mm (2.1 in)	46 of 100 (Notable)
Albany	United States	Record daily precipitation	43.4 mm (1.7 in)	46 of 100 (Notable)
Mbabane	Swaziland	Record daily precipitation	41.0 mm (1.6 in)	46 of 100 (Notable)
Longvale	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	76.5 mm (3.0 in)	45 of 100 (Notable)
Sebeni (Bos)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	120.0 mm (4.7 in)	45 of 100 (Notable)
Libode (Bos)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	100.0 mm (3.9 in)	45 of 100 (Notable)
Fort Donald (Bos)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	66.3 mm (2.6 in)	45 of 100 (Notable)
Kangela, Mtubatuba	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	83.5 mm (3.3 in)	45 of 100 (Notable)
Ventspils	Latvia	Record daily precipitation	29.8 mm (1.2 in)	44 of 100 (Notable)
Tuddal	Norway	Record daily precipitation	28.0 mm (1.1 in)	43 of 100 (Notable)
Herefoss	Norway	Record daily precipitation	39.0 mm (1.5 in)	42 of 100 (Notable)
Wolfridge (Bos)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	58.4 mm (2.3 in)	42 of 100 (Notable)
Mvenyane	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	105.2 mm (4.1 in)	41 of 100 (Notable)
Bagodar I	India	Record daily precipitation	59.9 mm (2.4 in)	40 of 100 (Notable)
Dundurn	Canada	Record daily precipitation	25.1 mm (1.0 in)	39 of 100 (Notable)
Ndumu	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	95.0 mm (3.7 in)	39 of 100 (Notable)
Cairo	United States	Record daily precipitation	60.7 mm (2.4 in)	39 of 100 (Notable)
Hambantota	Sri Lanka	Record low maximum temperature	27.3 C (81.1 F)	38 of 100 (Notable)
Komga (Pol)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	28.5 mm (1.1 in)	38 of 100 (Notable)
Amanzamnyama (Bos)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	80.0 mm (3.1 in)	38 of 100 (Notable)
Roebling	United States	Record daily precipitation	49.0 mm (1.9 in)	38 of 100 (Notable)
Campsie	Canada	Record daily precipitation	27.7 mm (1.1 in)	37 of 100 (Notable)
Marianna Sch For Boys	United States	Record low minimum temperature	5.6 C (42.1 F)	37 of 100 (Notable)
Leakesville 6 WSW	United States	Record low minimum temperature	5.0 C (41.0 F)	37 of 100 (Notable)
Saranga	India	Record daily precipitation	49.3 mm (1.9 in)	36 of 100 (Notable)
Rabula (Bos)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	35.5 mm (1.4 in)	36 of 100 (Notable)
Willowvale (Tnk)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	48.0 mm (1.9 in)	35 of 100 (Notable)
Cengcane (Bos)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	78.5 mm (3.1 in)	35 of 100 (Notable)
Haverhill	United States	Record daily precipitation	50.0 mm (2.0 in)	35 of 100 (Notable)
Rockport 1 ESE	United States	Record daily precipitation	30.5 mm (1.2 in)	35 of 100 (Notable)
Dwaleni	Swaziland	Record daily precipitation	29.0 mm (1.1 in)	35 of 100 (Notable)
Pirie (Bos)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	31.0 mm (1.2 in)	34 of 100 (Routine)
Tabankulu (Bos)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	65.0 mm (2.6 in)	34 of 100 (Routine)
Bulwer (Tnk)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	61.3 mm (2.4 in)	34 of 100 (Routine)
Val (Sar)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	37.0 mm (1.5 in)	34 of 100 (Routine)
Weldon	United States	Record daily precipitation	79.2 mm (3.1 in)	34 of 100 (Routine)
San Diego de la Union	Mexico	Record high minimum temperature	20.6 C (69.1 F)	33 of 100 (Routine)

Counts by Type and Timescale

961 records

Records set or tied on 21 May 1954 by type: Highest daily maximum 74, Lowest daily maximum 74, Highest daily minimum 136, Lowest daily minimum 338, Heaviest daily rainfall 338, Heaviest daily snowfall 1.

Records on 21 May 1954 by type
Record type	Records
Highest daily maximum	74
Lowest daily maximum	74
Highest daily minimum	136
Lowest daily minimum	338
Heaviest daily rainfall	338
Heaviest daily snowfall	1
Deepest snow cover	0

Records on 21 May 1954 by timescale: all-time 1, monthly 28, daily 932.

How Much Records Were Beaten By

823 broken records

Margins by which the 823 broken records beat the old ones, in degrees Celsius for temperature and millimetres for precipitation and snow; the largest margin was 119.3. Ties are not counted.

Top 20 by Significance

21 May 1954

Top 20 records on 21 May 1954 by significance
Date	Station	Record	Value	Beat old record by	Old record stood	Significance
21 May 1954	Mqanduli (Tnk), ZA	monthly rain	83.0 mm (3.3 in)	34.7 mm (1.4 in)	63 years	74 of 100 (Major)
21 May 1954	Rjukan, NO	daily rain	36.2 mm (1.4 in)	25.9 mm (1.0 in)	53 years	59 of 100 (Notable)
21 May 1954	Wilo (Bos), ZA	monthly rain	120.0 mm (4.7 in)	47.6 mm (1.9 in)	14 years	57 of 100 (Notable)
21 May 1954	Mount Coke (Bos), ZA	daily rain	68.0 mm (2.7 in)	56.8 mm (2.2 in)	37 years	56 of 100 (Notable)
21 May 1954	Cwebe, ZA	daily rain	97.0 mm (3.8 in)	74.1 mm (2.9 in)	37 years	56 of 100 (Notable)
21 May 1954	Ghatal, IN	monthly rain	155.4 mm (6.1 in)	51.3 mm (2.0 in)	21 years	53 of 100 (Notable)
21 May 1954	Alexandria (Pol), ZA	daily rain	133.0 mm (5.2 in)	119.3 mm (4.7 in)	17 years	52 of 100 (Notable)
21 May 1954	Maclear (Mag), ZA	daily rain	52.0 mm (2.0 in)	44.1 mm (1.7 in)	17 years	51 of 100 (Notable)
21 May 1954	Maseskar, SE	daily rain	26.8 mm (1.1 in)	10.8 mm (0.4 in)	62 years	51 of 100 (Notable)
21 May 1954	Mnt Fletcher (Tnk), ZA	daily rain	71.5 mm (2.8 in)	52.4 mm (2.1 in)	15 years	50 of 100 (Notable)
21 May 1954	Matatiele, ZA	daily rain	68.2 mm (2.7 in)	41.0 mm (1.6 in)	49 years	50 of 100 (Notable)
21 May 1954	Kentani (Bos), ZA	daily rain	61.0 mm (2.4 in)	48.6 mm (1.9 in)	37 years	49 of 100 (Notable)
21 May 1954	Nqadu Heights (Bos), ZA	monthly rain	85.5 mm (3.4 in)	32.2 mm (1.3 in)	14 years	49 of 100 (Notable)
21 May 1954	Hawkestone, Howick, ZA	daily rain	56.1 mm (2.2 in)	53.3 mm (2.1 in)	20 years	49 of 100 (Notable)
21 May 1954	Hogsback (Bos), ZA	daily rain	56.5 mm (2.2 in)	36.2 mm (1.4 in)	43 years	48 of 100 (Notable)
21 May 1954	Dontsa, ZA	daily rain	46.0 mm (1.8 in)	30.5 mm (1.2 in)	47 years	48 of 100 (Notable)
21 May 1954	Gemsbokfontein, ZA	daily rain	60.5 mm (2.4 in)	48.4 mm (1.9 in)	15 years	48 of 100 (Notable)
21 May 1954	Grace, US	daily rain	25.9 mm (1.0 in)	15.7 mm (0.6 in)	41 years	48 of 100 (Notable)
21 May 1954	Elliot, ZA	daily rain	40.0 mm (1.6 in)	32.4 mm (1.3 in)	37 years	47 of 100 (Notable)
21 May 1954	Nongoma, ZA	daily rain	51.0 mm (2.0 in)	38.8 mm (1.5 in)	15 years	47 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 1954

Records set or tied on this calendar date in each year from 1793 to 1954. 1954 had 961 records.

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

Records on 05-21 in each year
Year	Records
1793	1
1795	1
1811	1
1837	2
1842	1
1847	2
1854	1
1857	1
1858	1
1865	1
1866	1
1870	2
1875	1
1876	1
1880	2
1882	1
1885	1
1886	2
1887	3
1889	5
1890	3
1891	6
1892	1
1893	1
1894	4
1895	4
1896	5
1897	2
1898	1
1899	5
1900	1
1901	3
1902	4
1903	26
1904	8
1905	7
1906	12
1907	36
1908	13
1909	13
1910	14
1911	87
1912	24
1913	13
1914	26
1915	24
1916	13
1917	76
1918	51
1919	170
1920	39
1921	158
1922	39
1923	125
1924	148
1925	250
1926	221
1927	207
1928	173
1929	247
1930	133
1931	488
1932	343
1933	290
1934	590
1935	190
1936	328
1937	227
1938	348
1939	355
1940	456
1941	525
1942	482
1943	463
1944	310
1945	515
1946	324
1947	485
1948	312
1949	593
1950	403
1951	271
1952	385
1953	501
1954	961
1955	507
1956	409
1957	709
1958	511
1959	684
1960	615
1961	306
1962	553
1963	598
1964	788
1965	238
1966	296
1967	1,022
1968	549
1969	832
1970	449
1971	536
1972	557
1973	493
1974	847
1975	1,160
1976	393
1977	756
1978	575
1979	787
1980	857
1981	1,550
1982	599
1983	1,106
1984	950
1985	610
1986	908
1987	1,242
1988	819
1989	671
1990	947
1991	1,065
1992	1,143
1993	1,197
1994	656
1995	749
1996	1,461
1997	953
1998	1,200
1999	544
2000	897
2001	1,187
2002	2,048
2003	807
2004	898
2005	1,020
2006	810
2007	894
2008	740
2009	1,315
2010	962
2011	959
2012	848
2013	884
2014	522
2015	956
2016	567
2017	780
2018	525
2019	1,668
2020	707
2021	1,131
2022	1,512
2023	794
2024	751
2025	776
2026	356

Download the Data

Data for records on 1954-05-21: 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 20	750
20 to 40	52
40 to 60	14
60 to 80	5
80 to 100	1
100 to 120	1