Weather Records on 17 February 1973

821 weather records were set or tied worldwide on 17 February 1973. Highest significance: Sandbackshult, SE.

Key Facts for 17 February 1973

On 17 February 1973, 821 weather records were set or tied at long-record stations worldwide.
118 were record highs and 314 were record lows, counting maximum and minimum temperature.
By timescale, 5 were all-time records, 24 monthly and 792 daily.
Sandbackshult set a monthly record daily precipitation of 34.7 mm (1.4 in) on 17 February 1973.
Across 161 earlier years (1794 to 2026) the same calendar date averaged 496 records.

Record Map

821 stations

821 station records on 17 February 1973 are marked on the map, coloured by record type. Dot size shows the significance score. Made with Natural Earth.

Weather records on 17 February 1973: highest significance records shown on the map
Station	Country	Type	Value	Significance
Sandbackshult	Sweden	Record daily precipitation	34.7 mm (1.4 in)	62 of 100 (Major)
Glenlyon Station	Australia	Record daily precipitation	144.8 mm (5.7 in)	61 of 100 (Major)
Hofmeyer (Mun)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	59.5 mm (2.3 in)	61 of 100 (Major)
Kenhardt (Pol)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	64.0 mm (2.5 in)	60 of 100 (Major)
Griquatown (Tnk)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	50.5 mm (2.0 in)	59 of 100 (Notable)
Britstown (Pol)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	46.5 mm (1.8 in)	58 of 100 (Notable)
Talwood State School	Australia	Record daily precipitation	185.0 mm (7.3 in)	57 of 100 (Notable)
Koffiefontein (Pol)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	65.5 mm (2.6 in)	56 of 100 (Notable)
Dunmurray	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	44.0 mm (1.7 in)	56 of 100 (Notable)
Hatch	United States	Record daily precipitation	26.4 mm (1.0 in)	56 of 100 (Notable)
Diamantina Lakes	Australia	Record daily precipitation	84.3 mm (3.3 in)	53 of 100 (Notable)
Ballinger 2 NW	United States	Record daily snowfall	11.4 cm (4.5 in)	51 of 100 (Notable)
Brakboschpoort	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	58.0 mm (2.3 in)	50 of 100 (Notable)
Tapirai	Brazil	Record daily precipitation	98.5 mm (3.9 in)	49 of 100 (Notable)
Cape St. Francis	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	33.0 mm (1.3 in)	49 of 100 (Notable)
Ubiracu	Brazil	Record daily precipitation	135.0 mm (5.3 in)	48 of 100 (Notable)
Springvalley	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	50.5 mm (2.0 in)	47 of 100 (Notable)
Junction 4SSW	United States	Record daily snowfall	9.4 cm (3.7 in)	47 of 100 (Notable)
Sherwood Park Station	Australia	Record daily precipitation	130.6 mm (5.1 in)	46 of 100 (Notable)
Goombie	Australia	Record daily precipitation	66.0 mm (2.6 in)	46 of 100 (Notable)
Nuwejaarskraal	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	47.5 mm (1.9 in)	46 of 100 (Notable)
Coleman	United States	Record daily snowfall	7.6 cm (3.0 in)	46 of 100 (Notable)
Emu Park Hill St	Australia	Record daily precipitation	172.2 mm (6.8 in)	45 of 100 (Notable)
Charleville Aero	Australia	Record daily precipitation	86.4 mm (3.4 in)	45 of 100 (Notable)
Tanbar Station	Australia	Record daily precipitation	60.2 mm (2.4 in)	44 of 100 (Notable)
Lorraine	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	49.5 mm (1.9 in)	44 of 100 (Notable)
De Aar	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	60.1 mm (2.4 in)	44 of 100 (Notable)
Hobbs	United States	Record daily snowfall	10.2 cm (4.0 in)	44 of 100 (Notable)
Montpelier	United States	Record low minimum temperature	-30.0 C (-22.0 F)	44 of 100 (Notable)
Blanco	United States	Record daily snowfall	7.6 cm (3.0 in)	44 of 100 (Notable)
Bustard Head Lighthouse	Australia	Record daily precipitation	79.2 mm (3.1 in)	42 of 100 (Notable)
Wateranga	Australia	Record daily precipitation	83.8 mm (3.3 in)	42 of 100 (Notable)
Rooisloot	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	55.5 mm (2.2 in)	42 of 100 (Notable)
Irene	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	30.7 mm (1.2 in)	41 of 100 (Notable)
Boerne	United States	Record daily snowfall	5.1 cm (2.0 in)	41 of 100 (Notable)
Brady	United States	Record daily snowfall	5.1 cm (2.0 in)	41 of 100 (Notable)
Forestburg 5 S	United States	Record daily snowfall	5.1 cm (2.0 in)	41 of 100 (Notable)
Cleveland	United States	Record snow depth	30.5 cm (12.0 in)	41 of 100 (Notable)
Longford	Australia	Record daily precipitation	80.0 mm (3.1 in)	40 of 100 (Notable)
Wimbledon	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	79.0 mm (3.1 in)	40 of 100 (Notable)
Peachester	Australia	Record daily precipitation	179.6 mm (7.1 in)	39 of 100 (Notable)
Uniteit	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	90.0 mm (3.5 in)	39 of 100 (Notable)
Mooloolah Post Office	Australia	Record daily precipitation	78.2 mm (3.1 in)	38 of 100 (Notable)
Oranjeoord	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	65.5 mm (2.6 in)	38 of 100 (Notable)
Douglas	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	49.0 mm (1.9 in)	38 of 100 (Notable)
Smythe	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	71.5 mm (2.8 in)	38 of 100 (Notable)
San Angelo	United States	Record daily snowfall	6.1 cm (2.4 in)	38 of 100 (Notable)
Nuwara Eliya	Sri Lanka	Record high maximum temperature	25.4 C (77.7 F)	36 of 100 (Notable)
Silverstreams	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	50.6 mm (2.0 in)	36 of 100 (Notable)
Gail	United States	Record daily snowfall	12.7 cm (5.0 in)	36 of 100 (Notable)
Paint Rock	United States	Record daily snowfall	7.6 cm (3.0 in)	36 of 100 (Notable)
Fir Glen	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	37.5 mm (1.5 in)	35 of 100 (Notable)
Grootfontein 11,	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	29.4 mm (1.2 in)	35 of 100 (Notable)
E Tawas	United States	Record low maximum temperature	-16.1 C (3.0 F)	35 of 100 (Notable)
Spring Creek	Australia	Record daily precipitation	63.8 mm (2.5 in)	34 of 100 (Routine)
Hartebeesthoek	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	51.5 mm (2.0 in)	34 of 100 (Routine)
Addison	United States	Record low minimum temperature	-27.2 C (-17.0 F)	34 of 100 (Routine)
Hico	United States	Record daily snowfall	5.1 cm (2.0 in)	34 of 100 (Routine)
Sloan	United States	Record daily snowfall	10.2 cm (4.0 in)	34 of 100 (Routine)
Vernal	United States	Record low maximum temperature	-10.6 C (12.9 F)	34 of 100 (Routine)

Counts by Type and Timescale

821 records

Records set or tied on 17 February 1973 by type: Highest daily maximum 47, Lowest daily maximum 145, Highest daily minimum 71, Lowest daily minimum 169, Heaviest daily rainfall 303, Heaviest daily snowfall 57, Deepest snow cover 29.

Records on 17 February 1973 by type
Record type	Records
Highest daily maximum	47
Lowest daily maximum	145
Highest daily minimum	71
Lowest daily minimum	169
Heaviest daily rainfall	303
Heaviest daily snowfall	57
Deepest snow cover	29

Records on 17 February 1973 by timescale: all-time 5, monthly 24, daily 792.

How Much Records Were Beaten By

690 broken records

Margins by which the 690 broken records beat the old ones, in degrees Celsius for temperature and millimetres for precipitation and snow; the largest margin was 203.0. Ties are not counted.

Top 20 by Significance

17 February 1973

Top 20 records on 17 February 1973 by significance
Date	Station	Record	Value	Beat old record by	Old record stood	Significance
17 February 1973	Sandbackshult, SE	monthly rain	34.7 mm (1.4 in)	16.1 mm (0.6 in)	26 years	62 of 100 (Major)
17 February 1973	Glenlyon Station, AU	monthly rain	144.8 mm (5.7 in)	69.9 mm (2.8 in)	17 years	61 of 100 (Major)
17 February 1973	Hofmeyer (Mun), ZA	daily rain	59.5 mm (2.3 in)	37.7 mm (1.5 in)	72 years	61 of 100 (Major)
17 February 1973	Kenhardt (Pol), ZA	daily rain	64.0 mm (2.5 in)	45.9 mm (1.8 in)	39 years	60 of 100 (Major)
17 February 1973	Griquatown (Tnk), ZA	daily rain	50.5 mm (2.0 in)	31.4 mm (1.2 in)	72 years	59 of 100 (Notable)
17 February 1973	Britstown (Pol), ZA	daily rain	46.5 mm (1.8 in)	32.8 mm (1.3 in)	72 years	58 of 100 (Notable)
17 February 1973	Talwood State School, AU	daily rain	185.0 mm (7.3 in)	98.6 mm (3.9 in)	40 years	57 of 100 (Notable)
17 February 1973	Koffiefontein (Pol), ZA	daily rain	65.5 mm (2.6 in)	30.2 mm (1.2 in)	82 years	56 of 100 (Notable)
17 February 1973	Dunmurray, ZA	daily rain	44.0 mm (1.7 in)	32.3 mm (1.3 in)	72 years	56 of 100 (Notable)
17 February 1973	Hatch, US	daily rain	26.4 mm (1.0 in)	21.3 mm (0.8 in)	36 years	56 of 100 (Notable)
17 February 1973	Diamantina Lakes, AU	daily rain	84.3 mm (3.3 in)	61.2 mm (2.4 in)	61 years	53 of 100 (Notable)
17 February 1973	Ballinger 2 NW, US	daily snowfall	11.4 cm (4.5 in)	11.4 cm (4.5 in)	75 years	51 of 100 (Notable)
17 February 1973	Brakboschpoort, ZA	monthly rain	58.0 mm (2.3 in)	24.5 mm (1.0 in)	21 years	50 of 100 (Notable)
17 February 1973	Tapirai, BR	daily rain	98.5 mm (3.9 in)	69.2 mm (2.7 in)	23 years	49 of 100 (Notable)
17 February 1973	Cape St. Francis, ZA	daily rain	33.0 mm (1.3 in)	15.0 mm (0.6 in)	34 years	49 of 100 (Notable)
17 February 1973	Ubiracu, BR	daily rain	135.0 mm (5.3 in)	93.5 mm (3.7 in)	19 years	48 of 100 (Notable)
17 February 1973	Springvalley, ZA	daily rain	50.5 mm (2.0 in)	28.1 mm (1.1 in)	37 years	47 of 100 (Notable)
17 February 1973	Junction 4SSW, US	daily snowfall	9.4 cm (3.7 in)	9.4 cm (3.7 in)	75 years	47 of 100 (Notable)
17 February 1973	Sherwood Park Station, AU	daily rain	130.6 mm (5.1 in)	102.2 mm (4.0 in)	12 years	46 of 100 (Notable)
17 February 1973	Goombie, AU	daily rain	66.0 mm (2.6 in)	59.1 mm (2.3 in)	31 years	46 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

1794 to 1973

Records set or tied on this calendar date in each year from 1794 to 1973. 1973 had 821 records.

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

Records on 02-17 in each year
Year	Records
1794	1
1824	1
1827	1
1843	1
1847	2
1849	1
1850	1
1851	1
1852	1
1855	4
1856	1
1858	1
1859	2
1866	2
1867	3
1869	1
1874	1
1876	2
1878	1
1879	2
1880	1
1883	2
1884	1
1885	4
1887	2
1888	1
1891	1
1892	7
1893	1
1894	1
1895	7
1896	6
1897	1
1898	6
1899	3
1900	6
1901	5
1902	16
1903	22
1904	11
1905	9
1906	10
1907	6
1908	9
1909	10
1910	25
1911	27
1912	19
1913	17
1914	41
1915	17
1916	26
1917	38
1918	64
1919	236
1920	39
1921	182
1922	78
1923	69
1924	252
1925	188
1926	145
1927	377
1928	488
1929	234
1930	367
1931	212
1932	390
1933	164
1934	344
1935	150
1936	1,102
1937	295
1938	529
1939	755
1940	330
1941	166
1942	671
1943	542
1944	462
1945	349
1946	341
1947	274
1948	890
1949	436
1950	469
1951	358
1952	394
1953	369
1954	1,009
1955	721
1956	1,082
1957	252
1958	1,806
1959	575
1960	222
1961	734
1962	397
1963	303
1964	184
1965	332
1966	480
1967	611
1968	350
1969	604
1970	1,050
1971	487
1972	750
1973	821
1974	355
1975	1,035
1976	1,421
1977	650
1978	1,452
1979	1,965
1980	954
1981	2,353
1982	732
1983	484
1984	748
1985	622
1986	1,077
1987	659
1988	400
1989	1,026
1990	1,370
1991	771
1992	593
1993	2,102
1994	705
1995	1,387
1996	1,115
1997	841
1998	2,204
1999	697
2000	870
2001	712
2002	863
2003	1,151
2004	880
2005	538
2006	1,621
2007	1,177
2008	1,155
2009	765
2010	1,544
2011	1,615
2012	444
2013	312
2014	832
2015	1,209
2016	842
2017	864
2018	509
2019	1,177
2020	1,047
2021	2,052
2022	1,116
2023	1,581
2024	703
2025	617
2026	954

Download the Data

Data for records on 1973-02-17: 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	647
50 to 100	37
100 to 150	4
150 to 200	1
200 to 250	1