Weather Records on 3 October 1972

452 weather records were set or tied worldwide on 3 October 1972. Highest significance: Versamelhoek, ZA.

Key Facts for 3 October 1972

On 3 October 1972, 452 weather records were set or tied at long-record stations worldwide.
82 were record highs and 105 were record lows, counting maximum and minimum temperature.
By timescale, 0 were all-time records, 20 monthly and 432 daily.
Versamelhoek set a monthly record daily precipitation of 127.0 mm (5.0 in) on 3 October 1972.
Across 159 earlier years (1834 to 2026) the same calendar date averaged 458 records.

Record Map

452 stations

452 station records on 3 October 1972 are marked on the map, coloured by record type. Dot size shows the significance score. Made with Natural Earth.

Weather records on 3 October 1972: highest significance records shown on the map
Station	Country	Type	Value	Significance
Versamelhoek	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	127.0 mm (5.0 in)	68 of 100 (Major)
Elim (Hosp)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	45.4 mm (1.8 in)	66 of 100 (Major)
Middlekop (Bos)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	80.0 mm (3.1 in)	61 of 100 (Major)
Nooitgedacht	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	102.5 mm (4.0 in)	58 of 100 (Notable)
Pretoria-New Cemetry	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	74.5 mm (2.9 in)	56 of 100 (Notable)
Doornfontein	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	56.0 mm (2.2 in)	56 of 100 (Notable)
Boksburg (Mun)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	38.5 mm (1.5 in)	53 of 100 (Notable)
Goedehoop (Bos)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	41.5 mm (1.6 in)	53 of 100 (Notable)
Springs-Olympia Park	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	37.0 mm (1.5 in)	51 of 100 (Notable)
Ceylon (Bos)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	48.7 mm (1.9 in)	50 of 100 (Notable)
Palmer Estate	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	42.0 mm (1.7 in)	50 of 100 (Notable)
Vastrap	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	39.5 mm (1.6 in)	49 of 100 (Notable)
Broadlands	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	52.5 mm (2.1 in)	49 of 100 (Notable)
Ulmarra (Newsagency)	Australia	Record daily precipitation	51.6 mm (2.0 in)	48 of 100 (Notable)
Ponte Melo Peixoto	Brazil	Record daily precipitation	64.6 mm (2.5 in)	46 of 100 (Notable)
Moorddrift	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	35.0 mm (1.4 in)	45 of 100 (Notable)
Kalkfontein	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	75.0 mm (3.0 in)	45 of 100 (Notable)
Ravenshill	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	54.0 mm (2.1 in)	44 of 100 (Notable)
Bontfontein	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	34.0 mm (1.3 in)	44 of 100 (Notable)
Ourinhos	Brazil	Record daily precipitation	86.9 mm (3.4 in)	43 of 100 (Notable)
Besonderheid"Byzonderhd."	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	31.0 mm (1.2 in)	43 of 100 (Notable)
Rustplaats	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	36.5 mm (1.4 in)	43 of 100 (Notable)
Itariri	Brazil	Record daily precipitation	58.8 mm (2.3 in)	42 of 100 (Notable)
Witklip (Bos)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	52.5 mm (2.1 in)	42 of 100 (Notable)
De Hoek (Bos)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	68.0 mm (2.7 in)	42 of 100 (Notable)
Merensky (Skl)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	43.0 mm (1.7 in)	42 of 100 (Notable)
Groblersplaas	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	110.0 mm (4.3 in)	42 of 100 (Notable)
Driefontein	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	27.5 mm (1.1 in)	42 of 100 (Notable)
Wupatki Nm	United States	Record daily precipitation	46.5 mm (1.8 in)	42 of 100 (Notable)
Lydenburg	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	35.0 mm (1.4 in)	41 of 100 (Notable)
Bochum-1	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	37.0 mm (1.5 in)	41 of 100 (Notable)
Yakutat AP	United States	Record daily snowfall	12.2 cm (4.8 in)	41 of 100 (Notable)
Indaiatuba	Brazil	Record daily precipitation	54.5 mm (2.1 in)	40 of 100 (Notable)
Springs (Rwb)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	48.5 mm (1.9 in)	40 of 100 (Notable)
Duiwelskloof (Mun)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	51.0 mm (2.0 in)	40 of 100 (Notable)
Legkraal	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	36.0 mm (1.4 in)	40 of 100 (Notable)
Nord-Rana	Norway	Record daily precipitation	55.1 mm (2.2 in)	39 of 100 (Notable)
Maandagshoek	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	34.0 mm (1.3 in)	39 of 100 (Notable)
The Downs	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	54.5 mm (2.1 in)	39 of 100 (Notable)
Juiz de Fora	Brazil	Record daily precipitation	46.0 mm (1.8 in)	38 of 100 (Notable)
Kalkfontein	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	35.0 mm (1.4 in)	38 of 100 (Notable)
Westfalia	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	47.0 mm (1.9 in)	38 of 100 (Notable)
Eiland	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	38.0 mm (1.5 in)	37 of 100 (Notable)
Klein Australie (Bos)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	108.5 mm (4.3 in)	37 of 100 (Notable)
Hayward Rs	United States	Record daily precipitation	43.4 mm (1.7 in)	37 of 100 (Notable)
Kalihi Rsch Site 777	United States	Record daily precipitation	67.1 mm (2.6 in)	37 of 100 (Notable)
Manoa Tun 2 716	United States	Record daily precipitation	101.6 mm (4.0 in)	37 of 100 (Notable)
Black Hills	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	57.0 mm (2.2 in)	36 of 100 (Notable)
Makaweli 965	United States	Record daily precipitation	72.4 mm (2.9 in)	36 of 100 (Notable)
Swaziland Ranch-Homest	Swaziland	Record daily precipitation	27.0 mm (1.1 in)	36 of 100 (Notable)
Quintana	Brazil	Record daily precipitation	80.0 mm (3.1 in)	35 of 100 (Notable)
Palolo Vly 718	United States	Record daily precipitation	85.3 mm (3.4 in)	35 of 100 (Notable)
Bulahdelah Post Office	Australia	Record daily precipitation	55.9 mm (2.2 in)	34 of 100 (Routine)
Angatuba	Brazil	Record daily precipitation	91.2 mm (3.6 in)	34 of 100 (Routine)
Ibirarema	Brazil	Record daily precipitation	77.0 mm (3.0 in)	34 of 100 (Routine)
Plant City	United States	Record daily precipitation	75.4 mm (3.0 in)	34 of 100 (Routine)
Registro	Brazil	Record daily precipitation	35.9 mm (1.4 in)	33 of 100 (Routine)
Bon Accord Dam	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	34.0 mm (1.3 in)	33 of 100 (Routine)
Salique (Bos)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	42.5 mm (1.7 in)	33 of 100 (Routine)
Bosbokrand (Pol)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	48.5 mm (1.9 in)	32 of 100 (Routine)

Counts by Type and Timescale

452 records

Records set or tied on 3 October 1972 by type: Highest daily maximum 47, Lowest daily maximum 35, Highest daily minimum 35, Lowest daily minimum 70, Heaviest daily rainfall 251, Heaviest daily snowfall 3, Deepest snow cover 11.

Records on 3 October 1972 by type
Record type	Records
Highest daily maximum	47
Lowest daily maximum	35
Highest daily minimum	35
Lowest daily minimum	70
Heaviest daily rainfall	251
Heaviest daily snowfall	3
Deepest snow cover	11

Records on 3 October 1972 by timescale: all-time 0, monthly 20, daily 432.

How Much Records Were Beaten By

388 broken records

Margins by which the 388 broken records beat the old ones, in degrees Celsius for temperature and millimetres for precipitation and snow; the largest margin was 122.0. Ties are not counted.

Top 20 by Significance

3 October 1972

Top 20 records on 3 October 1972 by significance
Date	Station	Record	Value	Beat old record by	Old record stood	Significance
3 October 1972	Versamelhoek, ZA	monthly rain	127.0 mm (5.0 in)	54.6 mm (2.1 in)	42 years	68 of 100 (Major)
3 October 1972	Elim (Hosp), ZA	daily rain	45.4 mm (1.8 in)	40.3 mm (1.6 in)	64 years	66 of 100 (Major)
3 October 1972	Middlekop (Bos), ZA	daily rain	80.0 mm (3.1 in)	72.1 mm (2.8 in)	52 years	61 of 100 (Major)
3 October 1972	Nooitgedacht, ZA	monthly rain	102.5 mm (4.0 in)	40.3 mm (1.6 in)	32 years	58 of 100 (Notable)
3 October 1972	Pretoria-New Cemetry, ZA	daily rain	74.5 mm (2.9 in)	41.5 mm (1.6 in)	52 years	56 of 100 (Notable)
3 October 1972	Doornfontein, ZA	daily rain	56.0 mm (2.2 in)	54.7 mm (2.2 in)	43 years	56 of 100 (Notable)
3 October 1972	Boksburg (Mun), ZA	daily rain	38.5 mm (1.5 in)	24.3 mm (1.0 in)	65 years	53 of 100 (Notable)
3 October 1972	Goedehoop (Bos), ZA	daily rain	41.5 mm (1.6 in)	36.9 mm (1.5 in)	43 years	53 of 100 (Notable)
3 October 1972	Springs-Olympia Park, ZA	daily rain	37.0 mm (1.5 in)	30.4 mm (1.2 in)	50 years	51 of 100 (Notable)
3 October 1972	Ceylon (Bos), ZA	daily rain	48.7 mm (1.9 in)	42.9 mm (1.7 in)	20 years	50 of 100 (Notable)
3 October 1972	Palmer Estate, ZA	daily rain	42.0 mm (1.7 in)	40.0 mm (1.6 in)	43 years	50 of 100 (Notable)
3 October 1972	Vastrap, ZA	daily rain	39.5 mm (1.6 in)	30.9 mm (1.2 in)	33 years	49 of 100 (Notable)
3 October 1972	Broadlands, ZA	daily rain	52.5 mm (2.1 in)	45.7 mm (1.8 in)	15 years	49 of 100 (Notable)
3 October 1972	Ulmarra (Newsagency), AU	daily rain	51.6 mm (2.0 in)	22.1 mm (0.9 in)	73 years	48 of 100 (Notable)
3 October 1972	Ponte Melo Peixoto, BR	daily rain	64.6 mm (2.5 in)	49.1 mm (1.9 in)	10 years	46 of 100 (Notable)
3 October 1972	Moorddrift, ZA	daily rain	35.0 mm (1.4 in)	34.0 mm (1.3 in)	52 years	45 of 100 (Notable)
3 October 1972	Kalkfontein, ZA	monthly rain	75.0 mm (3.0 in)	12.8 mm (0.5 in)	56 years	45 of 100 (Notable)
3 October 1972	Ravenshill, ZA	daily rain	54.0 mm (2.1 in)	24.3 mm (1.0 in)	61 years	44 of 100 (Notable)
3 October 1972	Bontfontein, ZA	daily rain	34.0 mm (1.3 in)	33.0 mm (1.3 in)	8 years	44 of 100 (Notable)
3 October 1972	Ourinhos, BR	daily rain	86.9 mm (3.4 in)	64.6 mm (2.5 in)	10 years	43 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

1834 to 1972

Records set or tied on this calendar date in each year from 1834 to 1972. 1972 had 452 records.

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

Records on 10-03 in each year
Year	Records
1834	1
1838	1
1841	1
1844	1
1849	1
1850	2
1853	1
1859	2
1864	4
1865	1
1867	1
1870	1
1872	2
1873	1
1875	1
1878	1
1879	1
1881	4
1882	1
1883	2
1885	1
1886	3
1887	1
1888	5
1889	2
1890	3
1891	5
1893	4
1894	3
1895	1
1897	4
1898	4
1899	7
1900	6
1901	6
1902	20
1903	3
1904	1
1905	7
1906	29
1907	5
1908	21
1909	13
1910	13
1911	22
1912	53
1913	17
1914	31
1915	13
1916	93
1917	77
1918	28
1919	46
1920	25
1921	82
1922	38
1923	46
1924	41
1925	171
1926	233
1927	335
1928	213
1929	223
1930	184
1931	256
1932	185
1933	178
1934	122
1935	423
1936	192
1937	386
1938	464
1939	352
1940	175
1941	662
1942	212
1943	306
1944	489
1945	521
1946	296
1947	725
1948	272
1949	426
1950	1,038
1951	706
1952	731
1953	645
1954	1,142
1955	426
1956	222
1957	469
1958	951
1959	704
1960	189
1961	804
1962	433
1963	431
1964	503
1965	281
1966	618
1967	610
1968	547
1969	624
1970	481
1971	511
1972	452
1973	613
1974	1,999
1975	809
1976	943
1977	480
1978	410
1979	573
1980	860
1981	1,138
1982	476
1983	648
1984	1,050
1985	1,013
1986	1,501
1987	1,324
1988	525
1989	906
1990	680
1991	862
1992	990
1993	926
1994	1,433
1995	1,249
1996	962
1997	1,085
1998	1,413
1999	1,683
2000	859
2001	846
2002	1,388
2003	1,107
2004	534
2005	1,406
2006	973
2007	872
2008	690
2009	1,322
2010	989
2011	1,024
2012	778
2013	856
2014	574
2015	824
2016	756
2017	1,064
2018	826
2019	1,427
2020	817
2021	635
2022	478
2023	1,024
2024	876
2025	733
2026	649

Download the Data

Data for records on 1972-10-03: 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 20	310
20 to 40	49
40 to 60	20
60 to 80	8
80 to 100	0
100 to 120	0
120 to 140	1