Weather Records on 3 January 1974

1,010 weather records were set or tied worldwide on 3 January 1974. Highest significance: Groongal (Groongal Station), AU.

Key Facts for 3 January 1974

On 3 January 1974, 1,010 weather records were set or tied at long-record stations worldwide.
86 were record highs and 497 were record lows, counting maximum and minimum temperature.
By timescale, 2 were all-time records, 20 monthly and 988 daily.
Groongal (Groongal Station) set a daily record precipitation of 59.6 mm (2.3 in) on 3 January 1974.
Across 163 earlier years (1794 to 2026) the same calendar date averaged 488 records.

Record Map

1,010 stations

1,010 station records on 3 January 1974 are marked on the map, coloured by record type. Dot size shows the significance score. Made with Natural Earth.

Weather records on 3 January 1974: highest significance records shown on the map
Station	Country	Type	Value	Significance
Groongal (Groongal Station)	Australia	Record daily precipitation	59.6 mm (2.3 in)	70 of 100 (Major)
Ogilvie	Australia	Record daily precipitation	42.0 mm (1.7 in)	64 of 100 (Major)
Richmond Post Office	Australia	Record daily precipitation	95.6 mm (3.8 in)	60 of 100 (Major)
Kuttabul Post Office	Australia	Record daily precipitation	284.0 mm (11.2 in)	57 of 100 (Notable)
Tsabong	Botswana	Record daily precipitation	101.0 mm (4.0 in)	56 of 100 (Notable)
Mermentau	United States	Record daily precipitation	118.9 mm (4.7 in)	52 of 100 (Notable)
Jennings	United States	Record daily precipitation	89.2 mm (3.5 in)	51 of 100 (Notable)
Dunmurray	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	46.5 mm (1.8 in)	50 of 100 (Notable)
Youanmi Downs	Australia	Record daily precipitation	84.0 mm (3.3 in)	48 of 100 (Notable)
Simmesport	United States	Record daily precipitation	68.6 mm (2.7 in)	48 of 100 (Notable)
Salinas AP	United States	Record daily precipitation	36.8 mm (1.4 in)	48 of 100 (Notable)
Black Lake	United States	Record snow depth	43.2 cm (17.0 in)	47 of 100 (Notable)
Albion Downs	Australia	Record daily precipitation	63.0 mm (2.5 in)	46 of 100 (Notable)
Versailles	United States	Record snow depth	27.9 cm (11.0 in)	46 of 100 (Notable)
Hays 1 S	United States	Record snow depth	30.5 cm (12.0 in)	45 of 100 (Notable)
Vitoria da Conquista	Brazil	Record daily precipitation	56.0 mm (2.2 in)	44 of 100 (Notable)
Natchez	United States	Record daily precipitation	104.1 mm (4.1 in)	44 of 100 (Notable)
Kenmac Station	Australia	Record daily precipitation	110.4 mm (4.3 in)	43 of 100 (Notable)
Bloomfield 3 SE	United States	Record snow depth	20.3 cm (8.0 in)	43 of 100 (Notable)
Valmora	United States	Record snow depth	22.9 cm (9.0 in)	43 of 100 (Notable)
Brakpan	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	64.0 mm (2.5 in)	42 of 100 (Notable)
Desert Nwr	United States	Record low minimum temperature	-17.8 C (0.0 F)	42 of 100 (Notable)
Castro Alves	Brazil	Record daily precipitation	56.2 mm (2.2 in)	41 of 100 (Notable)
Ladybrand (Bos)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	31.5 mm (1.2 in)	41 of 100 (Notable)
Eldon	United States	Record snow depth	25.4 cm (10.0 in)	41 of 100 (Notable)
Magdalena	United States	Record daily snowfall	10.2 cm (4.0 in)	41 of 100 (Notable)
Champoton (Smn)	Mexico	Record daily precipitation	45.0 mm (1.8 in)	40 of 100 (Notable)
Menard	United States	Record low maximum temperature	-3.9 C (25.0 F)	40 of 100 (Notable)
Clontarf Farm	Australia	Record daily precipitation	50.8 mm (2.0 in)	39 of 100 (Notable)
Pajingo	Australia	Record daily precipitation	56.0 mm (2.2 in)	39 of 100 (Notable)
Wentworth (Burtundy)	Australia	Record daily precipitation	30.4 mm (1.2 in)	39 of 100 (Notable)
Brakkies	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	35.5 mm (1.4 in)	39 of 100 (Notable)
Maraisburg (Gm)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	54.5 mm (2.1 in)	39 of 100 (Notable)
Santa Cruz	United States	Record daily precipitation	43.2 mm (1.7 in)	39 of 100 (Notable)
Stony Gorge Rsvr	United States	Record daily snowfall	11.4 cm (4.5 in)	39 of 100 (Notable)
Port Gibson 1 NE	United States	Record daily precipitation	93.0 mm (3.7 in)	39 of 100 (Notable)
Calen Post Office	Australia	Record daily precipitation	211.6 mm (8.3 in)	38 of 100 (Notable)
Grand Coteau	United States	Record daily precipitation	61.0 mm (2.4 in)	38 of 100 (Notable)
Bernalillo	United States	Record low maximum temperature	-6.1 C (21.0 F)	38 of 100 (Notable)
Chatsworth	Australia	Record daily precipitation	48.8 mm (1.9 in)	37 of 100 (Notable)
Medicine Lodge	United States	Record daily snowfall	12.7 cm (5.0 in)	37 of 100 (Notable)
Elk	United States	Record low maximum temperature	-5.6 C (21.9 F)	37 of 100 (Notable)
Eads	United States	Record snow depth	20.3 cm (8.0 in)	36 of 100 (Notable)
Rosewood	Australia	Record daily precipitation	72.4 mm (2.9 in)	35 of 100 (Notable)
Monterey	United States	Record daily precipitation	27.9 mm (1.1 in)	35 of 100 (Notable)
Julesburg	United States	Record low maximum temperature	-12.8 C (9.0 F)	35 of 100 (Notable)
Argyle Downs	Australia	Record daily precipitation	51.0 mm (2.0 in)	34 of 100 (Routine)
Ellendale	Australia	Record daily precipitation	71.2 mm (2.8 in)	34 of 100 (Routine)
Hackberry 8 SSW	United States	Record daily precipitation	46.5 mm (1.8 in)	34 of 100 (Routine)
Saint Ignatius	United States	Record low minimum temperature	-30.0 C (-22.0 F)	34 of 100 (Routine)
Las Vegas 2 NW	United States	Record low maximum temperature	-11.7 C (10.9 F)	34 of 100 (Routine)
Follett	United States	Record snow depth	17.8 cm (7.0 in)	34 of 100 (Routine)
Wyberba	Australia	Record daily precipitation	151.0 mm (5.9 in)	33 of 100 (Routine)
Mildura SE	Australia	Record daily precipitation	28.4 mm (1.1 in)	33 of 100 (Routine)
Palmiet, Kokstad	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	43.9 mm (1.7 in)	33 of 100 (Routine)
Ontonagon	United States	Record low minimum temperature	-26.7 C (-16.1 F)	33 of 100 (Routine)
Fulton	United States	Record snow depth	20.3 cm (8.0 in)	33 of 100 (Routine)
Shawano 2SSW	United States	Record low minimum temperature	-26.7 C (-16.1 F)	33 of 100 (Routine)
Essex Downs Station	Australia	Record daily precipitation	57.0 mm (2.2 in)	32 of 100 (Routine)
Gargett Post Office	Australia	Record daily precipitation	129.4 mm (5.1 in)	32 of 100 (Routine)

Counts by Type and Timescale

1,010 records

Records set or tied on 3 January 1974 by type: Highest daily maximum 38, Lowest daily maximum 302, Highest daily minimum 48, Lowest daily minimum 195, Heaviest daily rainfall 298, Heaviest daily snowfall 47, Deepest snow cover 82.

Records on 3 January 1974 by type
Record type	Records
Highest daily maximum	38
Lowest daily maximum	302
Highest daily minimum	48
Lowest daily minimum	195
Heaviest daily rainfall	298
Heaviest daily snowfall	47
Deepest snow cover	82

Records on 3 January 1974 by timescale: all-time 2, monthly 20, daily 988.

How Much Records Were Beaten By

834 broken records

Margins by which the 834 broken records beat the old ones, in degrees Celsius for temperature and millimetres for precipitation and snow; the largest margin was 229.0. Ties are not counted.

Top 20 by Significance

3 January 1974

Top 20 records on 3 January 1974 by significance
Date	Station	Record	Value	Beat old record by	Old record stood	Significance
3 January 1974	Groongal (Groongal Station), AU	daily rain	59.6 mm (2.3 in)	37.8 mm (1.5 in)	84 years	70 of 100 (Major)
3 January 1974	Ogilvie, AU	daily rain	42.0 mm (1.7 in)	42.0 mm (1.7 in)	63 years	64 of 100 (Major)
3 January 1974	Richmond Post Office, AU	daily rain	95.6 mm (3.8 in)	69.7 mm (2.7 in)	52 years	60 of 100 (Major)
3 January 1974	Kuttabul Post Office, AU	daily rain	284.0 mm (11.2 in)	221.5 mm (8.7 in)	44 years	57 of 100 (Notable)
3 January 1974	Tsabong, BW	monthly rain	101.0 mm (4.0 in)	53.3 mm (2.1 in)	12 years	56 of 100 (Notable)
3 January 1974	Mermentau, US	daily rain	118.9 mm (4.7 in)	77.8 mm (3.1 in)	30 years	52 of 100 (Notable)
3 January 1974	Jennings, US	daily rain	89.2 mm (3.5 in)	61.8 mm (2.4 in)	48 years	51 of 100 (Notable)
3 January 1974	Dunmurray, ZA	daily rain	46.5 mm (1.8 in)	33.8 mm (1.3 in)	44 years	50 of 100 (Notable)
3 January 1974	Youanmi Downs, AU	monthly rain	84.0 mm (3.3 in)	30.2 mm (1.2 in)	28 years	48 of 100 (Notable)
3 January 1974	Simmesport, US	daily rain	68.6 mm (2.7 in)	40.7 mm (1.6 in)	64 years	48 of 100 (Notable)
3 January 1974	Salinas AP, US	daily rain	36.8 mm (1.4 in)	28.4 mm (1.1 in)	30 years	48 of 100 (Notable)
3 January 1974	Black Lake, US	daily snow depth	43.2 cm (17.0 in)	22.9 cm (9.0 in)	14 years	47 of 100 (Notable)
3 January 1974	Albion Downs, AU	daily rain	63.0 mm (2.5 in)	63.0 mm (2.5 in)	48 years	46 of 100 (Notable)
3 January 1974	Versailles, US	daily snow depth	27.9 cm (11.0 in)	15.2 cm (6.0 in)	34 years	46 of 100 (Notable)
3 January 1974	Hays 1 S, US	daily snow depth	30.5 cm (12.0 in)	12.7 cm (5.0 in)	55 years	45 of 100 (Notable)
3 January 1974	Vitoria da Conquista, BR	daily rain	56.0 mm (2.2 in)	37.5 mm (1.5 in)	32 years	44 of 100 (Notable)
3 January 1974	Natchez, US	daily rain	104.1 mm (4.1 in)	40.6 mm (1.6 in)	48 years	44 of 100 (Notable)
3 January 1974	Kenmac Station, AU	daily rain	110.4 mm (4.3 in)	51.2 mm (2.0 in)	36 years	43 of 100 (Notable)
3 January 1974	Bloomfield 3 SE, US	daily snow depth	20.3 cm (8.0 in)	7.6 cm (3.0 in)	55 years	43 of 100 (Notable)
3 January 1974	Valmora, US	daily snow depth	22.9 cm (9.0 in)	10.2 cm (4.0 in)	55 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

1794 to 1974

Records set or tied on this calendar date in each year from 1794 to 1974. 1974 had 1,010 records.

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

Records on 01-03 in each year
Year	Records
1794	1
1798	1
1800	1
1823	2
1825	1
1830	2
1839	1
1848	1
1853	1
1860	2
1861	1
1864	1
1867	2
1868	2
1871	2
1873	1
1874	2
1876	2
1877	3
1878	1
1879	2
1882	2
1883	3
1884	1
1886	4
1887	5
1888	3
1889	4
1890	3
1891	4
1892	1
1893	1
1894	1
1895	3
1896	1
1897	3
1899	2
1900	15
1901	4
1902	15
1903	17
1904	51
1905	12
1906	13
1907	26
1908	8
1909	11
1910	23
1911	40
1912	26
1913	83
1914	33
1915	29
1916	60
1917	52
1918	80
1919	54
1920	31
1921	139
1922	80
1923	46
1924	222
1925	139
1926	268
1927	235
1928	412
1929	58
1930	160
1931	100
1932	167
1933	160
1934	208
1935	249
1936	404
1937	291
1938	139
1939	498
1940	312
1941	595
1942	505
1943	508
1944	361
1945	148
1946	171
1947	662
1948	462
1949	910
1950	2,025
1951	459
1952	587
1953	241
1954	370
1955	443
1956	188
1957	177
1958	326
1959	861
1960	431
1961	543
1962	802
1963	494
1964	513
1965	492
1966	885
1967	247
1968	582
1969	516
1970	749
1971	1,280
1972	313
1973	623
1974	1,010
1975	710
1976	524
1977	790
1978	745
1979	2,417
1980	470
1981	1,401
1982	1,380
1983	921
1984	983
1985	739
1986	676
1987	843
1988	1,034
1989	740
1990	467
1991	1,077
1992	1,200
1993	910
1994	902
1995	726
1996	2,085
1997	3,676
1998	1,434
1999	1,568
2000	2,063
2001	1,385
2002	1,307
2003	981
2004	1,406
2005	1,157
2006	1,472
2007	1,396
2008	948
2009	682
2010	1,337
2011	681
2012	956
2013	496
2014	1,029
2015	869
2016	605
2017	1,053
2018	1,444
2019	474
2020	772
2021	476
2022	989
2023	1,318
2024	734
2025	653
2026	902

Download the Data

Data for records on 1974-01-03: 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 50	782
50 to 100	35
100 to 150	12
150 to 200	3
200 to 250	2