Weather Records on 20 January 1979

1,158 weather records were set or tied worldwide on 20 January 1979. Highest significance: Broken Hill (Langawirra), AU.

Key Facts for 20 January 1979

On 20 January 1979, 1,158 weather records were set or tied at long-record stations worldwide.
61 were record highs and 60 were record lows, counting maximum and minimum temperature.
By timescale, 40 were all-time records, 71 monthly and 1,047 daily.
Broken Hill (Langawirra) set a daily record precipitation of 96.8 mm (3.8 in) on 20 January 1979.
Across 157 earlier years (1795 to 2026) the same calendar date averaged 507 records.

Record Map

1,158 stations

1,158 station records on 20 January 1979 are marked on the map, coloured by record type. Dot size shows the significance score. Made with Natural Earth.

Weather records on 20 January 1979: highest significance records shown on the map
Station	Country	Type	Value	Significance
Broken Hill (Langawirra)	Australia	Record daily precipitation	96.8 mm (3.8 in)	72 of 100 (Major)
Lake Victoria (Cal-Lal)	Australia	Record daily precipitation	47.4 mm (1.9 in)	68 of 100 (Major)
Greenville	United States	Record daily precipitation	110.2 mm (4.3 in)	67 of 100 (Major)
Narraport	Australia	Record daily precipitation	44.6 mm (1.8 in)	63 of 100 (Major)
Kosciusko	United States	Record daily precipitation	126.2 mm (5.0 in)	63 of 100 (Major)
Galesburg	United States	Record snow depth	58.4 cm (23.0 in)	62 of 100 (Major)
Morrison	United States	Record snow depth	81.3 cm (32.0 in)	62 of 100 (Major)
Marree Comparison	Australia	Record daily precipitation	39.4 mm (1.6 in)	60 of 100 (Major)
Annuello	Australia	Record daily precipitation	50.0 mm (2.0 in)	60 of 100 (Major)
Murtoa	Australia	Record daily precipitation	80.6 mm (3.2 in)	60 of 100 (Major)
Havana	United States	Record snow depth	45.7 cm (18.0 in)	60 of 100 (Major)
Williamsburg 1E	United States	Record snow depth	68.6 cm (27.0 in)	60 of 100 (Major)
Canton 4N	United States	Record daily precipitation	139.7 mm (5.5 in)	60 of 100 (Major)
Columbus 4 ESE	United States	Record daily precipitation	107.7 mm (4.2 in)	60 of 100 (Major)
Hopetoun	Australia	Record daily precipitation	46.4 mm (1.8 in)	59 of 100 (Notable)
Gerang Gerung	Australia	Record daily precipitation	73.0 mm (2.9 in)	59 of 100 (Notable)
Clinton #1	United States	Record snow depth	94.0 cm (37.0 in)	59 of 100 (Notable)
Stoneville Exp STN	United States	Record daily precipitation	102.1 mm (4.0 in)	59 of 100 (Notable)
Geneseo	United States	Record snow depth	66.0 cm (26.0 in)	58 of 100 (Notable)
Davenport L&D 15	United States	Record snow depth	71.1 cm (28.0 in)	58 of 100 (Notable)
Walpeup	Australia	Record daily precipitation	90.0 mm (3.5 in)	57 of 100 (Notable)
Schwerin	Germany	Record snow depth	23.0 cm (9.1 in)	57 of 100 (Notable)
Fayette	United States	Record daily precipitation	107.4 mm (4.2 in)	57 of 100 (Notable)
Woodville 4 ESE	United States	Record daily precipitation	88.4 mm (3.5 in)	57 of 100 (Notable)
Merbein Csiro Research Station	Australia	Record daily precipitation	39.0 mm (1.5 in)	56 of 100 (Notable)
Gama	Australia	Record daily precipitation	52.4 mm (2.1 in)	56 of 100 (Notable)
Portland	United States	Record daily precipitation	96.5 mm (3.8 in)	56 of 100 (Notable)
La Harpe	United States	Record snow depth	45.7 cm (18.0 in)	56 of 100 (Notable)
Calhoun City	United States	Record daily precipitation	71.4 mm (2.8 in)	56 of 100 (Notable)
Fulton L&D #13	United States	Record snow depth	68.6 cm (27.0 in)	55 of 100 (Notable)
Houston Indep Hts	United States	Record daily precipitation	162.1 mm (6.4 in)	55 of 100 (Notable)
Carwarp	Australia	Record daily precipitation	35.2 mm (1.4 in)	54 of 100 (Notable)
Corozal Substn	Puerto Rico [United States]	Record daily precipitation	78.7 mm (3.1 in)	54 of 100 (Notable)
Dixon Wwtp	United States	Record snow depth	73.7 cm (29.0 in)	54 of 100 (Notable)
Le Claire L&D 14	United States	Record snow depth	71.1 cm (28.0 in)	54 of 100 (Notable)
Muscatine	United States	Record snow depth	55.9 cm (22.0 in)	54 of 100 (Notable)
Minden	United States	Record daily precipitation	90.7 mm (3.6 in)	54 of 100 (Notable)
Wichita Mtn Wr	United States	Record daily snowfall	12.7 cm (5.0 in)	54 of 100 (Notable)
Monticello Muni AP	United States	Record daily precipitation	54.6 mm (2.1 in)	54 of 100 (Notable)
Manangatang (Daytrap)	Australia	Record daily precipitation	38.0 mm (1.5 in)	53 of 100 (Notable)
Waitchie	Australia	Record daily precipitation	33.4 mm (1.3 in)	53 of 100 (Notable)
Lake Providence	United States	Record daily precipitation	78.5 mm (3.1 in)	53 of 100 (Notable)
Standish 4NE	United States	Record snow depth	91.4 cm (36.0 in)	53 of 100 (Notable)
Gholson 8 W	United States	Record daily precipitation	114.8 mm (4.5 in)	53 of 100 (Notable)
Pelahatchie	United States	Record daily precipitation	110.5 mm (4.4 in)	53 of 100 (Notable)
Rolling Fk	United States	Record daily precipitation	87.6 mm (3.4 in)	53 of 100 (Notable)
Antwerp	Australia	Record daily precipitation	44.4 mm (1.7 in)	52 of 100 (Notable)
Natchez	United States	Record daily precipitation	107.4 mm (4.2 in)	52 of 100 (Notable)
Waynesville 1 E	United States	Record daily precipitation	47.8 mm (1.9 in)	52 of 100 (Notable)
Lameroo Comparison	Australia	Record daily precipitation	60.2 mm (2.4 in)	51 of 100 (Notable)
Birchip (Woodlands)	Australia	Record daily precipitation	52.6 mm (2.1 in)	51 of 100 (Notable)
St Joseph 3 N	United States	Record daily precipitation	168.7 mm (6.6 in)	51 of 100 (Notable)
Marshall	United States	Record daily precipitation	89.2 mm (3.5 in)	51 of 100 (Notable)
Morkalla North	Australia	Record daily precipitation	55.4 mm (2.2 in)	50 of 100 (Notable)
Speed (Post Office)	Australia	Record daily precipitation	64.0 mm (2.5 in)	50 of 100 (Notable)
Diapur	Australia	Record daily precipitation	54.6 mm (2.1 in)	50 of 100 (Notable)
Nhill (Woorak)	Australia	Record daily precipitation	53.0 mm (2.1 in)	50 of 100 (Notable)
Lexton	Australia	Record daily precipitation	46.8 mm (1.8 in)	50 of 100 (Notable)
Chicago Midway AP 3SW	United States	Record snow depth	66.0 cm (26.0 in)	50 of 100 (Notable)
Brooksville Exp STN	United States	Record daily precipitation	114.8 mm (4.5 in)	50 of 100 (Notable)

Counts by Type and Timescale

1,158 records

Records set or tied on 20 January 1979 by type: Highest daily maximum 22, Lowest daily maximum 34, Highest daily minimum 39, Lowest daily minimum 26, Heaviest daily rainfall 556, Heaviest daily snowfall 75, Deepest snow cover 406.

Records on 20 January 1979 by type
Record type	Records
Highest daily maximum	22
Lowest daily maximum	34
Highest daily minimum	39
Lowest daily minimum	26
Heaviest daily rainfall	556
Heaviest daily snowfall	75
Deepest snow cover	406

Records on 20 January 1979 by timescale: all-time 40, monthly 71, daily 1,047.

How Much Records Were Beaten By

984 broken records

Margins by which the 984 broken records beat the old ones, in degrees Celsius for temperature and millimetres for precipitation and snow; the largest margin was 686.0. Ties are not counted.

Top 20 by Significance

20 January 1979

Top 20 records on 20 January 1979 by significance
Date	Station	Record	Value	Beat old record by	Old record stood	Significance
20 January 1979	Broken Hill (Langawirra), AU	daily rain	96.8 mm (3.8 in)	67.1 mm (2.6 in)	78 years	72 of 100 (Major)
20 January 1979	Lake Victoria (Cal-Lal), AU	daily rain	47.4 mm (1.9 in)	41.8 mm (1.6 in)	64 years	68 of 100 (Major)
20 January 1979	Greenville, US	daily rain	110.2 mm (4.3 in)	73.4 mm (2.9 in)	68 years	67 of 100 (Major)
20 January 1979	Narraport, AU	daily rain	44.6 mm (1.8 in)	28.3 mm (1.1 in)	61 years	63 of 100 (Major)
20 January 1979	Kosciusko, US	daily rain	126.2 mm (5.0 in)	74.1 mm (2.9 in)	52 years	63 of 100 (Major)
20 January 1979	Galesburg, US	daily snow depth	58.4 cm (23.0 in)	27.9 cm (11.0 in)	48 years	62 of 100 (Major)
20 January 1979	Morrison, US	daily snow depth	81.3 cm (32.0 in)	50.8 cm (20.0 in)	48 years	62 of 100 (Major)
20 January 1979	Marree Comparison, AU	daily rain	39.4 mm (1.6 in)	31.3 mm (1.2 in)	76 years	60 of 100 (Major)
20 January 1979	Annuello, AU	daily rain	50.0 mm (2.0 in)	44.2 mm (1.7 in)	51 years	60 of 100 (Major)
20 January 1979	Murtoa, AU	daily rain	80.6 mm (3.2 in)	54.7 mm (2.2 in)	36 years	60 of 100 (Major)
20 January 1979	Havana, US	daily snow depth	45.7 cm (18.0 in)	25.4 cm (10.0 in)	52 years	60 of 100 (Major)
20 January 1979	Williamsburg 1E, US	daily snow depth	68.6 cm (27.0 in)	35.6 cm (14.0 in)	43 years	60 of 100 (Major)
20 January 1979	Canton 4N, US	daily rain	139.7 mm (5.5 in)	109.7 mm (4.3 in)	41 years	60 of 100 (Major)
20 January 1979	Columbus 4 ESE, US	daily rain	107.7 mm (4.2 in)	71.6 mm (2.8 in)	41 years	60 of 100 (Major)
20 January 1979	Hopetoun, AU	daily rain	46.4 mm (1.8 in)	40.3 mm (1.6 in)	36 years	59 of 100 (Notable)
20 January 1979	Gerang Gerung, AU	daily rain	73.0 mm (2.9 in)	53.2 mm (2.1 in)	36 years	59 of 100 (Notable)
20 January 1979	Clinton #1, US	daily snow depth	94.0 cm (37.0 in)	68.6 cm (27.0 in)	39 years	59 of 100 (Notable)
20 January 1979	Stoneville Exp STN, US	daily rain	102.1 mm (4.0 in)	70.9 mm (2.8 in)	44 years	59 of 100 (Notable)
20 January 1979	Geneseo, US	daily snow depth	66.0 cm (26.0 in)	33.0 cm (13.0 in)	43 years	58 of 100 (Notable)
20 January 1979	Davenport L&D 15, US	daily snow depth	71.1 cm (28.0 in)	43.2 cm (17.0 in)	39 years	58 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 1979

Records set or tied on this calendar date in each year from 1795 to 1979. 1979 had 1,158 records.

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

Records on 01-20 in each year
Year	Records
1795	2
1796	1
1798	1
1804	2
1820	1
1844	1
1850	1
1858	2
1861	1
1862	1
1863	1
1866	2
1867	1
1872	1
1874	4
1875	4
1878	1
1879	1
1880	5
1881	4
1885	1
1890	2
1891	1
1892	3
1893	3
1894	1
1895	2
1896	1
1897	3
1898	6
1899	12
1900	15
1901	11
1902	5
1903	4
1904	14
1905	2
1906	25
1907	26
1908	9
1909	30
1910	11
1911	3
1912	7
1913	44
1914	57
1915	153
1916	34
1917	123
1918	71
1919	28
1920	103
1921	45
1922	86
1923	41
1924	298
1925	181
1926	110
1927	381
1928	383
1929	203
1930	540
1931	90
1932	139
1933	441
1934	118
1935	904
1936	602
1937	1,041
1938	219
1939	238
1940	1,147
1941	214
1942	979
1943	1,002
1944	568
1945	302
1946	487
1947	534
1948	422
1949	429
1950	653
1951	958
1952	386
1953	476
1954	791
1955	278
1956	906
1957	349
1958	494
1959	603
1960	329
1961	641
1962	1,162
1963	921
1964	567
1965	283
1966	634
1967	556
1968	1,096
1969	859
1970	1,301
1971	936
1972	823
1973	450
1974	978
1975	688
1976	848
1977	997
1978	1,669
1979	1,158
1980	423
1981	823
1982	958
1983	847
1984	1,957
1985	2,188
1986	1,327
1987	1,063
1988	1,637
1989	955
1990	1,257
1991	562
1992	493
1993	1,327
1994	2,035
1995	1,136
1996	851
1997	658
1998	576
1999	1,368
2000	1,132
2001	667
2002	666
2003	732
2004	451
2005	1,335
2006	1,395
2007	2,143
2008	1,366
2009	738
2010	986
2011	731
2012	848
2013	432
2014	480
2015	413
2016	726
2017	1,370
2018	634
2019	722
2020	498
2021	375
2022	346
2023	778
2024	841
2025	1,599
2026	193

Download the Data

Data for records on 1979-01-20: 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	840
100 to 200	88
200 to 300	32
300 to 400	13
400 to 500	7
500 to 600	2
600 to 700	2