Weather Records on 18 October 1978

545 weather records were set or tied worldwide on 18 October 1978. Highest significance: Dorset, ZA.

Key Facts for 18 October 1978

On 18 October 1978, 545 weather records were set or tied at long-record stations worldwide.
118 were record highs and 278 were record lows, counting maximum and minimum temperature.
By timescale, 1 were all-time records, 12 monthly and 532 daily.
Dorset set a monthly record daily precipitation of 120.0 mm (4.7 in) on 18 October 1978.
Across 167 earlier years (1794 to 2025) the same calendar date averaged 433 records.

Record Map

545 stations

545 station records on 18 October 1978 are marked on the map, coloured by record type. Dot size shows the significance score. Made with Natural Earth.

Weather records on 18 October 1978: highest significance records shown on the map
Station	Country	Type	Value	Significance
Dorset	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	120.0 mm (4.7 in)	60 of 100 (Major)
Warmun	Australia	Record daily precipitation	37.0 mm (1.5 in)	55 of 100 (Notable)
Sitka Magnetic Obsy	United States	Record daily precipitation	102.6 mm (4.0 in)	52 of 100 (Notable)
Annex Creek	United States	Record daily precipitation	152.7 mm (6.0 in)	51 of 100 (Notable)
Aracatuba (Emsa)	Brazil	Record daily precipitation	83.0 mm (3.3 in)	50 of 100 (Notable)
Mikhailovka	Kazakhstan	Record daily precipitation	26.1 mm (1.0 in)	49 of 100 (Notable)
Boqueirao Do Patu	Brazil	Record daily precipitation	25.1 mm (1.0 in)	47 of 100 (Notable)
Highlands	United States	Record low minimum temperature	-5.0 C (23.0 F)	38 of 100 (Notable)
Schenectady	United States	Record low minimum temperature	-4.4 C (24.1 F)	38 of 100 (Notable)
Ponte Nova Do Paraopeba	Brazil	Record daily precipitation	66.0 mm (2.6 in)	36 of 100 (Notable)
Ft Kent	United States	Record low minimum temperature	-8.3 C (17.1 F)	36 of 100 (Notable)
Chelsea	United States	Record low minimum temperature	-10.0 C (14.0 F)	36 of 100 (Notable)
Vredefort (Skl)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	32.0 mm (1.3 in)	35 of 100 (Notable)
Franklinville	United States	Record low minimum temperature	-8.9 C (16.0 F)	35 of 100 (Notable)
Naalehu 14	United States	Record daily precipitation	67.3 mm (2.6 in)	34 of 100 (Routine)
Korana "Xorana"	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	170.0 mm (6.7 in)	33 of 100 (Routine)
Grafton	United States	Record low minimum temperature	-10.6 C (12.9 F)	33 of 100 (Routine)
Peterboro 2 S	United States	Record low minimum temperature	-7.8 C (18.0 F)	33 of 100 (Routine)
Juliana	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	26.0 mm (1.0 in)	32 of 100 (Routine)
Federal Pt	United States	Record low maximum temperature	20.0 C (68.0 F)	32 of 100 (Routine)
Clayton 1 SSW	United States	Record low minimum temperature	-3.3 C (26.1 F)	32 of 100 (Routine)
Farmington	United States	Record low minimum temperature	-8.9 C (16.0 F)	32 of 100 (Routine)
Gardiner	United States	Record low minimum temperature	-5.6 C (21.9 F)	32 of 100 (Routine)
Port Hastings	Canada	Record low minimum temperature	-1.1 C (30.0 F)	31 of 100 (Routine)
Aspen	United States	Record high minimum temperature	4.4 C (39.9 F)	31 of 100 (Routine)
Black Hills	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	34.0 mm (1.3 in)	30 of 100 (Routine)
Haleyville	United States	Record low minimum temperature	-3.9 C (25.0 F)	30 of 100 (Routine)
San Felipe Orizatlan (Smn)	Mexico	Record low maximum temperature	21.7 C (71.1 F)	29 of 100 (Routine)
Caiana	Brazil	Record daily precipitation	50.8 mm (2.0 in)	28 of 100 (Routine)
Ixmiquilpan (Smn)	Mexico	Record low maximum temperature	17.2 C (63.0 F)	28 of 100 (Routine)
Cengcane (Bos)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	30.5 mm (1.2 in)	28 of 100 (Routine)
Lake Spaulding	United States	Record high minimum temperature	13.3 C (55.9 F)	28 of 100 (Routine)
Cedaredge	United States	Record high minimum temperature	10.6 C (51.1 F)	28 of 100 (Routine)
Kailua 446	United States	Record daily precipitation	81.3 mm (3.2 in)	28 of 100 (Routine)
Fort Huachuca	United States	Record high maximum temperature	30.0 C (86.0 F)	28 of 100 (Routine)
Tanana AP	United States	Record daily snowfall	8.4 cm (3.3 in)	28 of 100 (Routine)
Beatrix	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	32.4 mm (1.3 in)	27 of 100 (Routine)
Oranjeville (Skl)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	38.0 mm (1.5 in)	27 of 100 (Routine)
Hanover	United States	Record low minimum temperature	-2.2 C (28.0 F)	27 of 100 (Routine)
Newport	United States	Record high maximum temperature	28.9 C (84.0 F)	27 of 100 (Routine)
Cambridge Bay A	Canada	Record low maximum temperature	-26.0 C (-14.8 F)	26 of 100 (Routine)
Ste Rose du Degelis	Canada	Record low minimum temperature	-10.6 C (12.9 F)	26 of 100 (Routine)
Elliotdale (Tnk)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	170.5 mm (6.7 in)	26 of 100 (Routine)
Zaaiplaats	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	30.0 mm (1.2 in)	26 of 100 (Routine)
Eastport	United States	Record low minimum temperature	-3.3 C (26.1 F)	26 of 100 (Routine)
Millington 1 SE	United States	Record low minimum temperature	-2.2 C (28.0 F)	26 of 100 (Routine)
Taunton	United States	Record low minimum temperature	-6.1 C (21.0 F)	26 of 100 (Routine)
E Stroudsburg	United States	Record low minimum temperature	-5.0 C (23.0 F)	26 of 100 (Routine)
Paakea 350	United States	Record daily precipitation	114.3 mm (4.5 in)	26 of 100 (Routine)
Hines Hill	Australia	Record daily precipitation	38.2 mm (1.5 in)	25 of 100 (Routine)
Maryland	Australia	Record daily precipitation	30.2 mm (1.2 in)	25 of 100 (Routine)
Agua Soca	Brazil	Record daily precipitation	40.2 mm (1.6 in)	25 of 100 (Routine)
Causapscal	Canada	Record low minimum temperature	-8.3 C (17.1 F)	25 of 100 (Routine)
Nepisiguit Falls	Canada	Record low minimum temperature	-7.8 C (18.0 F)	25 of 100 (Routine)
Nappan Cda	Canada	Record low minimum temperature	-7.0 C (19.4 F)	25 of 100 (Routine)
Pervomajskoe	Russia	Record high minimum temperature	6.4 C (43.5 F)	25 of 100 (Routine)
Kalkoenkrans (Pol)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	30.0 mm (1.2 in)	25 of 100 (Routine)
Potchefstroom Agr.	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	26.5 mm (1.0 in)	25 of 100 (Routine)
Falls Village	United States	Record low minimum temperature	-7.8 C (18.0 F)	25 of 100 (Routine)
Dahlonega 4WSW	United States	Record low minimum temperature	0.0 C (32.0 F)	25 of 100 (Routine)

Counts by Type and Timescale

545 records

Records set or tied on 18 October 1978 by type: Highest daily maximum 55, Lowest daily maximum 75, Highest daily minimum 63, Lowest daily minimum 203, Heaviest daily rainfall 146, Heaviest daily snowfall 3.

Records on 18 October 1978 by type
Record type	Records
Highest daily maximum	55
Lowest daily maximum	75
Highest daily minimum	63
Lowest daily minimum	203
Heaviest daily rainfall	146
Heaviest daily snowfall	3
Deepest snow cover	0

Records on 18 October 1978 by timescale: all-time 1, monthly 12, daily 532.

How Much Records Were Beaten By

431 broken records

Margins by which the 431 broken records beat the old ones, in degrees Celsius for temperature and millimetres for precipitation and snow; the largest margin was 96.6. Ties are not counted.

Top 20 by Significance

18 October 1978

Top 20 records on 18 October 1978 by significance
Date	Station	Record	Value	Beat old record by	Old record stood	Significance
18 October 1978	Dorset, ZA	monthly rain	120.0 mm (4.7 in)	43.8 mm (1.7 in)	35 years	60 of 100 (Major)
18 October 1978	Warmun, AU	daily rain	37.0 mm (1.5 in)	29.9 mm (1.2 in)	53 years	55 of 100 (Notable)
18 October 1978	Sitka Magnetic Obsy, US	daily rain	102.6 mm (4.0 in)	46.7 mm (1.8 in)	44 years	52 of 100 (Notable)
18 October 1978	Annex Creek, US	daily rain	152.7 mm (6.0 in)	96.6 mm (3.8 in)	16 years	51 of 100 (Notable)
18 October 1978	Aracatuba (Emsa), BR	daily rain	83.0 mm (3.3 in)	55.8 mm (2.2 in)	32 years	50 of 100 (Notable)
18 October 1978	Mikhailovka, KZ	daily rain	26.1 mm (1.0 in)	21.0 mm (0.8 in)	8 years	49 of 100 (Notable)
18 October 1978	Boqueirao Do Patu, BR	daily rain	25.1 mm (1.0 in)	25.1 mm (1.0 in)	56 years	47 of 100 (Notable)
18 October 1978	Highlands, US	daily low min	-5.0 C (23.0 F)	2.8 C (5.0 F)	84 years	38 of 100 (Notable)
18 October 1978	Schenectady, US	daily low min	-4.4 C (24.1 F)	3.3 C (5.9 F)	77 years	38 of 100 (Notable)
18 October 1978	Ponte Nova Do Paraopeba, BR	daily rain	66.0 mm (2.6 in)	37.7 mm (1.5 in)	12 years	36 of 100 (Notable)
18 October 1978	Ft Kent, US	daily low min	-8.3 C (17.1 F)	1.6 C (2.9 F)	84 years	36 of 100 (Notable)
18 October 1978	Chelsea, US	daily low min	-10.0 C (14.0 F)	2.2 C (4.0 F)	82 years	36 of 100 (Notable)
18 October 1978	Vredefort (Skl), ZA	daily rain	32.0 mm (1.3 in)	14.2 mm (0.6 in)	56 years	35 of 100 (Notable)
18 October 1978	Franklinville, US	daily low min	-8.9 C (16.0 F)	1.7 C (3.1 F)	80 years	35 of 100 (Notable)
18 October 1978	Naalehu 14, US	daily rain	67.3 mm (2.6 in)	33.3 mm (1.3 in)	17 years	34 of 100 (Routine)
18 October 1978	Korana "Xorana", ZA	all-time rain	170.0 mm (6.7 in)	8.0 mm (0.31 in)	0 years	33 of 100 (Routine)
18 October 1978	Grafton, US	daily low min	-10.6 C (12.9 F)	1.2 C (2.2 F)	79 years	33 of 100 (Routine)
18 October 1978	Peterboro 2 S, US	daily low min	-7.8 C (18.0 F)	1.1 C (2.0 F)	79 years	33 of 100 (Routine)
18 October 1978	Juliana, ZA	daily rain	26.0 mm (1.0 in)	20.9 mm (0.8 in)	33 years	32 of 100 (Routine)
18 October 1978	Federal Pt, US	daily low max	20.0 C (68.0 F)	0.6 C (1.1 F)	79 years	32 of 100 (Routine)

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

1794 to 1978

Records set or tied on this calendar date in each year from 1794 to 1978. 1978 had 545 records.

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

Records on 10-18 in each year
Year	Records
1794	1
1796	1
1799	1
1806	1
1807	1
1810	1
1811	2
1817	1
1832	1
1835	1
1836	1
1843	1
1846	2
1848	1
1849	1
1851	1
1852	1
1859	1
1863	1
1865	2
1866	2
1868	1
1869	1
1871	1
1872	1
1874	4
1876	2
1877	2
1879	3
1881	1
1882	1
1883	2
1887	1
1888	1
1890	4
1892	4
1893	1
1894	3
1895	2
1897	6
1898	5
1899	12
1900	5
1901	5
1902	6
1903	9
1904	12
1905	27
1906	17
1907	11
1908	44
1909	23
1910	50
1911	22
1912	12
1913	26
1914	52
1915	12
1916	64
1917	109
1918	24
1919	31
1920	87
1921	87
1922	59
1923	114
1924	151
1925	153
1926	149
1927	309
1928	316
1929	190
1930	507
1931	350
1932	446
1933	264
1934	222
1935	360
1936	483
1937	671
1938	536
1939	475
1940	532
1941	240
1942	332
1943	844
1944	264
1945	398
1946	355
1947	965
1948	1,128
1949	665
1950	996
1951	325
1952	394
1953	678
1954	621
1955	403
1956	578
1957	220
1958	407
1959	246
1960	612
1961	362
1962	252
1963	492
1964	311
1965	1,066
1966	613
1967	405
1968	737
1969	789
1970	501
1971	1,199
1972	1,581
1973	789
1974	746
1975	779
1976	1,326
1977	533
1978	545
1979	555
1980	1,024
1981	680
1982	654
1983	684
1984	1,331
1985	831
1986	344
1987	518
1988	733
1989	1,196
1990	1,043
1991	999
1992	1,295
1993	1,051
1994	1,296
1995	1,227
1996	795
1997	1,240
1998	1,323
1999	773
2000	823
2001	818
2002	878
2003	1,097
2004	1,156
2005	755
2006	1,328
2007	1,298
2008	531
2009	1,546
2010	634
2011	736
2012	741
2013	430
2014	690
2015	915
2016	1,511
2017	590
2018	759
2019	346
2020	957
2021	387
2022	1,334
2023	693
2024	1,142
2025	367

Download the Data

Data for records on 1978-10-18: 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 20	412
20 to 40	15
40 to 60	3
60 to 80	0
80 to 100	1