Weather Records on 1 January 1978

696 weather records were set or tied worldwide on 1 January 1978. Highest significance: Prairie du Chien, US.

Key Facts for 1 January 1978

On 1 January 1978, 696 weather records were set or tied at long-record stations worldwide.
109 were record highs and 51 were record lows, counting maximum and minimum temperature.
By timescale, 3 were all-time records, 28 monthly and 665 daily.
Prairie du Chien set a daily record snowfall of 30.5 cm (12.0 in) on 1 January 1978.
Across 161 earlier years (1798 to 2026) the same calendar date averaged 487 records.

Record Map

696 stations

696 station records on 1 January 1978 are marked on the map, coloured by record type. Dot size shows the significance score. Made with Natural Earth.

Weather records on 1 January 1978: highest significance records shown on the map
Station	Country	Type	Value	Significance
Prairie du Chien	United States	Record daily snowfall	30.5 cm (12.0 in)	65 of 100 (Major)
Petrolina	Brazil	Record daily precipitation	131.2 mm (5.2 in)	59 of 100 (Notable)
Ludlow	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	77.5 mm (3.1 in)	56 of 100 (Notable)
Gabbin North	Australia	Record daily precipitation	30.5 mm (1.2 in)	55 of 100 (Notable)
Extremadura	Brazil	Record daily precipitation	157.0 mm (6.2 in)	55 of 100 (Notable)
Pretoria-Waterkloof-Cntry	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	90.0 mm (3.5 in)	54 of 100 (Notable)
Illawarra	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	65.5 mm (2.6 in)	54 of 100 (Notable)
Charles City	United States	Record daily snowfall	20.3 cm (8.0 in)	54 of 100 (Notable)
Galesville 2WSW	United States	Record daily snowfall	20.3 cm (8.0 in)	54 of 100 (Notable)
Berlin (Sar)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	58.5 mm (2.3 in)	53 of 100 (Notable)
Yarima	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	60.0 mm (2.4 in)	53 of 100 (Notable)
Bosbokrand (Pol)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	144.0 mm (5.7 in)	53 of 100 (Notable)
Parys (Mun)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	72.0 mm (2.8 in)	52 of 100 (Notable)
Paauhau 217	United States	Record daily precipitation	138.4 mm (5.4 in)	52 of 100 (Notable)
Zwartruggens (Pol)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	69.0 mm (2.7 in)	51 of 100 (Notable)
Coldwater St School	United States	Record daily snowfall	20.3 cm (8.0 in)	51 of 100 (Notable)
Volnovakha	Ukraine	Record daily precipitation	27.8 mm (1.1 in)	50 of 100 (Notable)
Decorah	United States	Record daily snowfall	22.9 cm (9.0 in)	50 of 100 (Notable)
Darlington Wwtp	United States	Record daily snowfall	20.3 cm (8.0 in)	50 of 100 (Notable)
Presidente Prudente	Brazil	Record daily precipitation	94.0 mm (3.7 in)	49 of 100 (Notable)
Hartebeestpoort	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	58.0 mm (2.3 in)	49 of 100 (Notable)
Lugansk	Ukraine	Record daily precipitation	26.6 mm (1.0 in)	49 of 100 (Notable)
Debaltseve	Ukraine	Record daily precipitation	32.9 mm (1.3 in)	48 of 100 (Notable)
Tripoli	United States	Record daily snowfall	16.5 cm (6.5 in)	48 of 100 (Notable)
Pretoria-Burgerspark	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	61.4 mm (2.4 in)	46 of 100 (Notable)
Karaby-Yala	Ukraine	Record daily precipitation	31.0 mm (1.2 in)	46 of 100 (Notable)
Independence	United States	Record daily snowfall	20.3 cm (8.0 in)	46 of 100 (Notable)
Chatham Exp Fa	United States	Record daily snowfall	22.9 cm (9.0 in)	46 of 100 (Notable)
Donkerhoek (Skl)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	76.5 mm (3.0 in)	45 of 100 (Notable)
Dubuque L&D 11	United States	Record daily snowfall	25.4 cm (10.0 in)	45 of 100 (Notable)
Lewiston	United States	Record snow depth	17.8 cm (7.0 in)	45 of 100 (Notable)
Broederstroom (Bos)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	162.0 mm (6.4 in)	44 of 100 (Notable)
Verwoedburg-Mu"Lytteltn"	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	57.5 mm (2.3 in)	43 of 100 (Notable)
Marengo	United States	Record daily snowfall	20.3 cm (8.0 in)	43 of 100 (Notable)
Dalton	United States	Record daily snowfall	25.4 cm (10.0 in)	42 of 100 (Notable)
Janesville	United States	Record daily snowfall	15.2 cm (6.0 in)	42 of 100 (Notable)
Irene	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	55.5 mm (2.2 in)	41 of 100 (Notable)
Jouerdine South	Australia	Record daily precipitation	37.8 mm (1.5 in)	40 of 100 (Notable)
Welbekend	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	82.0 mm (3.2 in)	39 of 100 (Notable)
Nylsvley	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	116.0 mm (4.6 in)	39 of 100 (Notable)
Leslie (Mun)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	105.0 mm (4.1 in)	38 of 100 (Notable)
Stinkhoutboom	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	40.0 mm (1.6 in)	38 of 100 (Notable)
Ottoshoop (Pol)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	39.1 mm (1.5 in)	38 of 100 (Notable)
Northwood	United States	Record daily snowfall	15.2 cm (6.0 in)	38 of 100 (Notable)
Zumbrota	United States	Record daily snowfall	17.8 cm (7.0 in)	38 of 100 (Notable)
Sturgeon Bay Exp Farm	United States	Record daily snowfall	13.0 cm (5.1 in)	38 of 100 (Notable)
Alpena Co Rgnl AP	United States	Record daily snowfall	16.8 cm (6.6 in)	38 of 100 (Notable)
Juazeiro (Pcd)	Brazil	Record daily precipitation	128.4 mm (5.1 in)	37 of 100 (Notable)
Paulista	Brazil	Record daily precipitation	75.1 mm (3.0 in)	37 of 100 (Notable)
Port Dover	Canada	Record daily snowfall	9.0 cm (3.5 in)	37 of 100 (Notable)
Kafferskraal	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	86.0 mm (3.4 in)	37 of 100 (Notable)
Algona	United States	Record daily snowfall	10.2 cm (4.0 in)	37 of 100 (Notable)
Wells	United States	Record daily snowfall	10.2 cm (4.0 in)	37 of 100 (Notable)
Beulah 1 W	United States	Record snow depth	63.5 cm (25.0 in)	37 of 100 (Notable)
Jaicos	Brazil	Record daily precipitation	66.0 mm (2.6 in)	36 of 100 (Notable)
Cata (Bos)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	100.0 mm (3.9 in)	36 of 100 (Notable)
North End	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	46.5 mm (1.8 in)	36 of 100 (Notable)
Pretoria-Fountains	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	61.4 mm (2.4 in)	36 of 100 (Notable)
Saint Ignatius	United States	Record snow depth	38.1 cm (15.0 in)	36 of 100 (Notable)
Clark	United States	Record snow depth	43.2 cm (17.0 in)	36 of 100 (Notable)

Counts by Type and Timescale

696 records

Records set or tied on 1 January 1978 by type: Highest daily maximum 48, Lowest daily maximum 18, Highest daily minimum 61, Lowest daily minimum 33, Heaviest daily rainfall 303, Heaviest daily snowfall 178, Deepest snow cover 55.

Records on 1 January 1978 by type
Record type	Records
Highest daily maximum	48
Lowest daily maximum	18
Highest daily minimum	61
Lowest daily minimum	33
Heaviest daily rainfall	303
Heaviest daily snowfall	178
Deepest snow cover	55

Records on 1 January 1978 by timescale: all-time 3, monthly 28, daily 665.

How Much Records Were Beaten By

592 broken records

Margins by which the 592 broken records beat the old ones, in degrees Celsius for temperature and millimetres for precipitation and snow; the largest margin was 356.0. Ties are not counted.

Top 20 by Significance

1 January 1978

Top 20 records on 1 January 1978 by significance
Date	Station	Record	Value	Beat old record by	Old record stood	Significance
1 January 1978	Prairie du Chien, US	daily snowfall	30.5 cm (12.0 in)	20.3 cm (8.0 in)	59 years	65 of 100 (Major)
1 January 1978	Petrolina, BR	daily rain	131.2 mm (5.2 in)	106.7 mm (4.2 in)	44 years	59 of 100 (Notable)
1 January 1978	Ludlow, ZA	daily rain	77.5 mm (3.1 in)	53.9 mm (2.1 in)	39 years	56 of 100 (Notable)
1 January 1978	Gabbin North, AU	daily rain	30.5 mm (1.2 in)	27.7 mm (1.1 in)	48 years	55 of 100 (Notable)
1 January 1978	Extremadura, BR	monthly rain	157.0 mm (6.2 in)	61.9 mm (2.4 in)	20 years	55 of 100 (Notable)
1 January 1978	Pretoria-Waterkloof-Cntry, ZA	daily rain	90.0 mm (3.5 in)	75.8 mm (3.0 in)	28 years	54 of 100 (Notable)
1 January 1978	Illawarra, ZA	daily rain	65.5 mm (2.6 in)	43.1 mm (1.7 in)	55 years	54 of 100 (Notable)
1 January 1978	Charles City, US	daily snowfall	20.3 cm (8.0 in)	17.0 cm (6.7 in)	20 years	54 of 100 (Notable)
1 January 1978	Galesville 2WSW, US	daily snowfall	20.3 cm (8.0 in)	19.0 cm (7.5 in)	36 years	54 of 100 (Notable)
1 January 1978	Berlin (Sar), ZA	daily rain	58.5 mm (2.3 in)	32.3 mm (1.3 in)	71 years	53 of 100 (Notable)
1 January 1978	Yarima, ZA	daily rain	60.0 mm (2.4 in)	38.9 mm (1.5 in)	47 years	53 of 100 (Notable)
1 January 1978	Bosbokrand (Pol), ZA	daily rain	144.0 mm (5.7 in)	88.1 mm (3.5 in)	44 years	53 of 100 (Notable)
1 January 1978	Parys (Mun), ZA	daily rain	72.0 mm (2.8 in)	30.9 mm (1.2 in)	56 years	52 of 100 (Notable)
1 January 1978	Paauhau 217, US	daily rain	138.4 mm (5.4 in)	62.2 mm (2.4 in)	36 years	52 of 100 (Notable)
1 January 1978	Zwartruggens (Pol), ZA	daily rain	69.0 mm (2.7 in)	50.5 mm (2.0 in)	30 years	51 of 100 (Notable)
1 January 1978	Coldwater St School, US	daily snowfall	20.3 cm (8.0 in)	10.1 cm (4.0 in)	48 years	51 of 100 (Notable)
1 January 1978	Volnovakha, UA	daily rain	27.8 mm (1.1 in)	18.1 mm (0.7 in)	20 years	50 of 100 (Notable)
1 January 1978	Decorah, US	daily snowfall	22.9 cm (9.0 in)	10.2 cm (4.0 in)	67 years	50 of 100 (Notable)
1 January 1978	Darlington Wwtp, US	daily snowfall	20.3 cm (8.0 in)	11.2 cm (4.4 in)	59 years	50 of 100 (Notable)
1 January 1978	Presidente Prudente, BR	daily rain	94.0 mm (3.7 in)	64.0 mm (2.5 in)	31 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

1798 to 1978

Records set or tied on this calendar date in each year from 1798 to 1978. 1978 had 696 records.

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

Records on 01-01 in each year
Year	Records
1798	1
1800	2
1805	1
1806	2
1825	1
1834	1
1843	3
1853	1
1854	2
1855	1
1860	4
1861	1
1864	1
1868	2
1871	4
1875	2
1876	2
1877	3
1878	1
1879	2
1880	2
1881	2
1882	1
1883	4
1887	1
1888	3
1889	5
1890	3
1891	2
1893	4
1895	2
1896	1
1897	3
1898	3
1899	3
1900	4
1901	4
1902	9
1903	1
1904	6
1905	19
1906	15
1907	18
1908	5
1909	17
1910	10
1911	25
1912	34
1913	48
1914	22
1915	63
1916	31
1917	50
1918	134
1919	62
1920	57
1921	121
1922	59
1923	141
1924	357
1925	133
1926	149
1927	112
1928	760
1929	55
1930	310
1931	211
1932	291
1933	50
1934	364
1935	213
1936	302
1937	627
1938	352
1939	425
1940	306
1941	792
1942	661
1943	419
1944	272
1945	459
1946	183
1947	595
1948	954
1949	451
1950	516
1951	367
1952	1,343
1953	197
1954	493
1955	287
1956	306
1957	218
1958	295
1959	424
1960	958
1961	719
1962	491
1963	586
1964	1,319
1965	520
1966	1,138
1967	272
1968	1,010
1969	955
1970	919
1971	811
1972	357
1973	805
1974	1,883
1975	405
1976	855
1977	1,042
1978	696
1979	3,085
1980	408
1981	854
1982	938
1983	736
1984	1,582
1985	1,102
1986	466
1987	1,227
1988	1,086
1989	553
1990	367
1991	707
1992	1,002
1993	788
1994	522
1995	666
1996	1,360
1997	2,601
1998	964
1999	770
2000	701
2001	1,432
2002	795
2003	1,024
2004	638
2005	1,227
2006	1,184
2007	1,540
2008	663
2009	680
2010	816
2011	1,498
2012	1,216
2013	703
2014	545
2015	786
2016	570
2017	594
2018	2,118
2019	865
2020	523
2021	589
2022	2,410
2023	1,652
2024	370
2025	333
2026	848

Download the Data

Data for records on 1978-01-01: 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 2026-10-15 (15 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	487
50 to 100	73
100 to 150	22
150 to 200	7
200 to 250	2
250 to 300	0
300 to 350	0
350 to 400	1