Weather Records on 20 March 1974

755 weather records were set or tied worldwide on 20 March 1974. Highest significance: Bowen Downs, AU.

Key Facts for 20 March 1974

On 20 March 1974, 755 weather records were set or tied at long-record stations worldwide.
278 were record highs and 106 were record lows, counting maximum and minimum temperature.
By timescale, 2 were all-time records, 21 monthly and 732 daily.
Bowen Downs set a daily record precipitation of 77.6 mm (3.1 in) on 20 March 1974.
Across 166 earlier years (1808 to 2026) the same calendar date averaged 453 records.

Record Map

755 stations

755 station records on 20 March 1974 are marked on the map, coloured by record type. Dot size shows the significance score. Made with Natural Earth.

Weather records on 20 March 1974: highest significance records shown on the map
Station	Country	Type	Value	Significance
Bowen Downs	Australia	Record daily precipitation	77.6 mm (3.1 in)	60 of 100 (Major)
Daroca	Spain	Record daily precipitation	34.5 mm (1.4 in)	59 of 100 (Notable)
Low Isles Lighthouse	Australia	Record daily precipitation	171.0 mm (6.7 in)	58 of 100 (Notable)
Aurukun Shire Council	Australia	Record daily precipitation	132.0 mm (5.2 in)	56 of 100 (Notable)
Belton (Shadow Vale)	Australia	Record daily precipitation	62.8 mm (2.5 in)	55 of 100 (Notable)
Grauna	Brazil	Record daily precipitation	92.2 mm (3.6 in)	50 of 100 (Notable)
Dois Corregos	Brazil	Record daily precipitation	133.2 mm (5.2 in)	49 of 100 (Notable)
Bauru (Pdv)	Brazil	Record daily precipitation	93.8 mm (3.7 in)	49 of 100 (Notable)
Valencia	Spain	Record daily precipitation	70.5 mm (2.8 in)	49 of 100 (Notable)
Wickenburg	United States	Record daily precipitation	42.7 mm (1.7 in)	49 of 100 (Notable)
Jau	Brazil	Record daily precipitation	131.1 mm (5.2 in)	46 of 100 (Notable)
Albacete Los Llanos	Spain	Record daily precipitation	36.1 mm (1.4 in)	46 of 100 (Notable)
North River Dam	United States	Record daily precipitation	56.9 mm (2.2 in)	46 of 100 (Notable)
Oondooroo	Australia	Record daily precipitation	45.4 mm (1.8 in)	45 of 100 (Notable)
Innsbruck	Austria	Record high minimum temperature	12.7 C (54.9 F)	45 of 100 (Notable)
Piratininga	Brazil	Record daily precipitation	69.3 mm (2.7 in)	45 of 100 (Notable)
Itaju	Brazil	Record daily precipitation	130.5 mm (5.1 in)	44 of 100 (Notable)
Usina Avanhandava (Cpfl)	Brazil	Record daily precipitation	74.0 mm (2.9 in)	44 of 100 (Notable)
Corumbatai	Brazil	Record daily precipitation	92.1 mm (3.6 in)	44 of 100 (Notable)
Ibitiuva	Brazil	Record daily precipitation	93.8 mm (3.7 in)	43 of 100 (Notable)
Monte Alto	Brazil	Record daily precipitation	89.7 mm (3.5 in)	43 of 100 (Notable)
Itirapina	Brazil	Record daily precipitation	87.0 mm (3.4 in)	43 of 100 (Notable)
Bontfontein	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	90.0 mm (3.5 in)	41 of 100 (Notable)
Buckeye	United States	Record daily precipitation	40.4 mm (1.6 in)	41 of 100 (Notable)
Kukuihaele Mill 206	United States	Record daily precipitation	121.2 mm (4.8 in)	41 of 100 (Notable)
Pedro Velho (Dnocs)	Brazil	Record daily precipitation	87.4 mm (3.4 in)	40 of 100 (Notable)
Whiteriver 1 SW	United States	Record daily precipitation	30.7 mm (1.2 in)	39 of 100 (Notable)
Fazenda Barreirinho	Brazil	Record daily precipitation	136.5 mm (5.4 in)	38 of 100 (Notable)
Col du Grand St-Bernard	Switzerland	Record high minimum temperature	-1.6 C (29.1 F)	38 of 100 (Notable)
Walthill 1E	United States	Record daily snowfall	17.8 cm (7.0 in)	38 of 100 (Notable)
Usina Gaviao Peixoto (Cpfl)	Brazil	Record daily precipitation	80.6 mm (3.2 in)	37 of 100 (Notable)
Port Hope	Canada	Record daily snowfall	5.1 cm (2.0 in)	37 of 100 (Notable)
Florence	United States	Record daily precipitation	55.1 mm (2.2 in)	37 of 100 (Notable)
Charters Towers Post Office	Australia	Record low maximum temperature	24.3 C (75.7 F)	36 of 100 (Notable)
Reginopolis	Brazil	Record daily precipitation	142.7 mm (5.6 in)	36 of 100 (Notable)
Sao Manuel	Brazil	Record daily precipitation	100.2 mm (3.9 in)	36 of 100 (Notable)
Chemnitz	Germany	Record high maximum temperature	19.2 C (66.6 F)	36 of 100 (Notable)
Lagoa Branca	Brazil	Record daily precipitation	49.8 mm (2.0 in)	35 of 100 (Notable)
Campo Alegre	Brazil	Record daily precipitation	95.1 mm (3.7 in)	35 of 100 (Notable)
Katherine Council	Australia	Record daily precipitation	27.0 mm (1.1 in)	34 of 100 (Routine)
Groenvlei	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	69.0 mm (2.7 in)	34 of 100 (Routine)
Ekaterinburg	Russia	Record high minimum temperature	0.4 C (32.7 F)	33 of 100 (Routine)
Madison	United States	Record daily precipitation	42.9 mm (1.7 in)	33 of 100 (Routine)
Centerville 6 SE	United States	Record daily snowfall	16.5 cm (6.5 in)	33 of 100 (Routine)
Pecos	United States	Record high minimum temperature	15.0 C (59.0 F)	33 of 100 (Routine)
Canguaretama	Brazil	Record daily precipitation	71.3 mm (2.8 in)	32 of 100 (Routine)
Jefferson City Evap	United States	Record daily precipitation	31.2 mm (1.2 in)	32 of 100 (Routine)
Usina Tres Saltos (Cpfl)	Brazil	Record daily precipitation	114.5 mm (4.5 in)	31 of 100 (Routine)
Acude Tucunduba	Brazil	Record daily precipitation	92.0 mm (3.6 in)	31 of 100 (Routine)
Cheviot Fells	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	30.0 mm (1.2 in)	31 of 100 (Routine)
Ashton 1N	United States	Record low maximum temperature	-3.9 C (25.0 F)	31 of 100 (Routine)
Brookhaven City	United States	Record high minimum temperature	19.4 C (66.9 F)	31 of 100 (Routine)
Macknade Sugar Mill	Australia	Record daily precipitation	157.0 mm (6.2 in)	30 of 100 (Routine)
Ibate	Brazil	Record daily precipitation	73.5 mm (2.9 in)	30 of 100 (Routine)
Usina Pinhal (Eloy Chaves)	Brazil	Record daily precipitation	53.1 mm (2.1 in)	30 of 100 (Routine)
Rio Claro	Brazil	Record daily precipitation	46.7 mm (1.8 in)	30 of 100 (Routine)
Analandia	Brazil	Record daily precipitation	56.1 mm (2.2 in)	30 of 100 (Routine)
Harris	Canada	Record daily snowfall	12.7 cm (5.0 in)	30 of 100 (Routine)
San Carlos	United States	Record daily precipitation	27.9 mm (1.1 in)	30 of 100 (Routine)
Plattsmouth 1E	United States	Record daily snowfall	7.6 cm (3.0 in)	30 of 100 (Routine)

Counts by Type and Timescale

755 records

Records set or tied on 20 March 1974 by type: Highest daily maximum 136, Lowest daily maximum 66, Highest daily minimum 142, Lowest daily minimum 40, Heaviest daily rainfall 337, Heaviest daily snowfall 31, Deepest snow cover 3.

Records on 20 March 1974 by type
Record type	Records
Highest daily maximum	136
Lowest daily maximum	66
Highest daily minimum	142
Lowest daily minimum	40
Heaviest daily rainfall	337
Heaviest daily snowfall	31
Deepest snow cover	3

Records on 20 March 1974 by timescale: all-time 2, monthly 21, daily 732.

How Much Records Were Beaten By

643 broken records

Margins by which the 643 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

20 March 1974

Top 20 records on 20 March 1974 by significance
Date	Station	Record	Value	Beat old record by	Old record stood	Significance
20 March 1974	Bowen Downs, AU	daily rain	77.6 mm (3.1 in)	50.9 mm (2.0 in)	80 years	60 of 100 (Major)
20 March 1974	Daroca, ES	daily rain	34.5 mm (1.4 in)	26.4 mm (1.0 in)	49 years	59 of 100 (Notable)
20 March 1974	Low Isles Lighthouse, AU	daily rain	171.0 mm (6.7 in)	89.2 mm (3.5 in)	83 years	58 of 100 (Notable)
20 March 1974	Aurukun Shire Council, AU	daily rain	132.0 mm (5.2 in)	78.4 mm (3.1 in)	48 years	56 of 100 (Notable)
20 March 1974	Belton (Shadow Vale), AU	daily rain	62.8 mm (2.5 in)	48.3 mm (1.9 in)	21 years	55 of 100 (Notable)
20 March 1974	Grauna, BR	daily rain	92.2 mm (3.6 in)	53.2 mm (2.1 in)	32 years	50 of 100 (Notable)
20 March 1974	Dois Corregos, BR	daily rain	133.2 mm (5.2 in)	101.2 mm (4.0 in)	23 years	49 of 100 (Notable)
20 March 1974	Bauru (Pdv), BR	daily rain	93.8 mm (3.7 in)	57.4 mm (2.3 in)	28 years	49 of 100 (Notable)
20 March 1974	Valencia, ES	monthly rain	70.5 mm (2.8 in)	25.4 mm (1.0 in)	3 years	49 of 100 (Notable)
20 March 1974	Wickenburg, US	daily rain	42.7 mm (1.7 in)	35.1 mm (1.4 in)	12 years	49 of 100 (Notable)
20 March 1974	Jau, BR	monthly rain	131.1 mm (5.2 in)	40.0 mm (1.6 in)	13 years	46 of 100 (Notable)
20 March 1974	Albacete Los Llanos, ES	daily rain	36.1 mm (1.4 in)	33.4 mm (1.3 in)	12 years	46 of 100 (Notable)
20 March 1974	North River Dam, US	daily rain	56.9 mm (2.2 in)	34.8 mm (1.4 in)	40 years	46 of 100 (Notable)
20 March 1974	Oondooroo, AU	daily rain	45.4 mm (1.8 in)	45.4 mm (1.8 in)	60 years	45 of 100 (Notable)
20 March 1974	Innsbruck, AT	daily high min	12.7 C (54.9 F)	2.7 C (4.9 F)	96 years	45 of 100 (Notable)
20 March 1974	Piratininga, BR	daily rain	69.3 mm (2.7 in)	45.1 mm (1.8 in)	28 years	45 of 100 (Notable)
20 March 1974	Itaju, BR	monthly rain	130.5 mm (5.1 in)	37.5 mm (1.5 in)	24 years	44 of 100 (Notable)
20 March 1974	Usina Avanhandava (Cpfl), BR	daily rain	74.0 mm (2.9 in)	49.0 mm (1.9 in)	28 years	44 of 100 (Notable)
20 March 1974	Corumbatai, BR	daily rain	92.1 mm (3.6 in)	59.1 mm (2.3 in)	12 years	44 of 100 (Notable)
20 March 1974	Ibitiuva, BR	daily rain	93.8 mm (3.7 in)	65.8 mm (2.6 in)	12 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

1808 to 1974

Records set or tied on this calendar date in each year from 1808 to 1974. 1974 had 755 records.

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

Records on 03-20 in each year
Year	Records
1808	3
1818	1
1822	2
1830	1
1834	1
1838	1
1845	1
1849	3
1850	1
1852	1
1853	1
1858	1
1862	1
1865	11
1866	1
1870	1
1872	2
1873	1
1874	2
1875	2
1876	2
1879	2
1881	2
1882	2
1883	1
1884	2
1885	3
1886	2
1887	3
1888	5
1889	5
1890	1
1892	1
1893	2
1894	5
1895	2
1896	5
1897	2
1898	5
1899	9
1900	8
1901	6
1902	13
1903	34
1904	12
1905	6
1906	16
1907	17
1908	4
1909	6
1910	20
1911	35
1912	12
1913	42
1914	51
1915	22
1916	46
1917	49
1918	40
1919	31
1920	52
1921	93
1922	49
1923	275
1924	76
1925	121
1926	103
1927	298
1928	258
1929	56
1930	86
1931	492
1932	117
1933	354
1934	243
1935	408
1936	245
1937	220
1938	394
1939	240
1940	486
1941	390
1942	325
1943	378
1944	611
1945	636
1946	435
1947	299
1948	697
1949	352
1950	367
1951	788
1952	589
1953	350
1954	303
1955	719
1956	527
1957	516
1958	467
1959	293
1960	594
1961	332
1962	363
1963	447
1964	525
1965	2,020
1966	367
1967	784
1968	819
1969	374
1970	912
1971	377
1972	635
1973	422
1974	755
1975	932
1976	989
1977	352
1978	863
1979	712
1980	458
1981	712
1982	1,189
1983	1,179
1984	775
1985	636
1986	666
1987	867
1988	1,044
1989	793
1990	1,496
1991	1,205
1992	654
1993	1,014
1994	1,040
1995	857
1996	1,147
1997	1,801
1998	963
1999	793
2000	894
2001	1,048
2002	1,698
2003	1,166
2004	1,701
2005	602
2006	1,353
2007	1,053
2008	993
2009	445
2010	1,264
2011	1,003
2012	3,051
2013	762
2014	800
2015	521
2016	450
2017	1,331
2018	587
2019	530
2020	1,006
2021	487
2022	667
2023	975
2024	520
2025	848
2026	3,126

Download the Data

Data for records on 1974-03-20: 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	624
50 to 100	16
100 to 150	2
150 to 200	0
200 to 250	1