Weather Records on 20 May 1974

893 weather records were set or tied worldwide on 20 May 1974. Highest significance: Surat, IN.

Key Facts for 20 May 1974

On 20 May 1974, 893 weather records were set or tied at long-record stations worldwide.
232 were record highs and 413 were record lows, counting maximum and minimum temperature.
By timescale, 0 were all-time records, 21 monthly and 872 daily.
Surat set a monthly record daily precipitation of 290.1 mm (11.4 in) on 20 May 1974.
Across 162 earlier years (1802 to 2026) the same calendar date averaged 453 records.

Record Map

893 stations

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

Weather records on 20 May 1974: highest significance records shown on the map
Station	Country	Type	Value	Significance
Surat	India	Record daily precipitation	290.1 mm (11.4 in)	74 of 100 (Major)
Cadillac	Canada	Record daily precipitation	83.8 mm (3.3 in)	70 of 100 (Major)
Cherdyn'	Russia	Record daily precipitation	27.3 mm (1.1 in)	61 of 100 (Major)
Mundo Novo	Brazil	Record daily precipitation	45.0 mm (1.8 in)	60 of 100 (Major)
Tugaske	Canada	Record daily precipitation	39.1 mm (1.5 in)	59 of 100 (Notable)
Lustre 4 NNW	United States	Record daily precipitation	43.7 mm (1.7 in)	59 of 100 (Notable)
Ivdel	Russia	Record daily precipitation	29.0 mm (1.1 in)	53 of 100 (Notable)
Alta 1 NNW	United States	Record daily snowfall	13.0 cm (5.1 in)	52 of 100 (Notable)
Chaplin	Canada	Record daily precipitation	59.2 mm (2.3 in)	51 of 100 (Notable)
Lincoln	United States	Record daily precipitation	56.4 mm (2.2 in)	51 of 100 (Notable)
Lima	United States	Record daily snowfall	30.5 cm (12.0 in)	51 of 100 (Notable)
Regina Int'l A	Canada	Record daily precipitation	37.6 mm (1.5 in)	49 of 100 (Notable)
Pennant	Canada	Record daily precipitation	35.1 mm (1.4 in)	49 of 100 (Notable)
Tuttle	United States	Record daily precipitation	68.6 mm (2.7 in)	49 of 100 (Notable)
Porto	Brazil	Record daily precipitation	53.6 mm (2.1 in)	48 of 100 (Notable)
Morris	Canada	Record daily precipitation	47.2 mm (1.9 in)	48 of 100 (Notable)
Valentine Nwr	United States	Record daily precipitation	73.9 mm (2.9 in)	48 of 100 (Notable)
Tuba City	United States	Record low minimum temperature	-10.6 C (12.9 F)	47 of 100 (Notable)
Sharon Springs	United States	Record high minimum temperature	24.4 C (75.9 F)	47 of 100 (Notable)
Drake	United States	Record daily precipitation	35.6 mm (1.4 in)	47 of 100 (Notable)
Winnipeg Richardson Int'l A	Canada	Record daily precipitation	38.4 mm (1.5 in)	46 of 100 (Notable)
Lima	United States	Record snow depth	17.8 cm (7.0 in)	46 of 100 (Notable)
Wibaux 2 E	United States	Record daily precipitation	39.4 mm (1.6 in)	46 of 100 (Notable)
Aneroid	Canada	Record daily precipitation	63.2 mm (2.5 in)	45 of 100 (Notable)
Great Falls	Canada	Record daily precipitation	36.6 mm (1.4 in)	45 of 100 (Notable)
Ft Bidwell	United States	Record low minimum temperature	-4.4 C (24.1 F)	45 of 100 (Notable)
Upham 3 N	United States	Record daily precipitation	38.6 mm (1.5 in)	45 of 100 (Notable)
Lowood Don St	Australia	Record daily precipitation	29.4 mm (1.2 in)	44 of 100 (Notable)
Strasbourg	Canada	Record daily precipitation	54.4 mm (2.1 in)	44 of 100 (Notable)
Lima	United States	Record daily precipitation	26.9 mm (1.1 in)	43 of 100 (Notable)
Serrinha	Brazil	Record daily precipitation	35.0 mm (1.4 in)	42 of 100 (Notable)
Caron	Canada	Record daily precipitation	35.6 mm (1.4 in)	42 of 100 (Notable)
Indian Head Cda	Canada	Record daily precipitation	34.0 mm (1.3 in)	42 of 100 (Notable)
Roadene	Canada	Record daily precipitation	37.8 mm (1.5 in)	42 of 100 (Notable)
Yellowstone Park Mammoth	United States	Record daily snowfall	7.6 cm (3.0 in)	42 of 100 (Notable)
Conda	United States	Record daily snowfall	10.2 cm (4.0 in)	41 of 100 (Notable)
Birdseye	United States	Record daily snowfall	15.2 cm (6.0 in)	41 of 100 (Notable)
Davidson	Canada	Record daily precipitation	27.9 mm (1.1 in)	40 of 100 (Notable)
Kirov	Russia	Record daily precipitation	33.8 mm (1.3 in)	40 of 100 (Notable)
Chinook	United States	Record daily precipitation	33.3 mm (1.3 in)	40 of 100 (Notable)
Fruitland	United States	Record low minimum temperature	-3.9 C (25.0 F)	40 of 100 (Notable)
Cavalier 7NW	United States	Record daily precipitation	45.7 mm (1.8 in)	40 of 100 (Notable)
Kenora A	Canada	Record daily precipitation	31.8 mm (1.3 in)	39 of 100 (Notable)
Gajny	Russia	Record daily precipitation	34.9 mm (1.4 in)	39 of 100 (Notable)
Wildrose 3NW	United States	Record daily precipitation	29.2 mm (1.1 in)	39 of 100 (Notable)
Manti	United States	Record daily snowfall	5.1 cm (2.0 in)	39 of 100 (Notable)
Maracas	Brazil	Record daily precipitation	25.0 mm (1.0 in)	38 of 100 (Notable)
Parshall	United States	Record daily precipitation	30.7 mm (1.2 in)	38 of 100 (Notable)
Beechy	Canada	Record daily precipitation	26.7 mm (1.1 in)	37 of 100 (Notable)
Elatma	Russia	Record low maximum temperature	3.9 C (39.0 F)	37 of 100 (Notable)
Moroni	United States	Record daily snowfall	6.4 cm (2.5 in)	37 of 100 (Notable)
Velikie Luki	Russia	Record low minimum temperature	-2.8 C (27.0 F)	36 of 100 (Notable)
Sells	United States	Record low maximum temperature	16.7 C (62.1 F)	36 of 100 (Notable)
Mackinaw 3WSW	United States	Record daily precipitation	37.1 mm (1.5 in)	36 of 100 (Notable)
Morrison	United States	Record daily precipitation	52.1 mm (2.1 in)	36 of 100 (Notable)
Carson City	United States	Record low minimum temperature	-6.1 C (21.0 F)	36 of 100 (Notable)
Francis	Canada	Record daily precipitation	25.9 mm (1.0 in)	35 of 100 (Notable)
Ft Grant	United States	Record low minimum temperature	3.3 C (37.9 F)	35 of 100 (Notable)
Lahontan Dam	United States	Record low minimum temperature	-3.9 C (25.0 F)	35 of 100 (Notable)
Park River	United States	Record daily precipitation	37.3 mm (1.5 in)	35 of 100 (Notable)

Counts by Type and Timescale

893 records

Records set or tied on 20 May 1974 by type: Highest daily maximum 49, Lowest daily maximum 171, Highest daily minimum 183, Lowest daily minimum 242, Heaviest daily rainfall 217, Heaviest daily snowfall 26, Deepest snow cover 5.

Records on 20 May 1974 by type
Record type	Records
Highest daily maximum	49
Lowest daily maximum	171
Highest daily minimum	183
Lowest daily minimum	242
Heaviest daily rainfall	217
Heaviest daily snowfall	26
Deepest snow cover	5

Records on 20 May 1974 by timescale: all-time 0, monthly 21, daily 872.

How Much Records Were Beaten By

709 broken records

Margins by which the 709 broken records beat the old ones, in degrees Celsius for temperature and millimetres for precipitation and snow; the largest margin was 737.0. Ties are not counted.

Top 20 by Significance

20 May 1974

Top 20 records on 20 May 1974 by significance
Date	Station	Record	Value	Beat old record by	Old record stood	Significance
20 May 1974	Surat, IN	monthly rain	290.1 mm (11.4 in)	241.3 mm (9.5 in)	57 years	74 of 100 (Major)
20 May 1974	Cadillac, CA	monthly rain	83.8 mm (3.3 in)	49.0 mm (1.9 in)	50 years	70 of 100 (Major)
20 May 1974	Cherdyn', RU	daily rain	27.3 mm (1.1 in)	15.7 mm (0.6 in)	57 years	61 of 100 (Major)
20 May 1974	Mundo Novo, BR	daily rain	45.0 mm (1.8 in)	30.8 mm (1.2 in)	49 years	60 of 100 (Major)
20 May 1974	Tugaske, CA	daily rain	39.1 mm (1.5 in)	32.2 mm (1.3 in)	47 years	59 of 100 (Notable)
20 May 1974	Lustre 4 NNW, US	daily rain	43.7 mm (1.7 in)	29.7 mm (1.2 in)	47 years	59 of 100 (Notable)
20 May 1974	Ivdel, RU	daily rain	29.0 mm (1.1 in)	25.0 mm (1.0 in)	32 years	53 of 100 (Notable)
20 May 1974	Alta 1 NNW, US	daily snowfall	13.0 cm (5.1 in)	13.0 cm (5.1 in)	64 years	52 of 100 (Notable)
20 May 1974	Chaplin, CA	monthly rain	59.2 mm (2.3 in)	8.4 mm (0.33 in)	71 years	51 of 100 (Notable)
20 May 1974	Lincoln, US	daily rain	56.4 mm (2.2 in)	36.1 mm (1.4 in)	63 years	51 of 100 (Notable)
20 May 1974	Lima, US	daily snowfall	30.5 cm (12.0 in)	26.7 cm (10.5 in)	37 years	51 of 100 (Notable)
20 May 1974	Regina Int'l A, CA	daily rain	37.6 mm (1.5 in)	15.8 mm (0.6 in)	60 years	49 of 100 (Notable)
20 May 1974	Pennant, CA	daily rain	35.1 mm (1.4 in)	22.1 mm (0.9 in)	35 years	49 of 100 (Notable)
20 May 1974	Tuttle, US	daily rain	68.6 mm (2.7 in)	47.0 mm (1.9 in)	16 years	49 of 100 (Notable)
20 May 1974	Porto, BR	daily rain	53.6 mm (2.1 in)	32.1 mm (1.3 in)	17 years	48 of 100 (Notable)
20 May 1974	Morris, CA	monthly rain	47.2 mm (1.9 in)	4.0 mm (0.16 in)	82 years	48 of 100 (Notable)
20 May 1974	Valentine Nwr, US	daily rain	73.9 mm (2.9 in)	54.6 mm (2.1 in)	16 years	48 of 100 (Notable)
20 May 1974	Tuba City, US	monthly low min	-10.6 C (12.9 F)	5.0 C (9.0 F)	59 years	47 of 100 (Notable)
20 May 1974	Sharon Springs, US	monthly high min	24.4 C (75.9 F)	2.7 C (4.9 F)	77 years	47 of 100 (Notable)
20 May 1974	Drake, US	daily rain	35.6 mm (1.4 in)	28.7 mm (1.1 in)	20 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

1802 to 1974

Records set or tied on this calendar date in each year from 1802 to 1974. 1974 had 893 records.

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

Records on 05-20 in each year
Year	Records
1802	1
1803	1
1804	1
1815	1
1825	1
1837	1
1844	1
1845	3
1847	1
1854	1
1858	3
1861	1
1862	1
1865	1
1867	1
1868	2
1870	3
1871	2
1876	2
1877	3
1879	1
1880	2
1884	2
1885	1
1887	2
1889	3
1890	3
1891	5
1892	3
1893	1
1894	6
1895	3
1896	3
1897	3
1898	4
1899	4
1900	1
1901	5
1902	11
1903	19
1904	4
1905	4
1906	22
1907	35
1908	23
1909	10
1910	20
1911	82
1912	20
1913	10
1914	16
1915	42
1916	29
1917	46
1918	92
1919	56
1920	44
1921	234
1922	40
1923	125
1924	189
1925	251
1926	128
1927	118
1928	138
1929	323
1930	129
1931	451
1932	689
1933	449
1934	582
1935	259
1936	207
1937	270
1938	331
1939	266
1940	337
1941	378
1942	337
1943	802
1944	315
1945	498
1946	339
1947	358
1948	514
1949	586
1950	327
1951	288
1952	615
1953	518
1954	822
1955	421
1956	565
1957	728
1958	378
1959	785
1960	612
1961	333
1962	773
1963	732
1964	517
1965	200
1966	416
1967	587
1968	743
1969	885
1970	310
1971	653
1972	612
1973	419
1974	893
1975	1,332
1976	837
1977	553
1978	534
1979	683
1980	751
1981	1,540
1982	554
1983	1,307
1984	867
1985	426
1986	790
1987	1,036
1988	805
1989	764
1990	722
1991	925
1992	1,200
1993	1,208
1994	778
1995	734
1996	1,749
1997	1,106
1998	1,124
1999	673
2000	991
2001	847
2002	2,299
2003	1,201
2004	746
2005	929
2006	1,006
2007	565
2008	999
2009	1,529
2010	1,011
2011	1,117
2012	604
2013	919
2014	629
2015	1,001
2016	692
2017	1,214
2018	460
2019	1,483
2020	784
2021	904
2022	1,643
2023	1,106
2024	478
2025	969
2026	696

Download the Data

Data for records on 1974-05-20: 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 100	700
100 to 200	6
200 to 300	2
300 to 400	0
400 to 500	0
500 to 600	0
600 to 700	0
700 to 800	1