Weather Records on 20 December 1962

475 weather records were set or tied worldwide on 20 December 1962. Highest significance: Columbus 3 NE, US.

Key Facts for 20 December 1962

On 20 December 1962, 475 weather records were set or tied at long-record stations worldwide.
207 were record highs and 39 were record lows, counting maximum and minimum temperature.
By timescale, 0 were all-time records, 3 monthly and 472 daily.
Columbus 3 NE set a daily record snowfall of 19.8 cm (7.8 in) on 20 December 1962.
Across 163 earlier years (1793 to 2025) the same calendar date averaged 467 records.

Record Map

475 stations

475 station records on 20 December 1962 are marked on the map, coloured by record type. Dot size shows the significance score. Made with Natural Earth.

Weather records on 20 December 1962: highest significance records shown on the map
Station	Country	Type	Value	Significance
Columbus 3 NE	United States	Record daily snowfall	19.8 cm (7.8 in)	54 of 100 (Notable)
Canna 1	Australia	Record daily precipitation	39.1 mm (1.5 in)	51 of 100 (Notable)
Gatesville	United States	Record daily precipitation	56.1 mm (2.2 in)	49 of 100 (Notable)
Lampasas	United States	Record daily precipitation	61.0 mm (2.4 in)	49 of 100 (Notable)
Newry	Australia	Record daily precipitation	81.8 mm (3.2 in)	45 of 100 (Notable)
Pommelsbrunn	Germany	Record snow depth	30.0 cm (11.8 in)	44 of 100 (Notable)
Lubbock 9N	United States	Record daily precipitation	27.2 mm (1.1 in)	42 of 100 (Notable)
St Louis Eads Brg	United States	Record daily precipitation	29.7 mm (1.2 in)	42 of 100 (Notable)
Cape Leeuwin	Australia	Record high maximum temperature	30.0 C (86.0 F)	41 of 100 (Notable)
Eldon	United States	Record daily precipitation	32.0 mm (1.3 in)	41 of 100 (Notable)
Loup City	United States	Record daily snowfall	15.2 cm (6.0 in)	36 of 100 (Notable)
Ellensfield	Australia	Record daily precipitation	38.1 mm (1.5 in)	35 of 100 (Notable)
Bull Harbour	Canada	Record daily precipitation	52.1 mm (2.1 in)	35 of 100 (Notable)
Alton	Canada	Record low maximum temperature	-12.8 C (9.0 F)	35 of 100 (Notable)
Pitea	Sweden	Record low minimum temperature	-30.1 C (-22.2 F)	35 of 100 (Notable)
Gyzylarbat	Turkmenistan	Record high minimum temperature	10.9 C (51.6 F)	35 of 100 (Notable)
Sparta 1 W	United States	Record daily precipitation	26.7 mm (1.1 in)	35 of 100 (Notable)
Lumpkin 2 SE	United States	Record high minimum temperature	14.4 C (57.9 F)	34 of 100 (Routine)
Ganca	Azerbaijan	Record high maximum temperature	22.7 C (72.9 F)	33 of 100 (Routine)
Velikie Luki	Russia	Record low maximum temperature	-21.0 C (-5.8 F)	32 of 100 (Routine)
Karesuando	Sweden	Record low minimum temperature	-35.0 C (-31.0 F)	32 of 100 (Routine)
Marlin	United States	Record daily precipitation	30.5 mm (1.2 in)	32 of 100 (Routine)
Reit Im Winkl	Germany	Record snow depth	130.0 cm (51.2 in)	31 of 100 (Routine)
Yerevan	Armenia	Record high minimum temperature	7.0 C (44.6 F)	30 of 100 (Routine)
Sviland	Norway	Record snow depth	25.0 cm (9.8 in)	30 of 100 (Routine)
Gravette	United States	Record daily precipitation	30.7 mm (1.2 in)	30 of 100 (Routine)
Fullerton	United States	Record daily snowfall	15.2 cm (6.0 in)	30 of 100 (Routine)
Kvikkjokk-Arrenjarka	Sweden	Record low minimum temperature	-38.4 C (-37.1 F)	29 of 100 (Routine)
Glenwood 3SW	United States	Record daily snowfall	8.9 cm (3.5 in)	29 of 100 (Routine)
Houston	United States	Record high maximum temperature	18.3 C (64.9 F)	29 of 100 (Routine)
Willow Sprg Radio Kuku	United States	Record daily precipitation	27.7 mm (1.1 in)	29 of 100 (Routine)
Holdenville 2SSE	United States	Record daily precipitation	38.1 mm (1.5 in)	29 of 100 (Routine)
Sherman	United States	Record high minimum temperature	14.4 C (57.9 F)	29 of 100 (Routine)
Muchea Tree Farm	Australia	Record daily precipitation	31.5 mm (1.2 in)	28 of 100 (Routine)
Atbasar	Kazakhstan	Record high minimum temperature	-2.0 C (28.4 F)	28 of 100 (Routine)
Oneonta	United States	Record high maximum temperature	20.0 C (68.0 F)	28 of 100 (Routine)
Waynesboro 2 W	United States	Record high maximum temperature	24.4 C (75.9 F)	28 of 100 (Routine)
Chambers	United States	Record daily snowfall	7.6 cm (3.0 in)	28 of 100 (Routine)
Clifton 10 E	United States	Record daily precipitation	32.3 mm (1.3 in)	28 of 100 (Routine)
Estevan Point	Canada	Record daily precipitation	83.1 mm (3.3 in)	27 of 100 (Routine)
Haparanda	Sweden	Record low maximum temperature	-26.0 C (-14.8 F)	27 of 100 (Routine)
Wray	United States	Record high minimum temperature	-0.6 C (30.9 F)	27 of 100 (Routine)
Seymour 1 WSW	United States	Record high maximum temperature	16.1 C (61.0 F)	27 of 100 (Routine)
Taylor	United States	Record daily snowfall	7.1 cm (2.8 in)	27 of 100 (Routine)
Hillsboro	United States	Record high minimum temperature	15.0 C (59.0 F)	27 of 100 (Routine)
Nord Odal	Norway	Record snow depth	65.0 cm (25.6 in)	26 of 100 (Routine)
Bushy Vales, Margate	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	39.0 mm (1.5 in)	26 of 100 (Routine)
Manassa	United States	Record high minimum temperature	3.9 C (39.0 F)	26 of 100 (Routine)
Liberal	United States	Record high minimum temperature	2.8 C (37.0 F)	26 of 100 (Routine)
Houston	United States	Record high minimum temperature	8.9 C (48.0 F)	26 of 100 (Routine)
Mt Vernon 3 SW	United States	Record daily precipitation	32.5 mm (1.3 in)	26 of 100 (Routine)
N Loup	United States	Record daily snowfall	10.2 cm (4.0 in)	26 of 100 (Routine)
Corsicana	United States	Record high minimum temperature	15.0 C (59.0 F)	26 of 100 (Routine)
Haparanda	Sweden	Record low minimum temperature	-34.5 C (-30.1 F)	25 of 100 (Routine)
Umea	Sweden	Record low minimum temperature	-27.5 C (-17.5 F)	25 of 100 (Routine)
Ft Morgan	United States	Record high minimum temperature	-1.1 C (30.0 F)	25 of 100 (Routine)
McKenzie Rvr Rs	United States	Record high maximum temperature	12.2 C (54.0 F)	25 of 100 (Routine)
Atbasar	Kazakhstan	Record high maximum temperature	3.2 C (37.8 F)	24 of 100 (Routine)
Turgaj	Kazakhstan	Record high maximum temperature	3.5 C (38.3 F)	24 of 100 (Routine)
Vilnius	Lithuania	Record low maximum temperature	-16.4 C (2.5 F)	24 of 100 (Routine)

Counts by Type and Timescale

475 records

Records set or tied on 20 December 1962 by type: Highest daily maximum 70, Lowest daily maximum 20, Highest daily minimum 137, Lowest daily minimum 19, Heaviest daily rainfall 181, Heaviest daily snowfall 34, Deepest snow cover 14.

Records on 20 December 1962 by type
Record type	Records
Highest daily maximum	70
Lowest daily maximum	20
Highest daily minimum	137
Lowest daily minimum	19
Heaviest daily rainfall	181
Heaviest daily snowfall	34
Deepest snow cover	14

Records on 20 December 1962 by timescale: all-time 0, monthly 3, daily 472.

How Much Records Were Beaten By

392 broken records

Margins by which the 392 broken records beat the old ones, in degrees Celsius for temperature and millimetres for precipitation and snow; the largest margin was 350.0. Ties are not counted.

Top 20 by Significance

20 December 1962

Top 20 records on 20 December 1962 by significance
Date	Station	Record	Value	Beat old record by	Old record stood	Significance
20 December 1962	Columbus 3 NE, US	daily snowfall	19.8 cm (7.8 in)	12.9 cm (5.1 in)	64 years	54 of 100 (Notable)
20 December 1962	Canna 1, AU	monthly rain	39.1 mm (1.5 in)	16.2 mm (0.6 in)	36 years	51 of 100 (Notable)
20 December 1962	Gatesville, US	daily rain	56.1 mm (2.2 in)	54.6 mm (2.1 in)	39 years	49 of 100 (Notable)
20 December 1962	Lampasas, US	daily rain	61.0 mm (2.4 in)	42.2 mm (1.7 in)	51 years	49 of 100 (Notable)
20 December 1962	Newry, AU	daily rain	81.8 mm (3.2 in)	50.0 mm (2.0 in)	39 years	45 of 100 (Notable)
20 December 1962	Pommelsbrunn, DE	daily snow depth	30.0 cm (11.8 in)	17.0 cm (6.7 in)	36 years	44 of 100 (Notable)
20 December 1962	Lubbock 9N, US	daily rain	27.2 mm (1.1 in)	18.6 mm (0.7 in)	36 years	42 of 100 (Notable)
20 December 1962	St Louis Eads Brg, US	daily rain	29.7 mm (1.2 in)	19.0 mm (0.7 in)	48 years	42 of 100 (Notable)
20 December 1962	Cape Leeuwin, AU	daily high max	30.0 C (86.0 F)	5.0 C (9.0 F)	47 years	41 of 100 (Notable)
20 December 1962	Eldon, US	daily rain	32.0 mm (1.3 in)	18.5 mm (0.7 in)	63 years	41 of 100 (Notable)
20 December 1962	Loup City, US	daily snowfall	15.2 cm (6.0 in)	7.6 cm (3.0 in)	48 years	36 of 100 (Notable)
20 December 1962	Ellensfield, AU	daily rain	38.1 mm (1.5 in)	11.2 mm (0.4 in)	48 years	35 of 100 (Notable)
20 December 1962	Bull Harbour, CA	daily rain	52.1 mm (2.1 in)	31.5 mm (1.2 in)	25 years	35 of 100 (Notable)
20 December 1962	Alton, CA	daily low max	-12.8 C (9.0 F)	3.4 C (6.1 F)	73 years	35 of 100 (Notable)
20 December 1962	Pitea, SE	daily low min	-30.1 C (-22.2 F)	4.1 C (7.4 F)	75 years	35 of 100 (Notable)
20 December 1962	Gyzylarbat, TM	daily high min	10.9 C (51.6 F)	4.8 C (8.6 F)	60 years	35 of 100 (Notable)
20 December 1962	Sparta 1 W, US	daily rain	26.7 mm (1.1 in)	9.9 mm (0.39 in)	60 years	35 of 100 (Notable)
20 December 1962	Lumpkin 2 SE, US	daily high min	14.4 C (57.9 F)	4.4 C (7.9 F)	64 years	34 of 100 (Routine)
20 December 1962	Ganca, AZ	daily high max	22.7 C (72.9 F)	7.0 C (12.6 F)	35 years	33 of 100 (Routine)
20 December 1962	Velikie Luki, RU	daily low max	-21.0 C (-5.8 F)	1.1 C (2.0 F)	79 years	32 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 1962

Records set or tied on this calendar date in each year from 1793 to 1962. 1962 had 475 records.

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

Records on 12-20 in each year
Year	Records
1793	1
1795	1
1804	1
1805	2
1808	1
1815	1
1828	1
1837	1
1846	1
1855	8
1858	1
1860	1
1866	1
1867	1
1868	1
1869	1
1871	2
1874	3
1875	1
1877	2
1878	1
1879	1
1880	1
1881	1
1882	1
1884	4
1885	1
1886	4
1889	4
1890	2
1891	2
1892	1
1894	2
1895	8
1896	1
1897	4
1898	2
1899	1
1900	7
1901	8
1902	14
1903	17
1904	9
1905	5
1906	5
1907	11
1908	5
1909	22
1910	17
1911	24
1912	27
1913	7
1914	43
1915	18
1916	45
1917	33
1918	18
1919	25
1920	22
1921	101
1922	88
1923	215
1924	332
1925	96
1926	163
1927	200
1928	93
1929	256
1930	67
1931	536
1932	170
1933	492
1934	265
1935	152
1936	416
1937	181
1938	240
1939	308
1940	965
1941	633
1942	817
1943	193
1944	340
1945	430
1946	327
1947	385
1948	345
1949	1,141
1950	758
1951	926
1952	394
1953	385
1954	416
1955	726
1956	471
1957	1,354
1958	382
1959	142
1960	354
1961	369
1962	475
1963	875
1964	499
1965	353
1966	555
1967	1,370
1968	482
1969	514
1970	518
1971	441
1972	448
1973	1,184
1974	328
1975	610
1976	382
1977	484
1978	910
1979	600
1980	667
1981	1,681
1982	712
1983	2,995
1984	1,411
1985	1,035
1986	321
1987	1,179
1988	760
1989	1,812
1990	1,885
1991	1,172
1992	1,134
1993	1,266
1994	813
1995	1,128
1996	1,448
1997	651
1998	1,110
1999	938
2000	1,150
2001	523
2002	943
2003	1,315
2004	836
2005	515
2006	1,387
2007	986
2008	1,356
2009	1,502
2010	2,055
2011	846
2012	1,131
2013	584
2014	524
2015	1,238
2016	603
2017	688
2018	592
2019	731
2020	554
2021	442
2022	567
2023	1,242
2024	897
2025	1,166

Download the Data

Data for records on 1962-12-20: 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 2026-10-16. Last revised 16 October 2026 (2026-10-16).

Margin	Records
0 to 50	374
50 to 100	13
100 to 150	2
150 to 200	1
200 to 250	1
250 to 300	0
300 to 350	1