Weather Records on 17 January 1978

1,458 weather records were set or tied worldwide on 17 January 1978. Highest significance: Greenville 6 N, US.

Key Facts for 17 January 1978

On 17 January 1978, 1,458 weather records were set or tied at long-record stations worldwide.
85 were record highs and 242 were record lows, counting maximum and minimum temperature.
By timescale, 57 were all-time records, 79 monthly and 1,322 daily.
Greenville 6 N set an all-time record daily snowfall of 31.8 cm (12.5 in) on 17 January 1978.
Across 168 earlier years (1795 to 2026) the same calendar date averaged 469 records.

Record Map

1,458 stations

1,458 station records on 17 January 1978 are marked on the map, coloured by record type. Dot size shows the significance score. Made with Natural Earth.

Weather records on 17 January 1978: highest significance records shown on the map
Station	Country	Type	Value	Significance
Greenville 6 N	United States	Record daily snowfall	31.8 cm (12.5 in)	75 of 100 (Major)
Poplar Bluff	United States	Record daily snowfall	50.8 cm (20.0 in)	69 of 100 (Major)
Warren 3 S	United States	Record daily snowfall	25.4 cm (10.0 in)	68 of 100 (Major)
Baltimore Customs House	United States	Record daily precipitation	46.5 mm (1.8 in)	67 of 100 (Major)
Shawneetown Old Town	United States	Record daily snowfall	22.9 cm (9.0 in)	66 of 100 (Major)
Santa Quiteria	Brazil	Record daily precipitation	60.2 mm (2.4 in)	65 of 100 (Major)
Fords Ferry Dam 5O	United States	Record daily snowfall	29.2 cm (11.5 in)	63 of 100 (Major)
Munfordville 5 NW	United States	Record daily snowfall	15.2 cm (6.0 in)	63 of 100 (Major)
De Soto	United States	Record daily snowfall	22.9 cm (9.0 in)	63 of 100 (Major)
Williamstown	United States	Record daily snowfall	20.3 cm (8.0 in)	60 of 100 (Major)
Fossil Downs	Australia	Record daily precipitation	118.0 mm (4.6 in)	57 of 100 (Notable)
Petersburg 61 Brg	United States	Record daily snowfall	17.8 cm (7.0 in)	56 of 100 (Notable)
Greensburg	United States	Record daily snowfall	17.8 cm (7.0 in)	56 of 100 (Notable)
Corning	United States	Record snow depth	20.3 cm (8.0 in)	55 of 100 (Notable)
Newburgh L&D	United States	Record snow depth	38.1 cm (15.0 in)	55 of 100 (Notable)
Henderson 8 SSW	United States	Record daily snowfall	17.8 cm (7.0 in)	55 of 100 (Notable)
Union City	United States	Record daily snowfall	12.7 cm (5.0 in)	55 of 100 (Notable)
Louisville Intl AP	United States	Record snow depth	40.6 cm (16.0 in)	55 of 100 (Notable)
Albion	United States	Record daily snowfall	10.2 cm (4.0 in)	54 of 100 (Notable)
Grand Twr 2 N	United States	Record daily snowfall	20.3 cm (8.0 in)	54 of 100 (Notable)
Scottsburg	United States	Record daily snowfall	25.4 cm (10.0 in)	54 of 100 (Notable)
Vincennes 4 E	United States	Record daily snowfall	24.1 cm (9.5 in)	54 of 100 (Notable)
Dale Enterprise	United States	Record snow depth	38.1 cm (15.0 in)	54 of 100 (Notable)
Lebanon 2W	United States	Record daily snowfall	15.2 cm (6.0 in)	53 of 100 (Notable)
Greenville Wtp	United States	Record daily snowfall	16.5 cm (6.5 in)	53 of 100 (Notable)
Jericho Store	Australia	Record daily precipitation	116.0 mm (4.6 in)	52 of 100 (Notable)
Parma Exp STN	United States	Record daily precipitation	26.2 mm (1.0 in)	52 of 100 (Notable)
Mt Carmel	United States	Record daily snowfall	20.3 cm (8.0 in)	52 of 100 (Notable)
Columbus	United States	Record daily snowfall	34.3 cm (13.5 in)	52 of 100 (Notable)
Owensboro Trtmt Plt E	United States	Record snow depth	43.2 cm (17.0 in)	52 of 100 (Notable)
Pierce City	United States	Record daily snowfall	12.7 cm (5.0 in)	52 of 100 (Notable)
Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky I	United States	Record daily snowfall	15.5 cm (6.1 in)	52 of 100 (Notable)
Pittsburgh ASOS	United States	Record daily snowfall	25.9 cm (10.2 in)	52 of 100 (Notable)
Morrisburg	Canada	Record daily snowfall	27.9 cm (11.0 in)	51 of 100 (Notable)
Brookport Dam 52	United States	Record snow depth	33.0 cm (13.0 in)	51 of 100 (Notable)
Golconda River	United States	Record snow depth	35.6 cm (14.0 in)	51 of 100 (Notable)
Mt Vernon	United States	Record daily snowfall	25.4 cm (10.0 in)	51 of 100 (Notable)
Bloomfield	United States	Record snow depth	25.4 cm (10.0 in)	51 of 100 (Notable)
Waynesville 2 W	United States	Record daily snowfall	38.1 cm (15.0 in)	51 of 100 (Notable)
Bradford 4SW Rsch 5	United States	Record daily precipitation	34.0 mm (1.3 in)	51 of 100 (Notable)
Ste Marie (River)	United States	Record daily snowfall	17.8 cm (7.0 in)	50 of 100 (Notable)
Salem	United States	Record daily snowfall	25.4 cm (10.0 in)	50 of 100 (Notable)
Xenia 6 SSE	United States	Record snow depth	30.5 cm (12.0 in)	50 of 100 (Notable)
Bradford 4SW Rsch 5	United States	Record daily snowfall	25.4 cm (10.0 in)	50 of 100 (Notable)
Williamsport Rgnl AP	United States	Record daily snowfall	25.7 cm (10.1 in)	50 of 100 (Notable)
Newburgh L&D	United States	Record daily snowfall	30.5 cm (12.0 in)	49 of 100 (Notable)
New Harmony	United States	Record daily snowfall	33.0 cm (13.0 in)	49 of 100 (Notable)
Tell City	United States	Record snow depth	38.1 cm (15.0 in)	49 of 100 (Notable)
Fords Ferry Dam 5O	United States	Record snow depth	40.6 cm (16.0 in)	49 of 100 (Notable)
Henderson 8 SSW	United States	Record snow depth	40.6 cm (16.0 in)	49 of 100 (Notable)
Mineola	United States	Record daily precipitation	43.4 mm (1.7 in)	49 of 100 (Notable)
Louisville Intl AP	United States	Record daily snowfall	18.8 cm (7.4 in)	49 of 100 (Notable)
Grand Twr 2 N	United States	Record snow depth	33.0 cm (13.0 in)	48 of 100 (Notable)
Frankfort Downtown	United States	Record daily snowfall	24.1 cm (9.5 in)	48 of 100 (Notable)
Leitchfield 2 N	United States	Record daily snowfall	25.4 cm (10.0 in)	48 of 100 (Notable)
Valley Park	United States	Record daily snowfall	12.7 cm (5.0 in)	48 of 100 (Notable)
Spencer 2 N	United States	Record daily snowfall	25.4 cm (10.0 in)	48 of 100 (Notable)
Pittsburgh WSO City	United States	Record daily snowfall	20.6 cm (8.1 in)	48 of 100 (Notable)
Shoals 8 S	United States	Record daily snowfall	24.1 cm (9.5 in)	47 of 100 (Notable)
Oberlin	United States	Record daily snowfall	12.7 cm (5.0 in)	47 of 100 (Notable)

Counts by Type and Timescale

1,458 records

Records set or tied on 17 January 1978 by type: Highest daily maximum 14, Lowest daily maximum 87, Highest daily minimum 71, Lowest daily minimum 155, Heaviest daily rainfall 533, Heaviest daily snowfall 367, Deepest snow cover 231.

Records on 17 January 1978 by type
Record type	Records
Highest daily maximum	14
Lowest daily maximum	87
Highest daily minimum	71
Lowest daily minimum	155
Heaviest daily rainfall	533
Heaviest daily snowfall	367
Deepest snow cover	231

Records on 17 January 1978 by timescale: all-time 57, monthly 79, daily 1,322.

How Much Records Were Beaten By

1,239 broken records

Margins by which the 1,239 broken records beat the old ones, in degrees Celsius for temperature and millimetres for precipitation and snow; the largest margin was 330.0. Ties are not counted.

Top 20 by Significance

17 January 1978

Top 20 records on 17 January 1978 by significance
Date	Station	Record	Value	Beat old record by	Old record stood	Significance
17 January 1978	Greenville 6 N, US	all-time snowfall	31.8 cm (12.5 in)	8.9 cm (3.5 in)	67 years	75 of 100 (Major)
17 January 1978	Poplar Bluff, US	all-time snowfall	50.8 cm (20.0 in)	12.7 cm (5.0 in)	60 years	69 of 100 (Major)
17 January 1978	Warren 3 S, US	daily snowfall	25.4 cm (10.0 in)	19.8 cm (7.8 in)	68 years	68 of 100 (Major)
17 January 1978	Baltimore Customs House, US	daily rain	46.5 mm (1.8 in)	27.4 mm (1.1 in)	100 years	67 of 100 (Major)
17 January 1978	Shawneetown Old Town, US	daily snowfall	22.9 cm (9.0 in)	22.1 cm (8.7 in)	60 years	66 of 100 (Major)
17 January 1978	Santa Quiteria, BR	daily rain	60.2 mm (2.4 in)	56.2 mm (2.2 in)	64 years	65 of 100 (Major)
17 January 1978	Fords Ferry Dam 5O, US	all-time snowfall	29.2 cm (11.5 in)	8.9 cm (3.5 in)	43 years	63 of 100 (Major)
17 January 1978	Munfordville 5 NW, US	daily snowfall	15.2 cm (6.0 in)	15.2 cm (6.0 in)	52 years	63 of 100 (Major)
17 January 1978	De Soto, US	daily snowfall	22.9 cm (9.0 in)	21.6 cm (8.5 in)	54 years	63 of 100 (Major)
17 January 1978	Williamstown, US	daily snowfall	20.3 cm (8.0 in)	16.5 cm (6.5 in)	67 years	60 of 100 (Major)
17 January 1978	Fossil Downs, AU	daily rain	118.0 mm (4.6 in)	78.9 mm (3.1 in)	36 years	57 of 100 (Notable)
17 January 1978	Petersburg 61 Brg, US	daily snowfall	17.8 cm (7.0 in)	17.8 cm (7.0 in)	42 years	56 of 100 (Notable)
17 January 1978	Greensburg, US	daily snowfall	17.8 cm (7.0 in)	12.7 cm (5.0 in)	60 years	56 of 100 (Notable)
17 January 1978	Corning, US	daily snow depth	20.3 cm (8.0 in)	20.3 cm (8.0 in)	72 years	55 of 100 (Notable)
17 January 1978	Newburgh L&D, US	all-time snow depth	38.1 cm (15.0 in)	10.2 cm (4.0 in)	17 years	55 of 100 (Notable)
17 January 1978	Henderson 8 SSW, US	daily snowfall	17.8 cm (7.0 in)	16.5 cm (6.5 in)	38 years	55 of 100 (Notable)
17 January 1978	Union City, US	daily snowfall	12.7 cm (5.0 in)	12.7 cm (5.0 in)	81 years	55 of 100 (Notable)
17 January 1978	Louisville Intl AP, US	all-time snow depth	40.6 cm (16.0 in)	12.7 cm (5.0 in)	11 years	55 of 100 (Notable)
17 January 1978	Albion, US	daily snowfall	10.2 cm (4.0 in)	10.2 cm (4.0 in)	83 years	54 of 100 (Notable)
17 January 1978	Grand Twr 2 N, US	daily snowfall	20.3 cm (8.0 in)	20.3 cm (8.0 in)	36 years	54 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

1795 to 1978

Records set or tied on this calendar date in each year from 1795 to 1978. 1978 had 1,458 records.

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

Records on 01-17 in each year
Year	Records
1795	1
1800	2
1802	1
1804	1
1805	2
1809	1
1812	1
1820	1
1826	2
1828	1
1838	2
1845	3
1854	1
1858	1
1861	1
1864	3
1865	1
1866	1
1869	1
1870	2
1871	1
1874	1
1875	1
1876	2
1877	1
1878	1
1880	1
1881	2
1883	3
1884	1
1885	2
1886	1
1888	1
1889	4
1890	2
1891	4
1893	5
1894	5
1895	3
1896	4
1897	6
1899	5
1900	5
1901	1
1902	4
1903	3
1904	9
1905	2
1906	19
1907	38
1908	10
1909	13
1910	21
1911	49
1912	8
1913	66
1914	13
1915	19
1916	47
1917	32
1918	37
1919	45
1920	148
1921	70
1922	25
1923	122
1924	278
1925	184
1926	118
1927	144
1928	309
1929	118
1930	942
1931	130
1932	489
1933	203
1934	120
1935	444
1936	377
1937	196
1938	323
1939	375
1940	566
1941	644
1942	601
1943	1,086
1944	333
1945	511
1946	1,089
1947	354
1948	613
1949	566
1950	731
1951	535
1952	773
1953	531
1954	632
1955	303
1956	431
1957	1,040
1958	555
1959	760
1960	657
1961	537
1962	625
1963	537
1964	450
1965	1,180
1966	275
1967	423
1968	400
1969	526
1970	931
1971	871
1972	884
1973	1,147
1974	1,327
1975	647
1976	717
1977	2,352
1978	1,458
1979	1,182
1980	601
1981	821
1982	1,899
1983	592
1984	888
1985	988
1986	848
1987	1,375
1988	751
1989	745
1990	1,986
1991	776
1992	958
1993	1,685
1994	1,805
1995	1,186
1996	1,353
1997	791
1998	832
1999	775
2000	1,060
2001	744
2002	505
2003	764
2004	1,245
2005	682
2006	1,055
2007	1,911
2008	1,114
2009	851
2010	876
2011	972
2012	847
2013	643
2014	548
2015	489
2016	458
2017	1,002
2018	1,273
2019	582
2020	828
2021	375
2022	1,022
2023	808
2024	1,585
2025	586
2026	370

Download the Data

Data for records on 1978-01-17: 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	977
50 to 100	166
100 to 150	57
150 to 200	25
200 to 250	12
250 to 300	1
300 to 350	1