Weather Records on 21 May 1962

553 weather records were set or tied worldwide on 21 May 1962. Highest significance: Winifred, US.

Key Facts for 21 May 1962

On 21 May 1962, 553 weather records were set or tied at long-record stations worldwide.
217 were record highs and 104 were record lows, counting maximum and minimum temperature.
By timescale, 1 were all-time records, 16 monthly and 536 daily.
Winifred set an all-time record daily precipitation of 73.7 mm (2.9 in) on 21 May 1962.
Across 156 earlier years (1793 to 2026) the same calendar date averaged 460 records.

Record Map

553 stations

553 station records on 21 May 1962 are marked on the map, coloured by record type. Dot size shows the significance score. Made with Natural Earth.

Weather records on 21 May 1962: highest significance records shown on the map
Station	Country	Type	Value	Significance
Winifred	United States	Record daily precipitation	73.7 mm (2.9 in)	66 of 100 (Major)
Harlan	United States	Record daily precipitation	136.4 mm (5.4 in)	61 of 100 (Major)
Corinne	United States	Record daily precipitation	41.9 mm (1.6 in)	61 of 100 (Major)
Beaver	United States	Record daily snowfall	15.2 cm (6.0 in)	53 of 100 (Notable)
Parachilna	Australia	Record daily precipitation	25.4 mm (1.0 in)	52 of 100 (Notable)
Southport Ridgeway Ave	Australia	Record daily precipitation	90.4 mm (3.6 in)	51 of 100 (Notable)
Mehkar	India	Record daily precipitation	40.6 mm (1.6 in)	51 of 100 (Notable)
Hilland 2 NW	United States	Record daily precipitation	62.0 mm (2.4 in)	51 of 100 (Notable)
Khamaria	India	Record daily precipitation	33.0 mm (1.3 in)	47 of 100 (Notable)
Oak City	United States	Record daily snowfall	12.7 cm (5.0 in)	47 of 100 (Notable)
Poplar 2 E	United States	Record daily precipitation	27.4 mm (1.1 in)	46 of 100 (Notable)
Oak City	United States	Record daily precipitation	27.2 mm (1.1 in)	46 of 100 (Notable)
Redlands	Australia	Record daily precipitation	33.3 mm (1.3 in)	45 of 100 (Notable)
Coolangatta Bowls Comp	Australia	Record daily precipitation	136.4 mm (5.4 in)	44 of 100 (Notable)
Tweed Heads Golf Club	Australia	Record daily precipitation	131.6 mm (5.2 in)	44 of 100 (Notable)
Carire	Brazil	Record daily precipitation	70.4 mm (2.8 in)	44 of 100 (Notable)
Caio Prado	Brazil	Record daily precipitation	61.0 mm (2.4 in)	43 of 100 (Notable)
Ohotsk	Russia	Record daily precipitation	25.4 mm (1.0 in)	42 of 100 (Notable)
Tallebudgera Guineas Creek Roa	Australia	Record daily precipitation	79.8 mm (3.1 in)	39 of 100 (Notable)
Denton	United States	Record daily precipitation	61.5 mm (2.4 in)	39 of 100 (Notable)
Ft Benton	United States	Record daily precipitation	67.3 mm (2.6 in)	39 of 100 (Notable)
Frazer	United States	Record daily precipitation	30.5 mm (1.2 in)	39 of 100 (Notable)
Cullculli	Australia	Record daily precipitation	28.4 mm (1.1 in)	38 of 100 (Notable)
Faith	United States	Record daily precipitation	85.1 mm (3.4 in)	38 of 100 (Notable)
Huron Rgnl AP	United States	Record daily precipitation	48.0 mm (1.9 in)	38 of 100 (Notable)
Mandangad	India	Record daily precipitation	88.0 mm (3.5 in)	37 of 100 (Notable)
Logan 1 WNW	United States	Record daily precipitation	73.7 mm (2.9 in)	37 of 100 (Notable)
Bison	United States	Record daily precipitation	44.7 mm (1.8 in)	37 of 100 (Notable)
Fillmore	United States	Record daily snowfall	12.7 cm (5.0 in)	37 of 100 (Notable)
Tomewin (Border Gate)	Australia	Record daily precipitation	73.7 mm (2.9 in)	35 of 100 (Notable)
Chintamani	India	Record daily precipitation	48.3 mm (1.9 in)	35 of 100 (Notable)
Berlin	United States	Record daily precipitation	30.0 mm (1.2 in)	35 of 100 (Notable)
Hettinger	United States	Record daily precipitation	31.8 mm (1.3 in)	35 of 100 (Notable)
Washington	United States	Record high minimum temperature	21.7 C (71.1 F)	35 of 100 (Notable)
Murwillumbah Post Office	Australia	Record daily precipitation	100.6 mm (4.0 in)	34 of 100 (Routine)
Falmouth	United States	Record daily precipitation	49.5 mm (1.9 in)	34 of 100 (Routine)
Savage	United States	Record daily precipitation	40.1 mm (1.6 in)	34 of 100 (Routine)
Brigham City	United States	Record daily precipitation	34.0 mm (1.3 in)	34 of 100 (Routine)
Woodruff	United States	Record daily snowfall	5.1 cm (2.0 in)	34 of 100 (Routine)
Karur	India	Record daily precipitation	64.4 mm (2.5 in)	33 of 100 (Routine)
Walthill 1E	United States	Record daily precipitation	72.4 mm (2.9 in)	33 of 100 (Routine)
Cape May 2 NW	United States	Record high minimum temperature	18.3 C (64.9 F)	33 of 100 (Routine)
Chattanooga	United States	Record daily precipitation	53.8 mm (2.1 in)	33 of 100 (Routine)
Corinne	United States	Record low maximum temperature	6.7 C (44.1 F)	33 of 100 (Routine)
Deseret	United States	Record daily snowfall	5.1 cm (2.0 in)	33 of 100 (Routine)
Lewistown AP	United States	Record daily precipitation	44.2 mm (1.7 in)	33 of 100 (Routine)
Arvi	India	Record daily precipitation	31.0 mm (1.2 in)	32 of 100 (Routine)
Mobridge 2NNW	United States	Record daily precipitation	41.9 mm (1.6 in)	32 of 100 (Routine)
Redig 11 NE	United States	Record daily precipitation	27.4 mm (1.1 in)	32 of 100 (Routine)
Enosburg Falls	United States	Record daily precipitation	27.9 mm (1.1 in)	32 of 100 (Routine)
Polur	India	Record daily precipitation	45.4 mm (1.8 in)	31 of 100 (Routine)
Richmond Wtr Wks	United States	Record daily precipitation	43.9 mm (1.7 in)	31 of 100 (Routine)
Circle 7 N	United States	Record daily precipitation	33.8 mm (1.3 in)	31 of 100 (Routine)
Oakdale	United States	Record daily precipitation	48.3 mm (1.9 in)	31 of 100 (Routine)
Cape May 2 NW	United States	Record high maximum temperature	31.1 C (88.0 F)	31 of 100 (Routine)
Shrigonda	India	Record daily precipitation	25.0 mm (1.0 in)	30 of 100 (Routine)
Roldal	Norway	Record snow depth	11.0 cm (4.3 in)	30 of 100 (Routine)
Newark Ag Farm	United States	Record high maximum temperature	34.4 C (93.9 F)	30 of 100 (Routine)
Dupree	United States	Record daily precipitation	43.2 mm (1.7 in)	30 of 100 (Routine)
Hopewell 1 SE	United States	Record daily precipitation	34.3 mm (1.4 in)	30 of 100 (Routine)

Counts by Type and Timescale

553 records

Records set or tied on 21 May 1962 by type: Highest daily maximum 114, Lowest daily maximum 57, Highest daily minimum 103, Lowest daily minimum 47, Heaviest daily rainfall 218, Heaviest daily snowfall 9, Deepest snow cover 5.

Records on 21 May 1962 by type
Record type	Records
Highest daily maximum	114
Lowest daily maximum	57
Highest daily minimum	103
Lowest daily minimum	47
Heaviest daily rainfall	218
Heaviest daily snowfall	9
Deepest snow cover	5

Records on 21 May 1962 by timescale: all-time 1, monthly 16, daily 536.

How Much Records Were Beaten By

420 broken records

Margins by which the 420 broken records beat the old ones, in degrees Celsius for temperature and millimetres for precipitation and snow; the largest margin was 250.0. Ties are not counted.

Top 20 by Significance

21 May 1962

Top 20 records on 21 May 1962 by significance
Date	Station	Record	Value	Beat old record by	Old record stood	Significance
21 May 1962	Winifred, US	all-time rain	73.7 mm (2.9 in)	21.9 mm (0.9 in)	37 years	66 of 100 (Major)
21 May 1962	Harlan, US	monthly rain	136.4 mm (5.4 in)	58.9 mm (2.3 in)	16 years	61 of 100 (Major)
21 May 1962	Corinne, US	daily rain	41.9 mm (1.6 in)	30.7 mm (1.2 in)	59 years	61 of 100 (Major)
21 May 1962	Beaver, US	daily snowfall	15.2 cm (6.0 in)	15.2 cm (6.0 in)	53 years	53 of 100 (Notable)
21 May 1962	Parachilna, AU	daily rain	25.4 mm (1.0 in)	25.4 mm (1.0 in)	32 years	52 of 100 (Notable)
21 May 1962	Southport Ridgeway Ave, AU	daily rain	90.4 mm (3.6 in)	67.8 mm (2.7 in)	40 years	51 of 100 (Notable)
21 May 1962	Mehkar, IN	daily rain	40.6 mm (1.6 in)	35.0 mm (1.4 in)	19 years	51 of 100 (Notable)
21 May 1962	Hilland 2 NW, US	daily rain	62.0 mm (2.4 in)	36.6 mm (1.4 in)	45 years	51 of 100 (Notable)
21 May 1962	Khamaria, IN	daily rain	33.0 mm (1.3 in)	30.5 mm (1.2 in)	48 years	47 of 100 (Notable)
21 May 1962	Oak City, US	daily snowfall	12.7 cm (5.0 in)	12.7 cm (5.0 in)	56 years	47 of 100 (Notable)
21 May 1962	Poplar 2 E, US	daily rain	27.4 mm (1.1 in)	14.7 mm (0.6 in)	68 years	46 of 100 (Notable)
21 May 1962	Oak City, US	daily rain	27.2 mm (1.1 in)	19.8 mm (0.8 in)	35 years	46 of 100 (Notable)
21 May 1962	Redlands, AU	daily rain	33.3 mm (1.3 in)	21.4 mm (0.8 in)	48 years	45 of 100 (Notable)
21 May 1962	Coolangatta Bowls Comp, AU	daily rain	136.4 mm (5.4 in)	81.5 mm (3.2 in)	16 years	44 of 100 (Notable)
21 May 1962	Tweed Heads Golf Club, AU	daily rain	131.6 mm (5.2 in)	71.1 mm (2.8 in)	16 years	44 of 100 (Notable)
21 May 1962	Carire, BR	daily rain	70.4 mm (2.8 in)	45.2 mm (1.8 in)	32 years	44 of 100 (Notable)
21 May 1962	Caio Prado, BR	daily rain	61.0 mm (2.4 in)	34.6 mm (1.4 in)	41 years	43 of 100 (Notable)
21 May 1962	Ohotsk, RU	daily rain	25.4 mm (1.0 in)	16.4 mm (0.6 in)	21 years	42 of 100 (Notable)
21 May 1962	Tallebudgera Guineas Creek Roa, AU	daily rain	79.8 mm (3.1 in)	63.5 mm (2.5 in)	40 years	39 of 100 (Notable)
21 May 1962	Denton, US	daily rain	61.5 mm (2.4 in)	29.0 mm (1.1 in)	4 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 1962

Records set or tied on this calendar date in each year from 1793 to 1962. 1962 had 553 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 1962-05-21: 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 2026-10-15 (15 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 50	403
50 to 100	12
100 to 150	3
150 to 200	1
200 to 250	1