Weather Records on 20 February 1979

1,185 weather records were set or tied worldwide on 20 February 1979. Highest significance: Creighton, US.

Key Facts for 20 February 1979

On 20 February 1979, 1,185 weather records were set or tied at long-record stations worldwide.
44 were record highs and 253 were record lows, counting maximum and minimum temperature.
By timescale, 31 were all-time records, 49 monthly and 1,105 daily.
Creighton set a daily record snow depth of 25.4 cm (10.0 in) on 20 February 1979.
Across 162 earlier years (1809 to 2026) the same calendar date averaged 509 records.

Record Map

1,185 stations

1,185 station records on 20 February 1979 are marked on the map, coloured by record type. Dot size shows the significance score. Made with Natural Earth.

Weather records on 20 February 1979: highest significance records shown on the map
Station	Country	Type	Value	Significance
Creighton	United States	Record snow depth	25.4 cm (10.0 in)	68 of 100 (Major)
Stonehenge	Australia	Record daily precipitation	208.0 mm (8.2 in)	65 of 100 (Major)
Papaikou 144.1	United States	Record daily precipitation	315.2 mm (12.4 in)	65 of 100 (Major)
Newark Liberty Intl AP	United States	Record snow depth	48.3 cm (19.0 in)	64 of 100 (Major)
Noonbah	Australia	Record daily precipitation	191.8 mm (7.6 in)	63 of 100 (Major)
Pontiac	United States	Record snow depth	45.7 cm (18.0 in)	63 of 100 (Major)
Floraville Downs Station	Australia	Record daily precipitation	146.0 mm (5.7 in)	60 of 100 (Major)
Geneva	United States	Record snow depth	30.5 cm (12.0 in)	59 of 100 (Notable)
Copley (Yankaninna)	Australia	Record daily precipitation	66.2 mm (2.6 in)	57 of 100 (Notable)
Clinton #1	United States	Record snow depth	73.7 cm (29.0 in)	56 of 100 (Notable)
Cambridge Water Trmt P	United States	Record snow depth	50.8 cm (20.0 in)	56 of 100 (Notable)
Lake Lynn	United States	Record snow depth	43.2 cm (17.0 in)	55 of 100 (Notable)
Mount Ryde	Australia	Record daily precipitation	96.6 mm (3.8 in)	54 of 100 (Notable)
Kyabra	Australia	Record daily precipitation	82.0 mm (3.2 in)	54 of 100 (Notable)
Rooipoort	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	135.0 mm (5.3 in)	54 of 100 (Notable)
Galesburg	United States	Record snow depth	45.7 cm (18.0 in)	54 of 100 (Notable)
Glenn Dale Bell STN	United States	Record snow depth	48.3 cm (19.0 in)	54 of 100 (Notable)
Catawba	United States	Record snow depth	22.9 cm (9.0 in)	54 of 100 (Notable)
Vienna	United States	Record snow depth	55.9 cm (22.0 in)	54 of 100 (Notable)
Mtn View 91	United States	Record daily precipitation	576.8 mm (22.7 in)	54 of 100 (Notable)
Kiel-Kronshagen	Germany	Record snow depth	52.0 cm (20.5 in)	53 of 100 (Notable)
Channahon Dresden Isl Dam	United States	Record snow depth	88.9 cm (35.0 in)	53 of 100 (Notable)
Marseilles Lock/Dam	United States	Record snow depth	68.6 cm (27.0 in)	53 of 100 (Notable)
Long Branch-Oakhurst	United States	Record daily snowfall	40.6 cm (16.0 in)	53 of 100 (Notable)
Pahala 21	United States	Record daily precipitation	430.8 mm (17.0 in)	53 of 100 (Notable)
Reus/Aeropuerto	Spain	Record daily precipitation	29.0 mm (1.1 in)	52 of 100 (Notable)
Dover	United States	Record snow depth	58.4 cm (23.0 in)	52 of 100 (Notable)
Tye Rvr 1 SE	United States	Record snow depth	33.0 cm (13.0 in)	52 of 100 (Notable)
Weddingstedt	Germany	Record snow depth	50.0 cm (19.7 in)	51 of 100 (Notable)
Newark Ag Farm	United States	Record snow depth	45.7 cm (18.0 in)	51 of 100 (Notable)
College Park	United States	Record snow depth	55.9 cm (22.0 in)	51 of 100 (Notable)
Dalecarlia Rsvr	United States	Record snow depth	58.4 cm (23.0 in)	51 of 100 (Notable)
Owings Ferry Landing	United States	Record snow depth	66.0 cm (26.0 in)	51 of 100 (Notable)
Lone Rock Tri Co AP	United States	Record snow depth	76.2 cm (30.0 in)	51 of 100 (Notable)
Bridgeville 1 NW	United States	Record snow depth	61.0 cm (24.0 in)	50 of 100 (Notable)
Charles City	United States	Record snow depth	81.3 cm (32.0 in)	50 of 100 (Notable)
Mc Connellsville Lk 7	United States	Record snow depth	48.3 cm (19.0 in)	50 of 100 (Notable)
Platteville	United States	Record snow depth	63.5 cm (25.0 in)	50 of 100 (Notable)
Bimerah	Australia	Record daily precipitation	114.5 mm (4.5 in)	49 of 100 (Notable)
Jundah Post Office	Australia	Record daily precipitation	127.0 mm (5.0 in)	49 of 100 (Notable)
Kyritz	Germany	Record snow depth	60.0 cm (23.6 in)	49 of 100 (Notable)
Royal Oak 2 SSW	United States	Record snow depth	55.9 cm (22.0 in)	49 of 100 (Notable)
Raleigh State UNIV	United States	Record snow depth	10.2 cm (4.0 in)	49 of 100 (Notable)
Richmond Intl AP	United States	Record snow depth	33.0 cm (13.0 in)	49 of 100 (Notable)
Morrison	United States	Record snow depth	86.4 cm (34.0 in)	48 of 100 (Notable)
Ottawa 4SW	United States	Record snow depth	61.0 cm (24.0 in)	48 of 100 (Notable)
Walnut	United States	Record snow depth	50.8 cm (20.0 in)	48 of 100 (Notable)
Albemarle	United States	Record snow depth	12.7 cm (5.0 in)	48 of 100 (Notable)
Randleman	United States	Record snow depth	25.4 cm (10.0 in)	48 of 100 (Notable)
Staunton Wtp	United States	Record snow depth	33.0 cm (13.0 in)	48 of 100 (Notable)
Janesville	United States	Record snow depth	68.6 cm (27.0 in)	48 of 100 (Notable)
Gammon Ranges (Balcanoona)	Australia	Record daily precipitation	67.6 mm (2.7 in)	47 of 100 (Notable)
Westermarkelsdorf/Fehmarn	Germany	Record snow depth	60.0 cm (23.6 in)	47 of 100 (Notable)
Chestertown	United States	Record snow depth	45.7 cm (18.0 in)	47 of 100 (Notable)
Loup City	United States	Record snow depth	22.9 cm (9.0 in)	47 of 100 (Notable)
Hannover	Germany	Record snow depth	47.0 cm (18.5 in)	46 of 100 (Notable)
Cuxhaven	Germany	Record snow depth	56.0 cm (22.0 in)	46 of 100 (Notable)
Jever	Germany	Record snow depth	50.0 cm (19.7 in)	46 of 100 (Notable)
Wheaton 3 SE	United States	Record snow depth	66.0 cm (26.0 in)	46 of 100 (Notable)
Chicago Midway AP 3SW	United States	Record snow depth	63.5 cm (25.0 in)	45 of 100 (Notable)

Counts by Type and Timescale

1,185 records

Records set or tied on 20 February 1979 by type: Highest daily maximum 16, Lowest daily maximum 54, Highest daily minimum 28, Lowest daily minimum 199, Heaviest daily rainfall 249, Heaviest daily snowfall 38, Deepest snow cover 601.

Records on 20 February 1979 by type
Record type	Records
Highest daily maximum	16
Lowest daily maximum	54
Highest daily minimum	28
Lowest daily minimum	199
Heaviest daily rainfall	249
Heaviest daily snowfall	38
Deepest snow cover	601

Records on 20 February 1979 by timescale: all-time 31, monthly 49, daily 1,105.

How Much Records Were Beaten By

956 broken records

Margins by which the 956 broken records beat the old ones, in degrees Celsius for temperature and millimetres for precipitation and snow; the largest margin was 711.0. Ties are not counted.

Top 20 by Significance

20 February 1979

Top 20 records on 20 February 1979 by significance
Date	Station	Record	Value	Beat old record by	Old record stood	Significance
20 February 1979	Creighton, US	daily snow depth	25.4 cm (10.0 in)	17.8 cm (7.0 in)	68 years	68 of 100 (Major)
20 February 1979	Stonehenge, AU	all-time rain	208.0 mm (8.2 in)	44.2 mm (1.7 in)	49 years	65 of 100 (Major)
20 February 1979	Papaikou 144.1, US	daily rain	315.2 mm (12.4 in)	130.8 mm (5.1 in)	60 years	65 of 100 (Major)
20 February 1979	Newark Liberty Intl AP, US	daily snow depth	48.3 cm (19.0 in)	30.5 cm (12.0 in)	76 years	64 of 100 (Major)
20 February 1979	Noonbah, AU	all-time rain	191.8 mm (7.6 in)	59.7 mm (2.4 in)	23 years	63 of 100 (Major)
20 February 1979	Pontiac, US	daily snow depth	45.7 cm (18.0 in)	22.8 cm (9.0 in)	71 years	63 of 100 (Major)
20 February 1979	Floraville Downs Station, AU	daily rain	146.0 mm (5.7 in)	75.6 mm (3.0 in)	65 years	60 of 100 (Major)
20 February 1979	Geneva, US	daily snow depth	30.5 cm (12.0 in)	25.4 cm (10.0 in)	80 years	59 of 100 (Notable)
20 February 1979	Copley (Yankaninna), AU	daily rain	66.2 mm (2.6 in)	60.4 mm (2.4 in)	37 years	57 of 100 (Notable)
20 February 1979	Clinton #1, US	daily snow depth	73.7 cm (29.0 in)	30.5 cm (12.0 in)	43 years	56 of 100 (Notable)
20 February 1979	Cambridge Water Trmt P, US	daily snow depth	50.8 cm (20.0 in)	40.6 cm (16.0 in)	32 years	56 of 100 (Notable)
20 February 1979	Lake Lynn, US	daily snow depth	43.2 cm (17.0 in)	28.0 cm (11.0 in)	49 years	55 of 100 (Notable)
20 February 1979	Mount Ryde, AU	daily rain	96.6 mm (3.8 in)	65.1 mm (2.6 in)	57 years	54 of 100 (Notable)
20 February 1979	Kyabra, AU	daily rain	82.0 mm (3.2 in)	53.8 mm (2.1 in)	57 years	54 of 100 (Notable)
20 February 1979	Rooipoort, ZA	daily rain	135.0 mm (5.3 in)	117.2 mm (4.6 in)	27 years	54 of 100 (Notable)
20 February 1979	Galesburg, US	daily snow depth	45.7 cm (18.0 in)	27.9 cm (11.0 in)	20 years	54 of 100 (Notable)
20 February 1979	Glenn Dale Bell STN, US	daily snow depth	48.3 cm (19.0 in)	35.6 cm (14.0 in)	32 years	54 of 100 (Notable)
20 February 1979	Catawba, US	daily snow depth	22.9 cm (9.0 in)	22.9 cm (9.0 in)	29 years	54 of 100 (Notable)
20 February 1979	Vienna, US	daily snow depth	55.9 cm (22.0 in)	40.7 cm (16.0 in)	32 years	54 of 100 (Notable)
20 February 1979	Mtn View 91, US	all-time rain	576.8 mm (22.7 in)	33.2 mm (1.3 in)	58 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

1809 to 1979

Records set or tied on this calendar date in each year from 1809 to 1979. 1979 had 1,185 records.

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

Records on 02-20 in each year
Year	Records
1809	2
1810	2
1814	1
1827	2
1834	1
1837	1
1838	2
1845	1
1846	2
1849	2
1850	1
1855	3
1858	2
1860	1
1861	1
1864	1
1867	1
1869	1
1874	1
1876	2
1877	1
1880	1
1883	1
1884	2
1885	4
1886	1
1888	1
1889	2
1890	2
1892	5
1893	6
1895	2
1896	5
1897	2
1898	6
1899	6
1900	8
1901	5
1902	3
1903	17
1904	14
1905	8
1906	23
1907	14
1908	28
1909	34
1910	8
1911	13
1912	26
1913	28
1914	15
1915	108
1916	32
1917	186
1918	210
1919	36
1920	39
1921	106
1922	198
1923	49
1924	323
1925	132
1926	83
1927	156
1928	190
1929	629
1930	1,202
1931	163
1932	287
1933	266
1934	490
1935	222
1936	593
1937	602
1938	348
1939	636
1940	247
1941	251
1942	968
1943	454
1944	279
1945	266
1946	146
1947	403
1948	342
1949	656
1950	538
1951	815
1952	551
1953	929
1954	1,067
1955	1,051
1956	453
1957	450
1958	1,025
1959	507
1960	353
1961	475
1962	457
1963	742
1964	340
1965	357
1966	613
1967	414
1968	948
1969	731
1970	312
1971	669
1972	866
1973	587
1974	881
1975	459
1976	484
1977	1,216
1978	1,458
1979	1,185
1980	868
1981	2,080
1982	1,029
1983	636
1984	528
1985	790
1986	1,589
1987	719
1988	695
1989	1,032
1990	2,147
1991	921
1992	446
1993	1,541
1994	1,605
1995	1,427
1996	1,258
1997	1,326
1998	1,104
1999	498
2000	724
2001	485
2002	1,070
2003	771
2004	991
2005	626
2006	1,635
2007	580
2008	847
2009	530
2010	1,096
2011	1,433
2012	514
2013	422
2014	958
2015	2,790
2016	1,090
2017	1,736
2018	2,890
2019	1,630
2020	686
2021	947
2022	592
2023	438
2024	613
2025	1,756
2026	974

Download the Data

Data for records on 1979-02-20: 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	665
100 to 200	162
200 to 300	77
300 to 400	28
400 to 500	19
500 to 600	4
600 to 700	0
700 to 800	1