Weather Records on 3 December 1971

999 weather records were set or tied worldwide on 3 December 1971. Highest significance: Shelby 2 NW, US.

Key Facts for 3 December 1971

On 3 December 1971, 999 weather records were set or tied at long-record stations worldwide.
37 were record highs and 323 were record lows, counting maximum and minimum temperature.
By timescale, 5 were all-time records, 23 monthly and 971 daily.
Shelby 2 NW set a daily record snowfall of 20.3 cm (8.0 in) on 3 December 1971.
Across 163 earlier years (1793 to 2025) the same calendar date averaged 463 records.

Record Map

999 stations

999 station records on 3 December 1971 are marked on the map, coloured by record type. Dot size shows the significance score. Made with Natural Earth.

Weather records on 3 December 1971: highest significance records shown on the map
Station	Country	Type	Value	Significance
Shelby 2 NW	United States	Record daily snowfall	20.3 cm (8.0 in)	70 of 100 (Major)
Lenoir	United States	Record daily snowfall	25.4 cm (10.0 in)	68 of 100 (Major)
Santuck	United States	Record daily snowfall	19.8 cm (7.8 in)	68 of 100 (Major)
Winthrop UNIV	United States	Record daily snowfall	24.6 cm (9.7 in)	68 of 100 (Major)
Albemarle	United States	Record daily snowfall	19.1 cm (7.5 in)	62 of 100 (Major)
Canton 1 SW	United States	Record daily snowfall	43.2 cm (17.0 in)	62 of 100 (Major)
Marlow 1 WSW	United States	Record snow depth	12.7 cm (5.0 in)	62 of 100 (Major)
Toccoa	United States	Record daily snowfall	16.5 cm (6.5 in)	60 of 100 (Major)
Newport 1 NW	United States	Record daily snowfall	10.2 cm (4.0 in)	60 of 100 (Major)
Clemson UNIV	United States	Record daily snowfall	21.8 cm (8.6 in)	59 of 100 (Notable)
Salisbury	United States	Record daily snowfall	20.3 cm (8.0 in)	58 of 100 (Notable)
Erick	United States	Record daily snowfall	20.3 cm (8.0 in)	58 of 100 (Notable)
Hollis 5E	United States	Record snow depth	20.3 cm (8.0 in)	58 of 100 (Notable)
Canton 1 SW	United States	Record snow depth	43.2 cm (17.0 in)	56 of 100 (Notable)
Rainbow Lake	United States	Record daily snowfall	29.2 cm (11.5 in)	56 of 100 (Notable)
Friona	United States	Record snow depth	17.8 cm (7.0 in)	56 of 100 (Notable)
Clayton 1 SSW	United States	Record daily snowfall	17.8 cm (7.0 in)	55 of 100 (Notable)
Morgan 1 W	United States	Record daily precipitation	75.9 mm (3.0 in)	55 of 100 (Notable)
Marion	United States	Record daily snowfall	30.5 cm (12.0 in)	55 of 100 (Notable)
Waynesville 1 E	United States	Record daily snowfall	38.1 cm (15.0 in)	55 of 100 (Notable)
Albertville 2 SE	United States	Record daily precipitation	85.6 mm (3.4 in)	54 of 100 (Notable)
Franklin	United States	Record daily precipitation	66.0 mm (2.6 in)	54 of 100 (Notable)
Salisbury	United States	Record snow depth	20.3 cm (8.0 in)	54 of 100 (Notable)
Cartersville	United States	Record daily precipitation	82.8 mm (3.3 in)	53 of 100 (Notable)
Munday	United States	Record daily snowfall	15.2 cm (6.0 in)	53 of 100 (Notable)
Pinehurst Sthrn Pines	United States	Record daily snowfall	13.5 cm (5.3 in)	52 of 100 (Notable)
Carnegie 5 NE	United States	Record daily snowfall	15.2 cm (6.0 in)	52 of 100 (Notable)
Yacamunda Station	Australia	Record daily precipitation	70.1 mm (2.8 in)	51 of 100 (Notable)
Highland Home	United States	Record daily precipitation	86.4 mm (3.4 in)	51 of 100 (Notable)
Spearman	United States	Record snow depth	20.3 cm (8.0 in)	51 of 100 (Notable)
Statesville 2 NNE	United States	Record daily snowfall	16.5 cm (6.5 in)	50 of 100 (Notable)
El Reno 1 N	United States	Record daily snowfall	10.2 cm (4.0 in)	50 of 100 (Notable)
Shawnee	United States	Record daily snowfall	12.7 cm (5.0 in)	50 of 100 (Notable)
Weatherford	United States	Record daily snowfall	11.4 cm (4.5 in)	50 of 100 (Notable)
Perry	United States	Record daily precipitation	71.1 mm (2.8 in)	49 of 100 (Notable)
Highlands	United States	Record daily snowfall	15.2 cm (6.0 in)	49 of 100 (Notable)
Marshall	United States	Record daily snowfall	11.4 cm (4.5 in)	49 of 100 (Notable)
Norman 3SSE	United States	Record daily snowfall	8.9 cm (3.5 in)	49 of 100 (Notable)
Pauls Valley 4 WSW	United States	Record daily snowfall	15.2 cm (6.0 in)	49 of 100 (Notable)
Glen St Mary 1 W	United States	Record daily precipitation	101.6 mm (4.0 in)	48 of 100 (Notable)
Ashland	United States	Record snow depth	12.7 cm (5.0 in)	48 of 100 (Notable)
Butler	United States	Record daily precipitation	61.5 mm (2.4 in)	47 of 100 (Notable)
Elk City 4 W	United States	Record daily snowfall	12.7 cm (5.0 in)	47 of 100 (Notable)
Shawnee	United States	Record snow depth	12.7 cm (5.0 in)	47 of 100 (Notable)
Miami	United States	Record daily snowfall	15.2 cm (6.0 in)	47 of 100 (Notable)
Seymour 3NW	United States	Record daily snowfall	11.4 cm (4.5 in)	47 of 100 (Notable)
Ciudad del Maiz (Smn)	Mexico	Record daily precipitation	34.3 mm (1.4 in)	46 of 100 (Notable)
Clayton 1 SSW	United States	Record snow depth	17.8 cm (7.0 in)	46 of 100 (Notable)
Camoola Park	Australia	Record daily precipitation	38.1 mm (1.5 in)	45 of 100 (Notable)
Talbotton	United States	Record daily precipitation	68.1 mm (2.7 in)	45 of 100 (Notable)
Meeker 5 W	United States	Record daily snowfall	10.2 cm (4.0 in)	45 of 100 (Notable)
Purcell 2 SW	United States	Record daily snowfall	7.6 cm (3.0 in)	45 of 100 (Notable)
Bear River Refuge	United States	Record daily snowfall	10.2 cm (4.0 in)	45 of 100 (Notable)
Eston	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	79.9 mm (3.1 in)	44 of 100 (Notable)
Wexford	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	67.5 mm (2.7 in)	44 of 100 (Notable)
Douglas	United States	Record daily precipitation	61.0 mm (2.4 in)	44 of 100 (Notable)
Statesville 2 NNE	United States	Record snow depth	17.8 cm (7.0 in)	44 of 100 (Notable)
Walhalla	United States	Record daily snowfall	7.6 cm (3.0 in)	44 of 100 (Notable)
Ft Gaines	United States	Record daily precipitation	73.7 mm (2.9 in)	43 of 100 (Notable)
Clovis	United States	Record snow depth	10.2 cm (4.0 in)	43 of 100 (Notable)

Counts by Type and Timescale

999 records

Records set or tied on 3 December 1971 by type: Highest daily maximum 10, Lowest daily maximum 268, Highest daily minimum 27, Lowest daily minimum 55, Heaviest daily rainfall 335, Heaviest daily snowfall 204, Deepest snow cover 100.

Records on 3 December 1971 by type
Record type	Records
Highest daily maximum	10
Lowest daily maximum	268
Highest daily minimum	27
Lowest daily minimum	55
Heaviest daily rainfall	335
Heaviest daily snowfall	204
Deepest snow cover	100

Records on 3 December 1971 by timescale: all-time 5, monthly 23, daily 971.

How Much Records Were Beaten By

850 broken records

Margins by which the 850 broken records beat the old ones, in degrees Celsius for temperature and millimetres for precipitation and snow; the largest margin was 305.0. Ties are not counted.

Top 20 by Significance

3 December 1971

Top 20 records on 3 December 1971 by significance
Date	Station	Record	Value	Beat old record by	Old record stood	Significance
3 December 1971	Shelby 2 NW, US	daily snowfall	20.3 cm (8.0 in)	20.3 cm (8.0 in)	77 years	70 of 100 (Major)
3 December 1971	Lenoir, US	daily snowfall	25.4 cm (10.0 in)	25.4 cm (10.0 in)	94 years	68 of 100 (Major)
3 December 1971	Santuck, US	daily snowfall	19.8 cm (7.8 in)	19.8 cm (7.8 in)	75 years	68 of 100 (Major)
3 December 1971	Winthrop UNIV, US	daily snowfall	24.6 cm (9.7 in)	24.6 cm (9.7 in)	71 years	68 of 100 (Major)
3 December 1971	Albemarle, US	daily snowfall	19.1 cm (7.5 in)	19.1 cm (7.5 in)	60 years	62 of 100 (Major)
3 December 1971	Canton 1 SW, US	monthly snowfall	43.2 cm (17.0 in)	30.5 cm (12.0 in)	28 years	62 of 100 (Major)
3 December 1971	Marlow 1 WSW, US	daily snow depth	12.7 cm (5.0 in)	12.7 cm (5.0 in)	70 years	62 of 100 (Major)
3 December 1971	Toccoa, US	daily snowfall	16.5 cm (6.5 in)	16.5 cm (6.5 in)	69 years	60 of 100 (Major)
3 December 1971	Newport 1 NW, US	daily snowfall	10.2 cm (4.0 in)	10.2 cm (4.0 in)	77 years	60 of 100 (Major)
3 December 1971	Clemson UNIV, US	daily snowfall	21.8 cm (8.6 in)	21.8 cm (8.6 in)	40 years	59 of 100 (Notable)
3 December 1971	Salisbury, US	daily snowfall	20.3 cm (8.0 in)	20.3 cm (8.0 in)	77 years	58 of 100 (Notable)
3 December 1971	Erick, US	daily snowfall	20.3 cm (8.0 in)	20.3 cm (8.0 in)	66 years	58 of 100 (Notable)
3 December 1971	Hollis 5E, US	daily snow depth	20.3 cm (8.0 in)	20.3 cm (8.0 in)	48 years	58 of 100 (Notable)
3 December 1971	Canton 1 SW, US	monthly snow depth	43.2 cm (17.0 in)	28.0 cm (11.0 in)	7 years	56 of 100 (Notable)
3 December 1971	Rainbow Lake, US	daily snowfall	29.2 cm (11.5 in)	29.2 cm (11.5 in)	42 years	56 of 100 (Notable)
3 December 1971	Friona, US	daily snow depth	17.8 cm (7.0 in)	17.8 cm (7.0 in)	44 years	56 of 100 (Notable)
3 December 1971	Clayton 1 SSW, US	daily snowfall	17.8 cm (7.0 in)	17.8 cm (7.0 in)	76 years	55 of 100 (Notable)
3 December 1971	Morgan 1 W, US	daily rain	75.9 mm (3.0 in)	44.1 mm (1.7 in)	65 years	55 of 100 (Notable)
3 December 1971	Marion, US	daily snowfall	30.5 cm (12.0 in)	28.0 cm (11.0 in)	28 years	55 of 100 (Notable)
3 December 1971	Waynesville 1 E, US	monthly snowfall	38.1 cm (15.0 in)	15.2 cm (6.0 in)	35 years	55 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 1971

Records set or tied on this calendar date in each year from 1793 to 1971. 1971 had 999 records.

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

Records on 12-03 in each year
Year	Records
1793	1
1796	1
1797	1
1801	1
1807	1
1810	1
1816	1
1828	1
1829	2
1831	1
1832	1
1846	1
1853	1
1855	3
1856	4
1866	2
1867	1
1869	4
1870	2
1872	3
1873	1
1875	4
1876	3
1879	8
1882	3
1886	1
1887	2
1888	3
1890	2
1891	3
1892	4
1893	1
1894	1
1895	4
1896	2
1897	4
1898	2
1899	4
1900	4
1901	9
1902	13
1903	9
1904	5
1905	33
1906	23
1907	2
1908	4
1909	45
1910	8
1911	12
1912	23
1913	66
1914	74
1915	19
1916	153
1917	34
1918	29
1919	88
1920	44
1921	128
1922	68
1923	58
1924	89
1925	152
1926	189
1927	247
1928	79
1929	651
1930	131
1931	352
1932	528
1933	486
1934	270
1935	267
1936	379
1937	284
1938	347
1939	443
1940	1,023
1941	1,141
1942	595
1943	290
1944	284
1945	194
1946	443
1947	814
1948	419
1949	177
1950	689
1951	881
1952	242
1953	804
1954	493
1955	763
1956	679
1957	211
1958	583
1959	372
1960	577
1961	342
1962	923
1963	331
1964	824
1965	308
1966	1,076
1967	859
1968	646
1969	395
1970	1,247
1971	999
1972	890
1973	778
1974	661
1975	638
1976	1,315
1977	681
1978	1,406
1979	959
1980	1,128
1981	644
1982	3,010
1983	1,255
1984	645
1985	2,305
1986	801
1987	682
1988	672
1989	1,064
1990	1,178
1991	1,521
1992	776
1993	670
1994	664
1995	725
1996	694
1997	854
1998	1,969
1999	982
2000	759
2001	604
2002	977
2003	519
2004	739
2005	1,140
2006	1,167
2007	793
2008	804
2009	1,124
2010	1,879
2011	852
2012	1,355
2013	799
2014	510
2015	533
2016	347
2017	669
2018	1,043
2019	490
2020	409
2021	1,364
2022	448
2023	810
2024	709
2025	578

Download the Data

Data for records on 1971-12-03: 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	682
50 to 100	85
100 to 150	47
150 to 200	20
200 to 250	10
250 to 300	5
300 to 350	1