Weather Records on 8 December 1978

2,440 weather records were set or tied worldwide on 8 December 1978. Highest significance: Elliotdale (Tnk), ZA.

Key Facts for 8 December 1978

On 8 December 1978, 2,440 weather records were set or tied at long-record stations worldwide.
422 were record highs and 1,175 were record lows, counting maximum and minimum temperature.
By timescale, 35 were all-time records, 266 monthly and 2,139 daily.
Elliotdale (Tnk) set an all-time record daily precipitation of 260.0 mm (10.2 in) on 8 December 1978.
Across 151 earlier years (1796 to 2025) the same calendar date averaged 501 records.

Record Map

2,000 stations, highest significance shown

2,000 station records on 8 December 1978 are marked on the map, coloured by record type. Dot size shows the significance score. Made with Natural Earth.

Weather records on 8 December 1978: highest significance records shown on the map
Station	Country	Type	Value	Significance
Elliotdale (Tnk)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	260.0 mm (10.2 in)	73 of 100 (Major)
Waverly	United States	Record daily precipitation	53.3 mm (2.1 in)	63 of 100 (Major)
Noupoort	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	44.5 mm (1.8 in)	62 of 100 (Major)
Vaughn	United States	Record daily snowfall	33.0 cm (13.0 in)	61 of 100 (Major)
Jamestown	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	90.0 mm (3.5 in)	60 of 100 (Major)
Scottsville	United States	Record daily precipitation	129.8 mm (5.1 in)	59 of 100 (Notable)
Ravenna Lock 12	United States	Record daily precipitation	107.2 mm (4.2 in)	57 of 100 (Notable)
Mt Sterling	United States	Record daily precipitation	152.4 mm (6.0 in)	56 of 100 (Notable)
Fowler 1 SE	United States	Record snow depth	12.7 cm (5.0 in)	55 of 100 (Notable)
Douglas	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	60.0 mm (2.4 in)	54 of 100 (Notable)
Paintsville 1E	United States	Record daily precipitation	86.4 mm (3.4 in)	53 of 100 (Notable)
Weston College, Mooi	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	59.0 mm (2.3 in)	52 of 100 (Notable)
Brinkley	United States	Record daily precipitation	74.9 mm (2.9 in)	52 of 100 (Notable)
Zeekoevlei	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	30.0 mm (1.2 in)	51 of 100 (Notable)
Gurdon	United States	Record daily precipitation	93.2 mm (3.7 in)	51 of 100 (Notable)
Campbellsville 2 SSW	United States	Record daily precipitation	109.7 mm (4.3 in)	51 of 100 (Notable)
Dunmor	United States	Record daily precipitation	115.6 mm (4.6 in)	51 of 100 (Notable)
Sebree 1 E	United States	Record daily precipitation	50.8 mm (2.0 in)	51 of 100 (Notable)
Dull Ctr 1SE	United States	Record snow depth	40.6 cm (16.0 in)	51 of 100 (Notable)
Red Lodge	United States	Record snow depth	127.0 cm (50.0 in)	50 of 100 (Notable)
Oelrichs	United States	Record snow depth	30.5 cm (12.0 in)	50 of 100 (Notable)
Keams Canyon	United States	Record low maximum temperature	-11.1 C (12.0 F)	49 of 100 (Notable)
Lordsburg 4 SE	United States	Record low minimum temperature	-24.4 C (-11.9 F)	49 of 100 (Notable)
Nogales	United States	Record low minimum temperature	-19.4 C (-2.9 F)	48 of 100 (Notable)
Pearce - Sunsites	United States	Record low minimum temperature	-22.2 C (-8.0 F)	48 of 100 (Notable)
Stuttgart	United States	Record daily precipitation	71.9 mm (2.8 in)	48 of 100 (Notable)
Golconda River	United States	Record daily precipitation	69.3 mm (2.7 in)	48 of 100 (Notable)
Hopkinsville	United States	Record daily precipitation	88.9 mm (3.5 in)	48 of 100 (Notable)
Hot Springs	United States	Record snow depth	22.9 cm (9.0 in)	48 of 100 (Notable)
Grootfontein	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	29.2 mm (1.1 in)	47 of 100 (Notable)
Georgetown	United States	Record daily precipitation	83.8 mm (3.3 in)	47 of 100 (Notable)
Monticello 2E	United States	Record low maximum temperature	-15.6 C (3.9 F)	47 of 100 (Notable)
Berea College	United States	Record daily precipitation	129.0 mm (5.1 in)	46 of 100 (Notable)
Hachita 1W	United States	Record low maximum temperature	-7.2 C (19.0 F)	46 of 100 (Notable)
Samburg Wr	United States	Record daily precipitation	104.9 mm (4.1 in)	46 of 100 (Notable)
Keurboomsrivier (Bos)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	50.0 mm (2.0 in)	45 of 100 (Notable)
Prescott 2 NNW	United States	Record daily precipitation	67.1 mm (2.6 in)	45 of 100 (Notable)
Holly	United States	Record snow depth	10.2 cm (4.0 in)	45 of 100 (Notable)
Saguache	United States	Record low minimum temperature	-31.1 C (-24.0 F)	45 of 100 (Notable)
Nenzel 20 S	United States	Record snow depth	35.6 cm (14.0 in)	45 of 100 (Notable)
Gage	United States	Record low minimum temperature	-17.8 C (0.0 F)	45 of 100 (Notable)
Luna Rs	United States	Record low minimum temperature	-31.7 C (-25.1 F)	45 of 100 (Notable)
Pedernal 9 E	United States	Record snow depth	30.5 cm (12.0 in)	45 of 100 (Notable)
Taos	United States	Record low minimum temperature	-28.3 C (-18.9 F)	45 of 100 (Notable)
Boise City 2 E	United States	Record daily snowfall	15.2 cm (6.0 in)	45 of 100 (Notable)
Vernal	United States	Record low maximum temperature	-17.2 C (1.0 F)	45 of 100 (Notable)
Grand Junction Walker Fld	United States	Record low maximum temperature	-14.4 C (6.1 F)	45 of 100 (Notable)
Imuris (Smn)	Mexico	Record low minimum temperature	-12.2 C (10.0 F)	44 of 100 (Notable)
Beeldhouersfontein	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	41.2 mm (1.6 in)	44 of 100 (Notable)
Apache Powder Company	United States	Record low minimum temperature	-21.7 C (-7.1 F)	44 of 100 (Notable)
Springfield 2W	United States	Record daily precipitation	63.8 mm (2.5 in)	44 of 100 (Notable)
Denton 2 E	United States	Record high maximum temperature	22.8 C (73.0 F)	44 of 100 (Notable)
Bernie	United States	Record daily precipitation	93.2 mm (3.7 in)	44 of 100 (Notable)
Carrizozo 1SW	United States	Record snow depth	17.8 cm (7.0 in)	44 of 100 (Notable)
Espanola	United States	Record low minimum temperature	-26.1 C (-15.0 F)	44 of 100 (Notable)
Holter Dam	United States	Record snow depth	22.9 cm (9.0 in)	43 of 100 (Notable)
Bernalillo	United States	Record low maximum temperature	-6.7 C (19.9 F)	43 of 100 (Notable)
Estancia 4N	United States	Record low minimum temperature	-29.4 C (-20.9 F)	43 of 100 (Notable)
Jemez Springs	United States	Record low maximum temperature	-7.8 C (18.0 F)	43 of 100 (Notable)
Dennison Wtr Wks	United States	Record daily precipitation	36.1 mm (1.4 in)	43 of 100 (Notable)

Counts by Type and Timescale

2,440 records

Records set or tied on 8 December 1978 by type: Highest daily maximum 228, Lowest daily maximum 580, Highest daily minimum 194, Lowest daily minimum 595, Heaviest daily rainfall 558, Heaviest daily snowfall 100, Deepest snow cover 185.

Records on 8 December 1978 by type
Record type	Records
Highest daily maximum	228
Lowest daily maximum	580
Highest daily minimum	194
Lowest daily minimum	595
Heaviest daily rainfall	558
Heaviest daily snowfall	100
Deepest snow cover	185

Records on 8 December 1978 by timescale: all-time 35, monthly 266, daily 2,139.

How Much Records Were Beaten By

2,042 broken records

Margins by which the 2,042 broken records beat the old ones, in degrees Celsius for temperature and millimetres for precipitation and snow; the largest margin was 762.0. Ties are not counted.

Top 20 by Significance

8 December 1978

Top 20 records on 8 December 1978 by significance
Date	Station	Record	Value	Beat old record by	Old record stood	Significance
8 December 1978	Elliotdale (Tnk), ZA	all-time rain	260.0 mm (10.2 in)	72.5 mm (2.9 in)	19 years	73 of 100 (Major)
8 December 1978	Waverly, US	daily rain	53.3 mm (2.1 in)	32.2 mm (1.3 in)	60 years	63 of 100 (Major)
8 December 1978	Noupoort, ZA	daily rain	44.5 mm (1.8 in)	28.2 mm (1.1 in)	87 years	62 of 100 (Major)
8 December 1978	Vaughn, US	daily snowfall	33.0 cm (13.0 in)	30.5 cm (12.0 in)	47 years	61 of 100 (Major)
8 December 1978	Jamestown, ZA	monthly rain	90.0 mm (3.5 in)	17.6 mm (0.7 in)	78 years	60 of 100 (Major)
8 December 1978	Scottsville, US	monthly rain	129.8 mm (5.1 in)	51.8 mm (2.0 in)	29 years	59 of 100 (Notable)
8 December 1978	Ravenna Lock 12, US	monthly rain	107.2 mm (4.2 in)	27.2 mm (1.1 in)	53 years	57 of 100 (Notable)
8 December 1978	Mt Sterling, US	all-time rain	152.4 mm (6.0 in)	18.0 mm (0.7 in)	45 years	56 of 100 (Notable)
8 December 1978	Fowler 1 SE, US	daily snow depth	12.7 cm (5.0 in)	12.7 cm (5.0 in)	75 years	55 of 100 (Notable)
8 December 1978	Douglas, ZA	daily rain	60.0 mm (2.4 in)	19.4 mm (0.8 in)	86 years	54 of 100 (Notable)
8 December 1978	Paintsville 1E, US	monthly rain	86.4 mm (3.4 in)	36.4 mm (1.4 in)	0 years	53 of 100 (Notable)
8 December 1978	Weston College, Mooi, ZA	daily rain	59.0 mm (2.3 in)	32.1 mm (1.3 in)	44 years	52 of 100 (Notable)
8 December 1978	Brinkley, US	daily rain	74.9 mm (2.9 in)	36.8 mm (1.4 in)	76 years	52 of 100 (Notable)
8 December 1978	Zeekoevlei, ZA	daily rain	30.0 mm (1.2 in)	30.0 mm (1.2 in)	64 years	51 of 100 (Notable)
8 December 1978	Gurdon, US	daily rain	93.2 mm (3.7 in)	74.7 mm (2.9 in)	27 years	51 of 100 (Notable)
8 December 1978	Campbellsville 2 SSW, US	monthly rain	109.7 mm (4.3 in)	47.2 mm (1.9 in)	8 years	51 of 100 (Notable)
8 December 1978	Dunmor, US	monthly rain	115.6 mm (4.6 in)	48.8 mm (1.9 in)	0 years	51 of 100 (Notable)
8 December 1978	Madison, US	daily snow depth	7.6 cm (3.0 in)	7.6 cm (3.0 in)	76 years	20 of 100 (Routine)
8 December 1978	Rondawel, ZA	daily rain	21.0 mm (0.8 in)	21.0 mm (0.8 in)	65 years	20 of 100 (Routine)
8 December 1978	Redelinghuis (Pol), ZA	daily rain	23.5 mm (0.9 in)	23.2 mm (0.9 in)	25 years	20 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

1796 to 1978

Records set or tied on this calendar date in each year from 1796 to 1978. 1978 had 2,440 records.

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

Records on 12-08 in each year
Year	Records
1796	1
1805	1
1815	2
1824	1
1825	2
1844	2
1846	1
1848	2
1854	1
1856	2
1866	1
1868	3
1869	1
1871	4
1875	2
1879	5
1882	4
1885	1
1886	1
1891	2
1892	1
1894	1
1896	4
1897	14
1898	3
1899	4
1900	6
1901	6
1902	17
1903	2
1904	6
1905	6
1906	39
1907	15
1908	11
1909	20
1910	14
1911	21
1912	33
1913	42
1914	59
1915	67
1916	93
1917	106
1918	27
1919	59
1920	95
1921	53
1922	163
1923	176
1924	399
1925	107
1926	80
1927	593
1928	100
1929	136
1930	421
1931	229
1932	327
1933	109
1934	437
1935	229
1936	138
1937	443
1938	447
1939	643
1940	495
1941	140
1942	481
1943	378
1944	269
1945	323
1946	1,331
1947	293
1948	269
1949	275
1950	859
1951	1,430
1952	539
1953	361
1954	354
1955	199
1956	890
1957	429
1958	794
1959	538
1960	544
1961	289
1962	413
1963	739
1964	375
1965	509
1966	1,255
1967	442
1968	436
1969	617
1970	801
1971	978
1972	1,825
1973	506
1974	631
1975	497
1976	1,130
1977	1,503
1978	2,440
1979	507
1980	1,527
1981	951
1982	835
1983	924
1984	989
1985	1,099
1986	958
1987	733
1988	581
1989	1,426
1990	847
1991	918
1992	689
1993	957
1994	1,178
1995	764
1996	949
1997	1,194
1998	1,348
1999	530
2000	1,056
2001	513
2002	735
2003	862
2004	1,172
2005	2,056
2006	2,166
2007	1,042
2008	924
2009	1,593
2010	1,951
2011	968
2012	724
2013	1,403
2014	404
2015	1,125
2016	594
2017	677
2018	747
2019	623
2020	942
2021	362
2022	682
2023	909
2024	426
2025	986

Download the Data

Data for records on 1978-12-08: 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	2,005
100 to 200	29
200 to 300	5
300 to 400	1
400 to 500	1
500 to 600	0
600 to 700	0
700 to 800	1