Weather Records on 18 December 1973

1,008 weather records were set or tied worldwide on 18 December 1973. Highest significance: Red Lodge, US.

Key Facts for 18 December 1973

On 18 December 1973, 1,008 weather records were set or tied at long-record stations worldwide.
153 were record highs and 215 were record lows, counting maximum and minimum temperature.
By timescale, 2 were all-time records, 27 monthly and 979 daily.
Red Lodge set a daily record snowfall of 31.8 cm (12.5 in) on 18 December 1973.
Across 156 earlier years (1793 to 2025) the same calendar date averaged 476 records.

Record Map

1,008 stations

1,008 station records on 18 December 1973 are marked on the map, coloured by record type. Dot size shows the significance score. Made with Natural Earth.

Weather records on 18 December 1973: highest significance records shown on the map
Station	Country	Type	Value	Significance
Red Lodge	United States	Record daily snowfall	31.8 cm (12.5 in)	67 of 100 (Major)
Clare	Australia	Record daily precipitation	135.6 mm (5.3 in)	63 of 100 (Major)
Skaneateles	United States	Record daily snowfall	35.6 cm (14.0 in)	62 of 100 (Major)
Holyoke	United States	Record daily snowfall	12.7 cm (5.0 in)	61 of 100 (Major)
Madison	United States	Record daily precipitation	70.4 mm (2.8 in)	61 of 100 (Major)
Bosbokrand (Pol)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	146.0 mm (5.7 in)	58 of 100 (Notable)
Ft Fairfield 5 NE	United States	Record daily precipitation	48.8 mm (1.9 in)	58 of 100 (Notable)
Reedy Creek Station	Australia	Record daily precipitation	78.7 mm (3.1 in)	56 of 100 (Notable)
Ubobo Store	Australia	Record daily precipitation	134.6 mm (5.3 in)	56 of 100 (Notable)
Cacapava	Brazil	Record daily precipitation	144.8 mm (5.7 in)	54 of 100 (Notable)
Champagne (Naf)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	113.0 mm (4.4 in)	54 of 100 (Notable)
Ripogenus Dam	United States	Record daily precipitation	80.0 mm (3.1 in)	54 of 100 (Notable)
Fleming	United States	Record daily snowfall	10.2 cm (4.0 in)	53 of 100 (Notable)
Stratton	United States	Record daily snowfall	17.8 cm (7.0 in)	53 of 100 (Notable)
De Ruyter 4 N	United States	Record daily snowfall	33.0 cm (13.0 in)	53 of 100 (Notable)
Custer	United States	Record daily snowfall	20.3 cm (8.0 in)	53 of 100 (Notable)
Ft Kent	United States	Record daily precipitation	67.3 mm (2.6 in)	50 of 100 (Notable)
Canastota	United States	Record daily snowfall	35.6 cm (14.0 in)	50 of 100 (Notable)
Canaan	United States	Record daily precipitation	28.7 mm (1.1 in)	50 of 100 (Notable)
Fazenda da Guarda (Parque)	Brazil	Record daily precipitation	87.8 mm (3.5 in)	49 of 100 (Notable)
Mullen 3S	United States	Record daily snowfall	20.3 cm (8.0 in)	49 of 100 (Notable)
Usina Do Chicao	Brazil	Record daily precipitation	81.0 mm (3.2 in)	48 of 100 (Notable)
Iraucuba	Brazil	Record daily precipitation	35.0 mm (1.4 in)	47 of 100 (Notable)
Adamsonsvlei	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	51.6 mm (2.0 in)	46 of 100 (Notable)
Cortland	United States	Record daily snowfall	20.3 cm (8.0 in)	46 of 100 (Notable)
Serowe	Botswana	Record daily precipitation	105.0 mm (4.1 in)	45 of 100 (Notable)
Forsyth 2 E	United States	Record daily snowfall	10.2 cm (4.0 in)	45 of 100 (Notable)
West Burke	United States	Record daily precipitation	31.5 mm (1.2 in)	45 of 100 (Notable)
Kearneysville	United States	Record snow depth	25.4 cm (10.0 in)	45 of 100 (Notable)
Leroy 5 WSW	United States	Record daily snowfall	21.6 cm (8.5 in)	44 of 100 (Notable)
Santa Sofia	Brazil	Record daily precipitation	118.7 mm (4.7 in)	43 of 100 (Notable)
Beaver City	United States	Record daily snowfall	25.4 cm (10.0 in)	43 of 100 (Notable)
Plattsmouth 1E	United States	Record daily snowfall	30.5 cm (12.0 in)	43 of 100 (Notable)
Gilman	United States	Record daily precipitation	27.7 mm (1.1 in)	43 of 100 (Notable)
Scottsbluff W B Heilig Fld AP	United States	Record daily snowfall	13.2 cm (5.2 in)	43 of 100 (Notable)
Monte Verde Paulista	Brazil	Record daily precipitation	102.3 mm (4.0 in)	42 of 100 (Notable)
Ft Collins	United States	Record daily snowfall	15.0 cm (5.9 in)	42 of 100 (Notable)
Breeza (the Park)	Australia	Record daily precipitation	48.8 mm (1.9 in)	41 of 100 (Notable)
Wray	United States	Record daily snowfall	10.2 cm (4.0 in)	41 of 100 (Notable)
Chatham Exp Fa	United States	Record daily snowfall	20.3 cm (8.0 in)	41 of 100 (Notable)
Lyman	United States	Record daily snowfall	30.5 cm (12.0 in)	41 of 100 (Notable)
Kalamare	Botswana	Record daily precipitation	64.5 mm (2.5 in)	40 of 100 (Notable)
Ludlow	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	58.0 mm (2.3 in)	40 of 100 (Notable)
Brassua Dam	United States	Record daily precipitation	55.1 mm (2.2 in)	40 of 100 (Notable)
Lakeport 2	United States	Record daily precipitation	44.5 mm (1.8 in)	40 of 100 (Notable)
Baldwinsville	United States	Record daily snowfall	30.5 cm (12.0 in)	40 of 100 (Notable)
Pindamonhangaba (Pcd)	Brazil	Record daily precipitation	104.6 mm (4.1 in)	39 of 100 (Notable)
Sunbury	United States	Record daily snowfall	20.3 cm (8.0 in)	39 of 100 (Notable)
Chatham	United States	Record snow depth	15.2 cm (6.0 in)	39 of 100 (Notable)
Torrington Exp Farm	United States	Record daily snowfall	20.3 cm (8.0 in)	39 of 100 (Notable)
Usina Gaviao Peixoto (Cpfl)	Brazil	Record daily precipitation	72.1 mm (2.8 in)	38 of 100 (Notable)
Mystic Lake	United States	Record daily snowfall	25.4 cm (10.0 in)	38 of 100 (Notable)
First Connecticut Lake	United States	Record daily precipitation	30.7 mm (1.2 in)	38 of 100 (Notable)
Thomas	United States	Record daily snowfall	20.3 cm (8.0 in)	38 of 100 (Notable)
Floraville Downs Station	Australia	Record daily precipitation	48.3 mm (1.9 in)	37 of 100 (Notable)
Killarney Station	Australia	Record daily precipitation	102.9 mm (4.1 in)	37 of 100 (Notable)
Usina Do Fojo	Brazil	Record daily precipitation	93.6 mm (3.7 in)	37 of 100 (Notable)
Eads	United States	Record daily snowfall	15.2 cm (6.0 in)	37 of 100 (Notable)
Plymouth-Kingston	United States	Record daily precipitation	57.9 mm (2.3 in)	37 of 100 (Notable)
Nashua 2 NNW	United States	Record daily precipitation	41.7 mm (1.6 in)	37 of 100 (Notable)

Counts by Type and Timescale

1,008 records

Records set or tied on 18 December 1973 by type: Highest daily maximum 92, Lowest daily maximum 117, Highest daily minimum 61, Lowest daily minimum 98, Heaviest daily rainfall 401, Heaviest daily snowfall 187, Deepest snow cover 52.

Records on 18 December 1973 by type
Record type	Records
Highest daily maximum	92
Lowest daily maximum	117
Highest daily minimum	61
Lowest daily minimum	98
Heaviest daily rainfall	401
Heaviest daily snowfall	187
Deepest snow cover	52

Records on 18 December 1973 by timescale: all-time 2, monthly 27, daily 979.

How Much Records Were Beaten By

849 broken records

Margins by which the 849 broken records beat the old ones, in degrees Celsius for temperature and millimetres for precipitation and snow; the largest margin was 267.0. Ties are not counted.

Top 20 by Significance

18 December 1973

Top 20 records on 18 December 1973 by significance
Date	Station	Record	Value	Beat old record by	Old record stood	Significance
18 December 1973	Red Lodge, US	daily snowfall	31.8 cm (12.5 in)	21.6 cm (8.5 in)	68 years	67 of 100 (Major)
18 December 1973	Clare, AU	daily rain	135.6 mm (5.3 in)	87.8 mm (3.5 in)	66 years	63 of 100 (Major)
18 December 1973	Skaneateles, US	daily snowfall	35.6 cm (14.0 in)	26.7 cm (10.5 in)	51 years	62 of 100 (Major)
18 December 1973	Holyoke, US	daily snowfall	12.7 cm (5.0 in)	12.7 cm (5.0 in)	79 years	61 of 100 (Major)
18 December 1973	Madison, US	daily rain	70.4 mm (2.8 in)	45.8 mm (1.8 in)	44 years	61 of 100 (Major)
18 December 1973	Bosbokrand (Pol), ZA	daily rain	146.0 mm (5.7 in)	92.2 mm (3.6 in)	43 years	58 of 100 (Notable)
18 December 1973	Ft Fairfield 5 NE, US	daily rain	48.8 mm (1.9 in)	31.0 mm (1.2 in)	46 years	58 of 100 (Notable)
18 December 1973	Reedy Creek Station, AU	daily rain	78.7 mm (3.1 in)	60.9 mm (2.4 in)	51 years	56 of 100 (Notable)
18 December 1973	Ubobo Store, AU	daily rain	134.6 mm (5.3 in)	103.6 mm (4.1 in)	40 years	56 of 100 (Notable)
18 December 1973	Cacapava, BR	all-time rain	144.8 mm (5.7 in)	29.4 mm (1.2 in)	37 years	54 of 100 (Notable)
18 December 1973	Champagne (Naf), ZA	daily rain	113.0 mm (4.4 in)	83.8 mm (3.3 in)	32 years	54 of 100 (Notable)
18 December 1973	Ripogenus Dam, US	monthly rain	80.0 mm (3.1 in)	27.9 mm (1.1 in)	13 years	54 of 100 (Notable)
18 December 1973	Fleming, US	daily snowfall	10.2 cm (4.0 in)	7.7 cm (3.0 in)	75 years	53 of 100 (Notable)
18 December 1973	Stratton, US	daily snowfall	17.8 cm (7.0 in)	16.5 cm (6.5 in)	39 years	53 of 100 (Notable)
18 December 1973	De Ruyter 4 N, US	daily snowfall	33.0 cm (13.0 in)	22.8 cm (9.0 in)	23 years	53 of 100 (Notable)
18 December 1973	Custer, US	daily snowfall	20.3 cm (8.0 in)	15.2 cm (6.0 in)	52 years	53 of 100 (Notable)
18 December 1973	Ft Kent, US	monthly rain	67.3 mm (2.6 in)	16.5 mm (0.6 in)	46 years	50 of 100 (Notable)
18 December 1973	Canastota, US	daily snowfall	35.6 cm (14.0 in)	22.9 cm (9.0 in)	22 years	50 of 100 (Notable)
18 December 1973	Canaan, US	daily rain	28.7 mm (1.1 in)	24.6 mm (1.0 in)	24 years	50 of 100 (Notable)
18 December 1973	Fazenda da Guarda (Parque), BR	daily rain	87.8 mm (3.5 in)	49.4 mm (1.9 in)	26 years	49 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 1973

Records set or tied on this calendar date in each year from 1793 to 1973. 1973 had 1,008 records.

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

Records on 12-18 in each year
Year	Records
1793	1
1796	1
1805	1
1814	1
1825	1
1846	1
1849	1
1852	2
1858	1
1859	4
1862	2
1864	1
1868	1
1873	1
1875	1
1876	2
1878	1
1881	2
1882	1
1884	2
1886	1
1887	1
1888	1
1889	4
1890	5
1892	4
1894	8
1895	1
1897	4
1898	9
1899	3
1900	2
1901	6
1902	33
1903	11
1904	25
1905	3
1906	21
1907	15
1908	16
1909	18
1910	19
1911	9
1912	33
1913	38
1914	20
1915	28
1916	57
1917	62
1918	21
1919	117
1920	77
1921	123
1922	108
1923	378
1924	480
1925	74
1926	173
1927	151
1928	165
1929	366
1930	230
1931	360
1932	353
1933	506
1934	209
1935	138
1936	466
1937	459
1938	185
1939	900
1940	242
1941	213
1942	281
1943	419
1944	191
1945	598
1946	199
1947	266
1948	354
1949	561
1950	289
1951	867
1952	450
1953	373
1954	507
1955	611
1956	333
1957	901
1958	524
1959	477
1960	477
1961	885
1962	759
1963	571
1964	840
1965	402
1966	644
1967	1,105
1968	488
1969	376
1970	502
1971	387
1972	375
1973	1,008
1974	229
1975	625
1976	459
1977	992
1978	946
1979	1,087
1980	772
1981	1,362
1982	537
1983	2,014
1984	1,439
1985	1,384
1986	875
1987	1,505
1988	1,061
1989	1,818
1990	1,367
1991	756
1992	1,045
1993	697
1994	643
1995	1,065
1996	1,833
1997	1,195
1998	863
1999	923
2000	1,572
2001	906
2002	1,437
2003	987
2004	506
2005	987
2006	1,167
2007	746
2008	1,014
2009	1,253
2010	1,322
2011	697
2012	729
2013	513
2014	556
2015	1,254
2016	1,821
2017	516
2018	464
2019	679
2020	326
2021	762
2022	536
2023	1,293
2024	780
2025	994

Download the Data

Data for records on 1973-12-18: 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	728
50 to 100	83
100 to 150	23
150 to 200	7
200 to 250	6
250 to 300	2