Weather Records on 31 January 1978

844 weather records were set or tied worldwide on 31 January 1978. Highest significance: Balmoral Station, AU.

Key Facts for 31 January 1978

On 31 January 1978, 844 weather records were set or tied at long-record stations worldwide.
102 were record highs and 72 were record lows, counting maximum and minimum temperature.
By timescale, 44 were all-time records, 40 monthly and 760 daily.
Balmoral Station set an all-time record daily precipitation of 407.6 mm (16.0 in) on 31 January 1978.
Across 162 earlier years (1800 to 2026) the same calendar date averaged 500 records.

Record Map

844 stations

844 station records on 31 January 1978 are marked on the map, coloured by record type. Dot size shows the significance score. Made with Natural Earth.

Weather records on 31 January 1978: highest significance records shown on the map
Station	Country	Type	Value	Significance
Balmoral Station	Australia	Record daily precipitation	407.6 mm (16.0 in)	79 of 100 (Major)
Woodhouse	Australia	Record daily precipitation	392.0 mm (15.4 in)	76 of 100 (Major)
Voewood	Australia	Record daily precipitation	363.0 mm (14.3 in)	76 of 100 (Major)
Thangool Airport	Australia	Record daily precipitation	199.6 mm (7.9 in)	75 of 100 (Major)
Clare	Australia	Record daily precipitation	321.8 mm (12.7 in)	73 of 100 (Major)
Yaamba	Australia	Record daily precipitation	208.4 mm (8.2 in)	68 of 100 (Major)
Calliope Station	Australia	Record daily precipitation	243.4 mm (9.6 in)	68 of 100 (Major)
Gracemere Russell St	Australia	Record daily precipitation	200.0 mm (7.9 in)	68 of 100 (Major)
Montpelier	United States	Record snow depth	50.8 cm (20.0 in)	68 of 100 (Major)
Homestead	Australia	Record daily precipitation	189.0 mm (7.4 in)	67 of 100 (Major)
Banana Post Office	Australia	Record daily precipitation	93.0 mm (3.7 in)	66 of 100 (Major)
Kokomo 3 WSW	United States	Record snow depth	58.4 cm (23.0 in)	65 of 100 (Major)
Fernlees Post Office	Australia	Record daily precipitation	134.0 mm (5.3 in)	64 of 100 (Major)
Darts Creek	Australia	Record daily precipitation	246.0 mm (9.7 in)	64 of 100 (Major)
Tarcutta (Wollumbi)	Australia	Record daily precipitation	97.1 mm (3.8 in)	64 of 100 (Major)
Yabulu Qld Nickel	Australia	Record daily precipitation	200.0 mm (7.9 in)	60 of 100 (Major)
Kiev	Ukraine	Record daily precipitation	26.8 mm (1.1 in)	59 of 100 (Notable)
Bundabaroo	Australia	Record daily precipitation	210.6 mm (8.3 in)	58 of 100 (Notable)
Bajool Post Office	Australia	Record daily precipitation	310.0 mm (12.2 in)	56 of 100 (Notable)
Fords Ferry Dam 5O	United States	Record snow depth	25.4 cm (10.0 in)	55 of 100 (Notable)
Strathmore	Australia	Record daily precipitation	153.2 mm (6.0 in)	54 of 100 (Notable)
Euabalong (Lachlan St)	Australia	Record daily precipitation	49.2 mm (1.9 in)	54 of 100 (Notable)
Greencastle 1 W	United States	Record snow depth	43.2 cm (17.0 in)	54 of 100 (Notable)
Delphi 2 N	United States	Record snow depth	30.5 cm (12.0 in)	53 of 100 (Notable)
Hastings	United States	Record snow depth	61.0 cm (24.0 in)	53 of 100 (Notable)
Melrose	United States	Record daily snowfall	10.7 cm (4.2 in)	53 of 100 (Notable)
Tiffin	United States	Record snow depth	50.8 cm (20.0 in)	53 of 100 (Notable)
Shirbourne Park	Australia	Record daily precipitation	366.4 mm (14.4 in)	52 of 100 (Notable)
Strathbogie	Australia	Record daily precipitation	182.0 mm (7.2 in)	52 of 100 (Notable)
Mannersley	Australia	Record daily precipitation	361.0 mm (14.2 in)	52 of 100 (Notable)
Giru Post Office	Australia	Record daily precipitation	341.1 mm (13.4 in)	51 of 100 (Notable)
Clovis	United States	Record daily snowfall	10.2 cm (4.0 in)	51 of 100 (Notable)
Banksia Station	Australia	Record daily precipitation	180.6 mm (7.1 in)	50 of 100 (Notable)
Rannes Railway Station	Australia	Record daily precipitation	92.0 mm (3.6 in)	50 of 100 (Notable)
Bellata Post Office	Australia	Record daily precipitation	77.0 mm (3.0 in)	50 of 100 (Notable)
Blayney Post Office	Australia	Record daily precipitation	94.8 mm (3.7 in)	50 of 100 (Notable)
Tabou	Cote D'Ivoire	Record daily precipitation	78.8 mm (3.1 in)	50 of 100 (Notable)
Mingela Post Office	Australia	Record daily precipitation	180.0 mm (7.1 in)	49 of 100 (Notable)
Mount McConnell	Australia	Record daily precipitation	73.0 mm (2.9 in)	49 of 100 (Notable)
Moonmera	Australia	Record daily precipitation	170.4 mm (6.7 in)	49 of 100 (Notable)
Moura Post Office	Australia	Record daily precipitation	98.4 mm (3.9 in)	49 of 100 (Notable)
Coalstoun Lakes	Australia	Record daily precipitation	125.2 mm (4.9 in)	49 of 100 (Notable)
Fanning River Station	Australia	Record daily precipitation	85.6 mm (3.4 in)	48 of 100 (Notable)
Dallarnil Telephone Exch	Australia	Record daily precipitation	106.6 mm (4.2 in)	48 of 100 (Notable)
Lockport Lock 2	United States	Record snow depth	30.5 cm (12.0 in)	48 of 100 (Notable)
San Jon	United States	Record daily snowfall	8.1 cm (3.2 in)	48 of 100 (Notable)
Killarney Station	Australia	Record daily precipitation	201.2 mm (7.9 in)	47 of 100 (Notable)
Glenlands	Australia	Record daily precipitation	216.0 mm (8.5 in)	47 of 100 (Notable)
Dungog Post Office	Australia	Record daily precipitation	71.2 mm (2.8 in)	47 of 100 (Notable)
Plymouth Pwr Substn	United States	Record snow depth	63.5 cm (25.0 in)	47 of 100 (Notable)
Albion	United States	Record snow depth	58.4 cm (23.0 in)	47 of 100 (Notable)
Dexter	United States	Record snow depth	15.2 cm (6.0 in)	47 of 100 (Notable)
Ft Sumner	United States	Record daily snowfall	8.6 cm (3.4 in)	47 of 100 (Notable)
Townsville Aero	Australia	Record daily precipitation	273.4 mm (10.8 in)	46 of 100 (Notable)
Jambin Post Office	Australia	Record daily precipitation	152.0 mm (6.0 in)	46 of 100 (Notable)
The Hirsel	Australia	Record daily precipitation	134.4 mm (5.3 in)	46 of 100 (Notable)
Rockley	Australia	Record daily precipitation	158.0 mm (6.2 in)	46 of 100 (Notable)
Attunga (Garthowen)	Australia	Record daily precipitation	61.6 mm (2.4 in)	46 of 100 (Notable)
Dimmitt 6 E	United States	Record daily snowfall	12.7 cm (5.0 in)	46 of 100 (Notable)
Southport Ridgeway Ave	Australia	Record daily precipitation	103.1 mm (4.1 in)	45 of 100 (Notable)

Counts by Type and Timescale

844 records

Records set or tied on 31 January 1978 by type: Highest daily maximum 21, Lowest daily maximum 42, Highest daily minimum 81, Lowest daily minimum 30, Heaviest daily rainfall 360, Heaviest daily snowfall 65, Deepest snow cover 245.

Records on 31 January 1978 by type
Record type	Records
Highest daily maximum	21
Lowest daily maximum	42
Highest daily minimum	81
Lowest daily minimum	30
Heaviest daily rainfall	360
Heaviest daily snowfall	65
Deepest snow cover	245

Records on 31 January 1978 by timescale: all-time 44, monthly 40, daily 760.

How Much Records Were Beaten By

665 broken records

Margins by which the 665 broken records beat the old ones, in degrees Celsius for temperature and millimetres for precipitation and snow; the largest margin was 432.0. Ties are not counted.

Top 20 by Significance

31 January 1978

Top 20 records on 31 January 1978 by significance
Date	Station	Record	Value	Beat old record by	Old record stood	Significance
31 January 1978	Balmoral Station, AU	all-time rain	407.6 mm (16.0 in)	102.8 mm (4.0 in)	48 years	79 of 100 (Major)
31 January 1978	Woodhouse, AU	monthly rain	392.0 mm (15.4 in)	153.7 mm (6.1 in)	61 years	76 of 100 (Major)
31 January 1978	Voewood, AU	all-time rain	363.0 mm (14.3 in)	109.0 mm (4.3 in)	35 years	76 of 100 (Major)
31 January 1978	Thangool Airport, AU	all-time rain	199.6 mm (7.9 in)	92.2 mm (3.6 in)	35 years	75 of 100 (Major)
31 January 1978	Clare, AU	all-time rain	321.8 mm (12.7 in)	118.9 mm (4.7 in)	22 years	73 of 100 (Major)
31 January 1978	Yaamba, AU	daily rain	208.4 mm (8.2 in)	134.7 mm (5.3 in)	68 years	68 of 100 (Major)
31 January 1978	Calliope Station, AU	monthly rain	243.4 mm (9.6 in)	69.2 mm (2.7 in)	60 years	68 of 100 (Major)
31 January 1978	Gracemere Russell St, AU	daily rain	200.0 mm (7.9 in)	131.4 mm (5.2 in)	68 years	68 of 100 (Major)
31 January 1978	Montpelier, US	daily snow depth	50.8 cm (20.0 in)	25.4 cm (10.0 in)	80 years	68 of 100 (Major)
31 January 1978	Homestead, AU	daily rain	189.0 mm (7.4 in)	134.6 mm (5.3 in)	68 years	67 of 100 (Major)
31 January 1978	Banana Post Office, AU	daily rain	93.0 mm (3.7 in)	53.6 mm (2.1 in)	84 years	66 of 100 (Major)
31 January 1978	Kokomo 3 WSW, US	daily snow depth	58.4 cm (23.0 in)	30.5 cm (12.0 in)	74 years	65 of 100 (Major)
31 January 1978	Fernlees Post Office, AU	daily rain	134.0 mm (5.3 in)	97.9 mm (3.9 in)	60 years	64 of 100 (Major)
31 January 1978	Darts Creek, AU	monthly rain	246.0 mm (9.7 in)	136.8 mm (5.4 in)	35 years	64 of 100 (Major)
31 January 1978	Tarcutta (Wollumbi), AU	monthly rain	97.1 mm (3.8 in)	25.0 mm (1.0 in)	81 years	64 of 100 (Major)
31 January 1978	Yabulu Qld Nickel, AU	daily rain	200.0 mm (7.9 in)	115.2 mm (4.5 in)	58 years	60 of 100 (Major)
31 January 1978	Kiev, UA	daily rain	26.8 mm (1.1 in)	12.8 mm (0.5 in)	48 years	59 of 100 (Notable)
31 January 1978	Bundabaroo, AU	monthly rain	210.6 mm (8.3 in)	89.9 mm (3.5 in)	10 years	58 of 100 (Notable)
31 January 1978	Bajool Post Office, AU	monthly rain	310.0 mm (12.2 in)	78.6 mm (3.1 in)	48 years	56 of 100 (Notable)
31 January 1978	Fords Ferry Dam 5O, US	daily snow depth	25.4 cm (10.0 in)	20.3 cm (8.0 in)	38 years	55 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

1800 to 1978

Records set or tied on this calendar date in each year from 1800 to 1978. 1978 had 844 records.

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

Records on 01-31 in each year
Year	Records
1800	1
1801	1
1830	2
1843	1
1846	1
1850	1
1852	1
1853	2
1854	2
1862	1
1863	2
1868	1
1869	2
1870	1
1873	1
1875	1
1877	1
1878	2
1880	1
1882	1
1883	1
1884	5
1885	1
1886	2
1887	1
1888	3
1889	3
1890	2
1892	1
1893	9
1894	1
1895	3
1896	1
1897	2
1898	7
1899	7
1900	5
1901	4
1902	10
1903	3
1904	6
1905	21
1906	17
1907	8
1908	36
1909	27
1910	10
1911	52
1912	20
1913	49
1914	36
1915	115
1916	94
1917	190
1918	150
1919	14
1920	113
1921	29
1922	55
1923	152
1924	203
1925	134
1926	204
1927	64
1928	47
1929	263
1930	83
1931	326
1932	153
1933	212
1934	597
1935	431
1936	830
1937	309
1938	362
1939	323
1940	361
1941	354
1942	273
1943	698
1944	232
1945	943
1946	359
1947	788
1948	600
1949	1,058
1950	1,022
1951	1,192
1952	519
1953	879
1954	744
1955	383
1956	434
1957	563
1958	692
1959	237
1960	349
1961	475
1962	686
1963	928
1964	402
1965	696
1966	1,295
1967	637
1968	524
1969	703
1970	209
1971	1,506
1972	426
1973	714
1974	1,128
1975	1,110
1976	569
1977	781
1978	844
1979	1,995
1980	757
1981	687
1982	1,287
1983	1,078
1984	610
1985	1,725
1986	616
1987	787
1988	1,582
1989	1,718
1990	821
1991	617
1992	1,573
1993	856
1994	1,049
1995	1,122
1996	1,594
1997	898
1998	641
1999	938
2000	1,115
2001	1,061
2002	3,080
2003	1,281
2004	1,392
2005	767
2006	722
2007	713
2008	704
2009	552
2010	1,311
2011	741
2012	1,037
2013	1,397
2014	986
2015	663
2016	1,147
2017	575
2018	564
2019	1,426
2020	1,031
2021	504
2022	255
2023	907
2024	1,117
2025	827
2026	839

Download the Data

Data for records on 1978-01-31: 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).

Histogram of margins by which records were beaten on 31 January 1978
Margin	Records
0 to 100	573
100 to 200	77
200 to 300	11
300 to 400	2
400 to 500	2