Weather Records on 21 December 1972

651 weather records were set or tied worldwide on 21 December 1972. Highest significance: Monticello, US.

Key Facts for 21 December 1972

On 21 December 1972, 651 weather records were set or tied at long-record stations worldwide.
230 were record highs and 74 were record lows, counting maximum and minimum temperature.
By timescale, 2 were all-time records, 25 monthly and 624 daily.
Monticello set a daily record precipitation of 133.4 mm (5.3 in) on 21 December 1972.
Across 158 earlier years (1793 to 2025) the same calendar date averaged 488 records.

Record Map

651 stations

651 station records on 21 December 1972 are marked on the map, coloured by record type. Dot size shows the significance score. Made with Natural Earth.

Weather records on 21 December 1972: highest significance records shown on the map
Station	Country	Type	Value	Significance
Monticello	United States	Record daily precipitation	133.4 mm (5.3 in)	65 of 100 (Major)
Brookhaven City	United States	Record daily precipitation	120.1 mm (4.7 in)	61 of 100 (Major)
Houma	United States	Record daily precipitation	101.6 mm (4.0 in)	59 of 100 (Notable)
Sao Jose de Piranhas	Brazil	Record daily precipitation	56.1 mm (2.2 in)	55 of 100 (Notable)
Bonito de Santa Fe	Brazil	Record daily precipitation	76.9 mm (3.0 in)	54 of 100 (Notable)
Campo Grande (Augusto Severo)	Brazil	Record daily precipitation	50.4 mm (2.0 in)	53 of 100 (Notable)
Juchitan de Zaragoza	Mexico	Record daily precipitation	53.8 mm (2.1 in)	53 of 100 (Notable)
Elba	United States	Record daily precipitation	155.7 mm (6.1 in)	53 of 100 (Notable)
Schriever	United States	Record daily precipitation	83.8 mm (3.3 in)	52 of 100 (Notable)
Pascagoula 3 NE	United States	Record daily precipitation	120.1 mm (4.7 in)	50 of 100 (Notable)
Brantley	United States	Record daily precipitation	116.1 mm (4.6 in)	49 of 100 (Notable)
Hammond	United States	Record daily precipitation	105.9 mm (4.2 in)	49 of 100 (Notable)
Reserve	United States	Record daily precipitation	83.8 mm (3.3 in)	49 of 100 (Notable)
Collins	United States	Record daily precipitation	129.8 mm (5.1 in)	49 of 100 (Notable)
Cipo de Leite	Brazil	Record daily precipitation	55.0 mm (2.2 in)	48 of 100 (Notable)
Paradis 7 S	United States	Record daily precipitation	83.8 mm (3.3 in)	48 of 100 (Notable)
Port Gibson 1 NE	United States	Record daily precipitation	85.6 mm (3.4 in)	48 of 100 (Notable)
Covington 8 WNW	United States	Record daily precipitation	103.6 mm (4.1 in)	47 of 100 (Notable)
Hattiesburg 5SW	United States	Record daily precipitation	92.7 mm (3.6 in)	47 of 100 (Notable)
Sumrall	United States	Record daily precipitation	119.4 mm (4.7 in)	47 of 100 (Notable)
Muenster	Canada	Record daily snowfall	15.2 cm (6.0 in)	46 of 100 (Notable)
Bay Minette	United States	Record daily precipitation	108.2 mm (4.3 in)	46 of 100 (Notable)
Bogalusa	United States	Record daily precipitation	104.1 mm (4.1 in)	46 of 100 (Notable)
Shubuta	United States	Record daily precipitation	123.2 mm (4.9 in)	46 of 100 (Notable)
Exu (Novo Exu)	Brazil	Record daily precipitation	60.2 mm (2.4 in)	45 of 100 (Notable)
Petrolina	Brazil	Record daily precipitation	76.2 mm (3.0 in)	44 of 100 (Notable)
Nuwara Eliya	Sri Lanka	Record low maximum temperature	14.2 C (57.6 F)	44 of 100 (Notable)
Fairhope 2 NE	United States	Record daily precipitation	104.6 mm (4.1 in)	44 of 100 (Notable)
Abbeville	United States	Record daily precipitation	52.1 mm (2.1 in)	44 of 100 (Notable)
Ocala	United States	Record daily precipitation	88.6 mm (3.5 in)	43 of 100 (Notable)
Prentiss	United States	Record daily precipitation	110.7 mm (4.4 in)	43 of 100 (Notable)
Pine Level 4 ESE	United States	Record daily precipitation	112.3 mm (4.4 in)	42 of 100 (Notable)
Alexandria	United States	Record daily precipitation	75.9 mm (3.0 in)	42 of 100 (Notable)
Graca	Brazil	Record daily precipitation	84.6 mm (3.3 in)	41 of 100 (Notable)
Serra Negra Do Norte	Brazil	Record daily precipitation	29.4 mm (1.2 in)	41 of 100 (Notable)
St Marks 5 SSE	United States	Record daily precipitation	80.0 mm (3.1 in)	41 of 100 (Notable)
Sao Jose Do Egito	Brazil	Record daily precipitation	58.0 mm (2.3 in)	40 of 100 (Notable)
Ft Bidwell	United States	Record high maximum temperature	14.4 C (57.9 F)	40 of 100 (Notable)
Experiment	United States	Record daily precipitation	53.3 mm (2.1 in)	40 of 100 (Notable)
St Joseph 3 N	United States	Record daily precipitation	104.6 mm (4.1 in)	40 of 100 (Notable)
D'Lo 2 SW	United States	Record daily precipitation	108.2 mm (4.3 in)	40 of 100 (Notable)
Catita	Brazil	Record daily precipitation	116.4 mm (4.6 in)	39 of 100 (Notable)
Fazenda Malhada da Areia	Brazil	Record daily precipitation	64.0 mm (2.5 in)	38 of 100 (Notable)
Caetite	Brazil	Record daily precipitation	61.0 mm (2.4 in)	38 of 100 (Notable)
Brewton 3 SSE	United States	Record daily precipitation	158.2 mm (6.2 in)	38 of 100 (Notable)
Clayton	United States	Record daily precipitation	102.4 mm (4.0 in)	38 of 100 (Notable)
Wadley	United States	Record daily precipitation	76.5 mm (3.0 in)	38 of 100 (Notable)
Newnan 7 WNW	United States	Record daily precipitation	71.1 mm (2.8 in)	38 of 100 (Notable)
Amite	United States	Record daily precipitation	81.0 mm (3.2 in)	38 of 100 (Notable)
Tylertown 5ESE	United States	Record daily precipitation	80.0 mm (3.1 in)	38 of 100 (Notable)
Clearbrook	United States	Record daily precipitation	54.9 mm (2.2 in)	38 of 100 (Notable)
Juazeiro	Brazil	Record daily precipitation	74.7 mm (2.9 in)	37 of 100 (Notable)
Humboldt	Canada	Record daily snowfall	14.0 cm (5.5 in)	37 of 100 (Notable)
Martin Dam	United States	Record daily precipitation	78.2 mm (3.1 in)	37 of 100 (Notable)
Mc Henry 5 ESE	United States	Record daily precipitation	100.3 mm (3.9 in)	37 of 100 (Notable)
Riddle	United States	Record high minimum temperature	12.2 C (54.0 F)	37 of 100 (Notable)
Acude Cruzeta	Brazil	Record daily precipitation	35.3 mm (1.4 in)	36 of 100 (Notable)
Jacobina	Brazil	Record daily precipitation	148.0 mm (5.8 in)	36 of 100 (Notable)
Guanambi	Brazil	Record daily precipitation	70.0 mm (2.8 in)	36 of 100 (Notable)
Camp Hill 2NW	United States	Record daily precipitation	76.2 mm (3.0 in)	36 of 100 (Notable)

Counts by Type and Timescale

651 records

Records set or tied on 21 December 1972 by type: Highest daily maximum 84, Lowest daily maximum 32, Highest daily minimum 146, Lowest daily minimum 42, Heaviest daily rainfall 324, Heaviest daily snowfall 13, Deepest snow cover 10.

Records on 21 December 1972 by type
Record type	Records
Highest daily maximum	84
Lowest daily maximum	32
Highest daily minimum	146
Lowest daily minimum	42
Heaviest daily rainfall	324
Heaviest daily snowfall	13
Deepest snow cover	10

Records on 21 December 1972 by timescale: all-time 2, monthly 25, daily 624.

How Much Records Were Beaten By

536 broken records

Margins by which the 536 broken records beat the old ones, in degrees Celsius for temperature and millimetres for precipitation and snow; the largest margin was 127.0. Ties are not counted.

Top 20 by Significance

21 December 1972

Top 20 records on 21 December 1972 by significance
Date	Station	Record	Value	Beat old record by	Old record stood	Significance
21 December 1972	Monticello, US	daily rain	133.4 mm (5.3 in)	109.8 mm (4.3 in)	64 years	65 of 100 (Major)
21 December 1972	Brookhaven City, US	daily rain	120.1 mm (4.7 in)	84.8 mm (3.3 in)	49 years	61 of 100 (Major)
21 December 1972	Houma, US	daily rain	101.6 mm (4.0 in)	71.1 mm (2.8 in)	54 years	59 of 100 (Notable)
21 December 1972	Sao Jose de Piranhas, BR	daily rain	56.1 mm (2.2 in)	48.6 mm (1.9 in)	47 years	55 of 100 (Notable)
21 December 1972	Bonito de Santa Fe, BR	daily rain	76.9 mm (3.0 in)	76.9 mm (3.0 in)	39 years	54 of 100 (Notable)
21 December 1972	Campo Grande (Augusto Severo), BR	monthly rain	50.4 mm (2.0 in)	19.4 mm (0.8 in)	40 years	53 of 100 (Notable)
21 December 1972	Juchitan de Zaragoza, MX	daily rain	53.8 mm (2.1 in)	53.8 mm (2.1 in)	35 years	53 of 100 (Notable)
21 December 1972	Elba, US	daily rain	155.7 mm (6.1 in)	107.7 mm (4.2 in)	19 years	53 of 100 (Notable)
21 December 1972	Schriever, US	daily rain	83.8 mm (3.3 in)	53.3 mm (2.1 in)	54 years	52 of 100 (Notable)
21 December 1972	Pascagoula 3 NE, US	daily rain	120.1 mm (4.7 in)	97.0 mm (3.8 in)	16 years	50 of 100 (Notable)
21 December 1972	Brantley, US	daily rain	116.1 mm (4.6 in)	70.4 mm (2.8 in)	19 years	49 of 100 (Notable)
21 December 1972	Hammond, US	daily rain	105.9 mm (4.2 in)	70.3 mm (2.8 in)	4 years	49 of 100 (Notable)
21 December 1972	Reserve, US	daily rain	83.8 mm (3.3 in)	53.3 mm (2.1 in)	52 years	49 of 100 (Notable)
21 December 1972	Collins, US	daily rain	129.8 mm (5.1 in)	108.7 mm (4.3 in)	12 years	49 of 100 (Notable)
21 December 1972	Cipo de Leite, BR	daily rain	55.0 mm (2.2 in)	50.7 mm (2.0 in)	26 years	48 of 100 (Notable)
21 December 1972	Paradis 7 S, US	daily rain	83.8 mm (3.3 in)	55.9 mm (2.2 in)	54 years	48 of 100 (Notable)
21 December 1972	Port Gibson 1 NE, US	daily rain	85.6 mm (3.4 in)	34.3 mm (1.4 in)	74 years	48 of 100 (Notable)
21 December 1972	Covington 8 WNW, US	daily rain	103.6 mm (4.1 in)	73.1 mm (2.9 in)	4 years	47 of 100 (Notable)
21 December 1972	Hattiesburg 5SW, US	daily rain	92.7 mm (3.6 in)	58.4 mm (2.3 in)	21 years	47 of 100 (Notable)
21 December 1972	Sumrall, US	daily rain	119.4 mm (4.7 in)	81.6 mm (3.2 in)	21 years	47 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 1972

Records set or tied on this calendar date in each year from 1793 to 1972. 1972 had 651 records.

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

Records on 12-21 in each year
Year	Records
1793	1
1794	1
1799	1
1801	2
1808	3
1825	1
1828	1
1839	1
1846	1
1850	1
1855	7
1859	1
1860	1
1868	1
1870	1
1871	2
1874	2
1875	3
1876	1
1877	1
1878	1
1879	1
1880	1
1884	1
1886	3
1889	1
1890	4
1893	4
1894	1
1895	5
1896	3
1897	3
1898	1
1900	8
1901	15
1902	5
1903	25
1904	3
1905	15
1906	15
1907	17
1908	19
1909	20
1910	29
1911	36
1912	23
1913	11
1914	107
1915	43
1916	40
1917	18
1918	41
1919	57
1920	30
1921	104
1922	34
1923	323
1924	377
1925	120
1926	178
1927	147
1928	70
1929	156
1930	66
1931	556
1932	150
1933	581
1934	230
1935	398
1936	323
1937	189
1938	145
1939	140
1940	622
1941	651
1942	968
1943	148
1944	762
1945	396
1946	495
1947	700
1948	297
1949	1,281
1950	504
1951	1,061
1952	197
1953	256
1954	444
1955	888
1956	672
1957	846
1958	516
1959	272
1960	585
1961	254
1962	563
1963	1,137
1964	613
1965	247
1966	400
1967	1,923
1968	818
1969	828
1970	547
1971	680
1972	651
1973	1,292
1974	374
1975	548
1976	446
1977	470
1978	517
1979	558
1980	726
1981	1,476
1982	702
1983	3,324
1984	1,012
1985	979
1986	404
1987	775
1988	717
1989	3,203
1990	2,701
1991	1,125
1992	751
1993	967
1994	793
1995	878
1996	1,114
1997	810
1998	1,142
1999	851
2000	944
2001	650
2002	579
2003	1,103
2004	675
2005	606
2006	1,443
2007	946
2008	1,062
2009	1,097
2010	2,039
2011	653
2012	759
2013	1,029
2014	878
2015	1,173
2016	543
2017	459
2018	742
2019	755
2020	965
2021	323
2022	528
2023	1,170
2024	778
2025	1,099

Download the Data

Data for records on 1972-12-21: 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 2026-10-14 (14 October 2026). Records are computed by this site and are not official.

Data as of 2026-10-12. Last revised 12 October 2026 (2026-10-12).

Margin	Records
0 to 20	417
20 to 40	56
40 to 60	36
60 to 80	14
80 to 100	7
100 to 120	5
120 to 140	1