Weather Records on 31 December 1971

568 weather records were set or tied worldwide on 31 December 1971. Highest significance: Bellows Falls, US.

Key Facts for 31 December 1971

On 31 December 1971, 568 weather records were set or tied at long-record stations worldwide.
239 were record highs and 71 were record lows, counting maximum and minimum temperature.
By timescale, 0 were all-time records, 10 monthly and 558 daily.
Bellows Falls set a daily record snowfall of 27.9 cm (11.0 in) on 31 December 1971.
Across 157 earlier years (1797 to 2025) the same calendar date averaged 486 records.

Record Map

568 stations

568 station records on 31 December 1971 are marked on the map, coloured by record type. Dot size shows the significance score. Made with Natural Earth.

Weather records on 31 December 1971: highest significance records shown on the map
Station	Country	Type	Value	Significance
Bellows Falls	United States	Record daily snowfall	27.9 cm (11.0 in)	61 of 100 (Major)
Challis	United States	Record snow depth	27.9 cm (11.0 in)	58 of 100 (Notable)
Clarion 3 SW	United States	Record daily precipitation	34.5 mm (1.4 in)	58 of 100 (Notable)
E Tawas	United States	Record daily snowfall	22.9 cm (9.0 in)	52 of 100 (Notable)
Perpignan	France	Record daily precipitation	55.9 mm (2.2 in)	49 of 100 (Notable)
Chelsea	United States	Record daily snowfall	22.9 cm (9.0 in)	49 of 100 (Notable)
Pul'-I-Hatum	Turkmenistan	Record daily precipitation	30.0 mm (1.2 in)	46 of 100 (Notable)
Bethlehem	United States	Record daily snowfall	20.3 cm (8.0 in)	46 of 100 (Notable)
Bradford Cntrl Fs	United States	Record daily precipitation	25.9 mm (1.0 in)	45 of 100 (Notable)
Portage Wwtp	United States	Record daily snowfall	17.8 cm (7.0 in)	45 of 100 (Notable)
Inukjuak Ua	Canada	Record daily snowfall	17.8 cm (7.0 in)	42 of 100 (Notable)
Gyshgy	Turkmenistan	Record daily precipitation	28.8 mm (1.1 in)	42 of 100 (Notable)
Whitingham 1 W	United States	Record daily snowfall	26.7 cm (10.5 in)	42 of 100 (Notable)
Manchester	United States	Record daily snowfall	15.2 cm (6.0 in)	41 of 100 (Notable)
Nashua 2 NNW	United States	Record daily snowfall	19.6 cm (7.7 in)	38 of 100 (Notable)
Kane 1NNE	United States	Record daily precipitation	26.2 mm (1.0 in)	38 of 100 (Notable)
Searsburg STN	United States	Record daily snowfall	22.9 cm (9.0 in)	38 of 100 (Notable)
First Connecticut Lake	United States	Record daily snowfall	19.1 cm (7.5 in)	37 of 100 (Notable)
Gallivare_A	Sweden	Record high minimum temperature	2.5 C (36.5 F)	35 of 100 (Notable)
Susanville 2SW	United States	Record low maximum temperature	-5.0 C (23.0 F)	34 of 100 (Routine)
Gilman	United States	Record daily snowfall	19.1 cm (7.5 in)	34 of 100 (Routine)
Pitea	Sweden	Record high minimum temperature	1.2 C (34.2 F)	33 of 100 (Routine)
Gardiner	United States	Record daily snowfall	11.4 cm (4.5 in)	33 of 100 (Routine)
Hoosac Tunnel	United States	Record daily snowfall	21.1 cm (8.3 in)	33 of 100 (Routine)
Readsboro 1 SE	United States	Record daily snowfall	21.1 cm (8.3 in)	33 of 100 (Routine)
Bones I Bardu	Norway	Record daily precipitation	25.5 mm (1.0 in)	32 of 100 (Routine)
Kvikkjokk-Arrenjarka	Sweden	Record high minimum temperature	3.8 C (38.8 F)	32 of 100 (Routine)
Cedar Run (River)	United States	Record daily precipitation	25.9 mm (1.0 in)	32 of 100 (Routine)
Mc Indoe Falls	United States	Record daily snowfall	22.9 cm (9.0 in)	32 of 100 (Routine)
Northfield	United States	Record daily snowfall	20.3 cm (8.0 in)	32 of 100 (Routine)
Andenes	Norway	Record high minimum temperature	6.0 C (42.8 F)	31 of 100 (Routine)
Harnosand	Sweden	Record high minimum temperature	1.4 C (34.5 F)	31 of 100 (Routine)
Oestersund-Froesoen	Sweden	Record high minimum temperature	1.1 C (34.0 F)	31 of 100 (Routine)
Beaufort West (Met)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	36.8 mm (1.4 in)	30 of 100 (Routine)
Plant City	United States	Record high maximum temperature	29.4 C (84.9 F)	30 of 100 (Routine)
Petersham 3 N	United States	Record daily snowfall	17.8 cm (7.0 in)	30 of 100 (Routine)
Newport News Press Bld	United States	Record high maximum temperature	20.0 C (68.0 F)	30 of 100 (Routine)
De Funiak Springs 1 E	United States	Record high minimum temperature	17.8 C (64.0 F)	29 of 100 (Routine)
Wells	United States	Record low maximum temperature	-8.3 C (17.1 F)	29 of 100 (Routine)
Barnes	United States	Record daily precipitation	26.7 mm (1.1 in)	29 of 100 (Routine)
Mirboo North Water Board	Australia	Record daily precipitation	33.8 mm (1.3 in)	28 of 100 (Routine)
Morgan 1 W	United States	Record high minimum temperature	13.9 C (57.0 F)	28 of 100 (Routine)
Waynesboro 2 S	United States	Record high minimum temperature	14.4 C (57.9 F)	28 of 100 (Routine)
Madison	United States	Record daily snowfall	12.7 cm (5.0 in)	28 of 100 (Routine)
Warren	United States	Record daily precipitation	26.2 mm (1.0 in)	28 of 100 (Routine)
Rochester	United States	Record daily snowfall	20.3 cm (8.0 in)	28 of 100 (Routine)
Port Aux Basques	Canada	Record low maximum temperature	-9.4 C (15.1 F)	27 of 100 (Routine)
Holyoke	United States	Record daily snowfall	12.7 cm (5.0 in)	27 of 100 (Routine)
Harrison 1 NNW	United States	Record daily snowfall	12.7 cm (5.0 in)	27 of 100 (Routine)
Camden 3 W	United States	Record high maximum temperature	24.4 C (75.9 F)	27 of 100 (Routine)
W Pt	United States	Record high maximum temperature	26.1 C (79.0 F)	26 of 100 (Routine)
Schriever	United States	Record high maximum temperature	27.8 C (82.0 F)	26 of 100 (Routine)
Fitzwilliam 2 W	United States	Record daily snowfall	20.3 cm (8.0 in)	26 of 100 (Routine)
Mays Mill	United States	Record daily snowfall	17.8 cm (7.0 in)	26 of 100 (Routine)
Saint Johnsbury	United States	Record daily snowfall	14.0 cm (5.5 in)	26 of 100 (Routine)
Mahalapye	Botswana	Record daily precipitation	29.8 mm (1.2 in)	25 of 100 (Routine)
Sheldon	United States	Record snow depth	61.0 cm (24.0 in)	25 of 100 (Routine)
Bolivar	United States	Record daily precipitation	25.7 mm (1.0 in)	25 of 100 (Routine)
Harrington Harbour	Canada	Record low maximum temperature	-21.7 C (-7.1 F)	24 of 100 (Routine)
Jokkmokk	Sweden	Record high minimum temperature	4.1 C (39.4 F)	24 of 100 (Routine)

Counts by Type and Timescale

568 records

Records set or tied on 31 December 1971 by type: Highest daily maximum 147, Lowest daily maximum 40, Highest daily minimum 92, Lowest daily minimum 31, Heaviest daily rainfall 190, Heaviest daily snowfall 55, Deepest snow cover 13.

Records on 31 December 1971 by type
Record type	Records
Highest daily maximum	147
Lowest daily maximum	40
Highest daily minimum	92
Lowest daily minimum	31
Heaviest daily rainfall	190
Heaviest daily snowfall	55
Deepest snow cover	13

Records on 31 December 1971 by timescale: all-time 0, monthly 10, daily 558.

How Much Records Were Beaten By

455 broken records

Margins by which the 455 broken records beat the old ones, in degrees Celsius for temperature and millimetres for precipitation and snow; the largest margin was 241.0. Ties are not counted.

Top 20 by Significance

31 December 1971

Top 20 records on 31 December 1971 by significance
Date	Station	Record	Value	Beat old record by	Old record stood	Significance
31 December 1971	Bellows Falls, US	daily snowfall	27.9 cm (11.0 in)	24.1 cm (9.5 in)	60 years	61 of 100 (Major)
31 December 1971	Challis, US	daily snow depth	27.9 cm (11.0 in)	12.7 cm (5.0 in)	52 years	58 of 100 (Notable)
31 December 1971	Clarion 3 SW, US	daily rain	34.5 mm (1.4 in)	21.8 mm (0.9 in)	64 years	58 of 100 (Notable)
31 December 1971	E Tawas, US	daily snowfall	22.9 cm (9.0 in)	12.7 cm (5.0 in)	60 years	52 of 100 (Notable)
31 December 1971	Perpignan, FR	daily rain	55.9 mm (2.2 in)	47.4 mm (1.9 in)	53 years	49 of 100 (Notable)
31 December 1971	Chelsea, US	daily snowfall	22.9 cm (9.0 in)	15.3 cm (6.0 in)	60 years	49 of 100 (Notable)
31 December 1971	Pul'-I-Hatum, TM	daily rain	30.0 mm (1.2 in)	19.4 mm (0.8 in)	28 years	46 of 100 (Notable)
31 December 1971	Bethlehem, US	daily snowfall	20.3 cm (8.0 in)	15.2 cm (6.0 in)	41 years	46 of 100 (Notable)
31 December 1971	Bradford Cntrl Fs, US	daily rain	25.9 mm (1.0 in)	15.2 mm (0.6 in)	44 years	45 of 100 (Notable)
31 December 1971	Portage Wwtp, US	daily snowfall	17.8 cm (7.0 in)	7.6 cm (3.0 in)	70 years	45 of 100 (Notable)
31 December 1971	Inukjuak Ua, CA	daily snowfall	17.8 cm (7.0 in)	6.4 cm (2.5 in)	36 years	42 of 100 (Notable)
31 December 1971	Gyshgy, TM	daily rain	28.8 mm (1.1 in)	19.5 mm (0.8 in)	28 years	42 of 100 (Notable)
31 December 1971	Whitingham 1 W, US	daily snowfall	26.7 cm (10.5 in)	21.6 cm (8.5 in)	14 years	42 of 100 (Notable)
31 December 1971	Manchester, US	daily snowfall	15.2 cm (6.0 in)	5.0 cm (2.0 in)	84 years	41 of 100 (Notable)
31 December 1971	Nashua 2 NNW, US	daily snowfall	19.6 cm (7.7 in)	7.4 cm (2.9 in)	72 years	38 of 100 (Notable)
31 December 1971	Kane 1NNE, US	daily rain	26.2 mm (1.0 in)	18.3 mm (0.7 in)	1 year	38 of 100 (Notable)
31 December 1971	Searsburg STN, US	daily snowfall	22.9 cm (9.0 in)	17.8 cm (7.0 in)	14 years	38 of 100 (Notable)
31 December 1971	First Connecticut Lake, US	daily snowfall	19.1 cm (7.5 in)	8.9 cm (3.5 in)	52 years	37 of 100 (Notable)
31 December 1971	Gallivare_A, SE	daily high min	2.5 C (36.5 F)	3.0 C (5.4 F)	80 years	35 of 100 (Notable)
31 December 1971	Susanville 2SW, US	daily low max	-5.0 C (23.0 F)	2.8 C (5.0 F)	70 years	34 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

1797 to 1971

Records set or tied on this calendar date in each year from 1797 to 1971. 1971 had 568 records.

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

Records on 12-31 in each year
Year	Records
1797	1
1799	2
1826	1
1836	1
1842	2
1850	3
1853	1
1854	1
1859	1
1860	1
1867	1
1870	2
1872	2
1874	4
1875	2
1876	2
1878	2
1879	2
1880	2
1882	1
1884	2
1885	1
1886	3
1887	1
1888	2
1890	2
1891	8
1892	4
1895	4
1897	6
1898	5
1899	4
1900	3
1901	16
1902	3
1903	3
1904	11
1905	9
1906	31
1907	11
1908	7
1909	5
1910	25
1911	14
1912	17
1913	46
1914	34
1915	32
1916	25
1917	239
1918	24
1919	38
1920	64
1921	130
1922	83
1923	280
1924	113
1925	183
1926	77
1927	491
1928	53
1929	224
1930	58
1931	543
1932	394
1933	409
1934	181
1935	309
1936	567
1937	500
1938	247
1939	298
1940	467
1941	159
1942	352
1943	159
1944	259
1945	210
1946	707
1947	461
1948	591
1949	384
1950	310
1951	1,421
1952	377
1953	410
1954	286
1955	429
1956	216
1957	724
1958	584
1959	414
1960	389
1961	309
1962	810
1963	1,015
1964	388
1965	1,371
1966	326
1967	1,023
1968	1,371
1969	825
1970	579
1971	568
1972	836
1973	1,370
1974	590
1975	791
1976	1,306
1977	641
1978	2,791
1979	448
1980	1,448
1981	786
1982	639
1983	2,220
1984	942
1985	593
1986	616
1987	845
1988	600
1989	506
1990	1,379
1991	703
1992	1,062
1993	718
1994	878
1995	1,151
1996	2,202
1997	988
1998	739
1999	524
2000	1,575
2001	748
2002	1,232
2003	523
2004	1,278
2005	959
2006	2,089
2007	652
2008	656
2009	867
2010	1,544
2011	739
2012	803
2013	606
2014	903
2015	748
2016	678
2017	1,589
2018	620
2019	593
2020	489
2021	1,739
2022	1,497
2023	474
2024	460
2025	760

Download the Data

Data for records on 1971-12-31: 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	421
50 to 100	19
100 to 150	7
150 to 200	6
200 to 250	2