Weather Records on 20 April 1979

495 weather records were set or tied worldwide on 20 April 1979. Highest significance: Sterkstroom (Pol), ZA.

Key Facts for 20 April 1979

On 20 April 1979, 495 weather records were set or tied at long-record stations worldwide.
71 were record highs and 198 were record lows, counting maximum and minimum temperature.
By timescale, 1 were all-time records, 11 monthly and 483 daily.
Sterkstroom (Pol) set a daily record precipitation of 46.0 mm (1.8 in) on 20 April 1979.
Across 159 earlier years (1807 to 2026) the same calendar date averaged 462 records.

Record Map

495 stations

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

Weather records on 20 April 1979: highest significance records shown on the map
Station	Country	Type	Value	Significance
Sterkstroom (Pol)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	46.0 mm (1.8 in)	76 of 100 (Major)
Rustplaats	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	86.7 mm (3.4 in)	57 of 100 (Notable)
Vinton	United States	Record daily precipitation	59.2 mm (2.3 in)	57 of 100 (Notable)
Tot-Ma	Russia	Record low minimum temperature	-21.8 C (-7.2 F)	54 of 100 (Notable)
Kafferrivier (Pol)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	70.0 mm (2.8 in)	54 of 100 (Notable)
Aquiles Serdan 46	Mexico	Record daily precipitation	38.6 mm (1.5 in)	50 of 100 (Notable)
Tenango de Doria	Mexico	Record daily precipitation	39.9 mm (1.6 in)	49 of 100 (Notable)
Shenkursk	Russia	Record low minimum temperature	-20.7 C (-5.3 F)	48 of 100 (Notable)
Claude	United States	Record daily precipitation	51.8 mm (2.0 in)	48 of 100 (Notable)
Junction 4SSW	United States	Record daily precipitation	69.9 mm (2.8 in)	47 of 100 (Notable)
Evadale	United States	Record daily precipitation	132.6 mm (5.2 in)	46 of 100 (Notable)
Longview	United States	Record daily precipitation	57.7 mm (2.3 in)	45 of 100 (Notable)
Elandshoek, Boston	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	27.8 mm (1.1 in)	43 of 100 (Notable)
Manley Hot Springs	United States	Record daily precipitation	26.4 mm (1.0 in)	43 of 100 (Notable)
Jhb-Joubert Park	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	55.0 mm (2.2 in)	42 of 100 (Notable)
Orange	United States	Record daily precipitation	133.4 mm (5.3 in)	42 of 100 (Notable)
Waller	United States	Record daily precipitation	138.2 mm (5.4 in)	42 of 100 (Notable)
Harlan	United States	Record daily precipitation	45.2 mm (1.8 in)	41 of 100 (Notable)
Belle Plaine	United States	Record daily precipitation	55.1 mm (2.2 in)	40 of 100 (Notable)
Hawkestone, Howick	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	44.7 mm (1.8 in)	39 of 100 (Notable)
Groot Rietvlei	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	50.0 mm (2.0 in)	39 of 100 (Notable)
Currais Novos	Brazil	Record daily precipitation	59.0 mm (2.3 in)	38 of 100 (Notable)
Tartu	Estonia	Record low minimum temperature	-8.0 C (17.6 F)	38 of 100 (Notable)
Hostotipaquillo	Mexico	Record low maximum temperature	21.7 C (71.1 F)	38 of 100 (Notable)
Poretskoye	Russia	Record low maximum temperature	-1.3 C (29.7 F)	37 of 100 (Notable)
Zametchino	Russia	Record low minimum temperature	-6.0 C (21.2 F)	37 of 100 (Notable)
Surprise Store	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	42.5 mm (1.7 in)	37 of 100 (Notable)
Arcadia	United States	Record daily precipitation	34.3 mm (1.4 in)	37 of 100 (Notable)
Karnes City 2N	United States	Record daily precipitation	59.7 mm (2.4 in)	37 of 100 (Notable)
Algodoes	Brazil	Record daily precipitation	70.7 mm (2.8 in)	36 of 100 (Notable)
Gogland	Russia	Record low minimum temperature	-7.2 C (19.0 F)	35 of 100 (Notable)
Niznij Novgorod	Russia	Record low minimum temperature	-7.6 C (18.3 F)	35 of 100 (Notable)
Uman	Ukraine	Record low maximum temperature	5.6 C (42.1 F)	35 of 100 (Notable)
Tripoli	United States	Record daily precipitation	68.6 mm (2.7 in)	35 of 100 (Notable)
Beaumont City	United States	Record daily precipitation	218.4 mm (8.6 in)	35 of 100 (Notable)
Vytegra	Russia	Record low minimum temperature	-12.0 C (10.4 F)	33 of 100 (Routine)
Houston Hts	United States	Record daily precipitation	118.1 mm (4.6 in)	33 of 100 (Routine)
Juarez	Mexico	Record daily precipitation	32.8 mm (1.3 in)	32 of 100 (Routine)
Petropavlovskij Majak	Russia	Record low maximum temperature	-5.4 C (22.3 F)	32 of 100 (Routine)
Kargopol	Russia	Record low minimum temperature	-16.0 C (3.2 F)	32 of 100 (Routine)
Red Oak	United States	Record daily precipitation	33.8 mm (1.3 in)	32 of 100 (Routine)
Tartu-Toravere	Estonia	Record low minimum temperature	-8.2 C (17.2 F)	30 of 100 (Routine)
Matagorda #2	United States	Record daily precipitation	84.3 mm (3.3 in)	30 of 100 (Routine)
Yorktown	United States	Record daily precipitation	66.3 mm (2.6 in)	30 of 100 (Routine)
Benbrook Dam	United States	Record daily precipitation	90.4 mm (3.6 in)	29 of 100 (Routine)
Fazenda Paraiso	Brazil	Record daily precipitation	32.8 mm (1.3 in)	28 of 100 (Routine)
Chesterfield	Canada	Record daily snowfall	12.9 cm (5.1 in)	28 of 100 (Routine)
Miahuatlan (Smn)	Mexico	Record daily precipitation	29.5 mm (1.2 in)	28 of 100 (Routine)
Ciudad del Maiz (Smn)	Mexico	Record daily precipitation	31.0 mm (1.2 in)	28 of 100 (Routine)
Vologda	Russia	Record low minimum temperature	-15.1 C (4.8 F)	28 of 100 (Routine)
Kostroma	Russia	Record low minimum temperature	-11.6 C (11.1 F)	28 of 100 (Routine)
Oktjabrskaja	Russia	Record low maximum temperature	-5.9 C (21.4 F)	28 of 100 (Routine)
Oelwein 2 S	United States	Record daily precipitation	47.5 mm (1.9 in)	28 of 100 (Routine)
Oberlin	United States	Record daily precipitation	30.5 mm (1.2 in)	28 of 100 (Routine)
Sugartown	United States	Record daily precipitation	39.4 mm (1.6 in)	28 of 100 (Routine)
Pocinhos (Joffily)	Brazil	Record daily precipitation	64.8 mm (2.6 in)	27 of 100 (Routine)
Parnu	Estonia	Record low minimum temperature	-5.3 C (22.5 F)	27 of 100 (Routine)
Tot-Ma	Russia	Record low maximum temperature	-3.4 C (25.9 F)	27 of 100 (Routine)
Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskij	Russia	Record low maximum temperature	-3.8 C (25.2 F)	27 of 100 (Routine)
Gyzylarbat	Turkmenistan	Record high minimum temperature	18.6 C (65.5 F)	27 of 100 (Routine)

Counts by Type and Timescale

495 records

Records set or tied on 20 April 1979 by type: Highest daily maximum 29, Lowest daily maximum 90, Highest daily minimum 42, Lowest daily minimum 108, Heaviest daily rainfall 212, Heaviest daily snowfall 5, Deepest snow cover 9.

Records on 20 April 1979 by type
Record type	Records
Highest daily maximum	29
Lowest daily maximum	90
Highest daily minimum	42
Lowest daily minimum	108
Heaviest daily rainfall	212
Heaviest daily snowfall	5
Deepest snow cover	9

Records on 20 April 1979 by timescale: all-time 1, monthly 11, daily 483.

How Much Records Were Beaten By

438 broken records

Margins by which the 438 broken records beat the old ones, in degrees Celsius for temperature and millimetres for precipitation and snow; the largest margin was 1245.0. Ties are not counted.

Top 20 by Significance

20 April 1979

Top 20 records on 20 April 1979 by significance
Date	Station	Record	Value	Beat old record by	Old record stood	Significance
20 April 1979	Sterkstroom (Pol), ZA	daily rain	46.0 mm (1.8 in)	34.1 mm (1.3 in)	90 years	76 of 100 (Major)
20 April 1979	Rustplaats, ZA	monthly rain	86.7 mm (3.4 in)	39.2 mm (1.5 in)	3 years	57 of 100 (Notable)
20 April 1979	Vinton, US	daily rain	59.2 mm (2.3 in)	26.2 mm (1.0 in)	85 years	57 of 100 (Notable)
20 April 1979	Tot-Ma, RU	daily low min	-21.8 C (-7.2 F)	11.4 C (20.5 F)	84 years	54 of 100 (Notable)
20 April 1979	Kafferrivier (Pol), ZA	daily rain	70.0 mm (2.8 in)	49.7 mm (2.0 in)	32 years	54 of 100 (Notable)
20 April 1979	Aquiles Serdan 46, MX	daily rain	38.6 mm (1.5 in)	24.4 mm (1.0 in)	22 years	50 of 100 (Notable)
20 April 1979	Tenango de Doria, MX	daily rain	39.9 mm (1.6 in)	34.1 mm (1.3 in)	26 years	49 of 100 (Notable)
20 April 1979	Shenkursk, RU	daily low min	-20.7 C (-5.3 F)	8.7 C (15.7 F)	85 years	48 of 100 (Notable)
20 April 1979	Claude, US	daily rain	51.8 mm (2.0 in)	30.2 mm (1.2 in)	52 years	48 of 100 (Notable)
20 April 1979	Junction 4SSW, US	daily rain	69.9 mm (2.8 in)	38.7 mm (1.5 in)	49 years	47 of 100 (Notable)
20 April 1979	Evadale, US	daily rain	132.6 mm (5.2 in)	81.8 mm (3.2 in)	33 years	46 of 100 (Notable)
20 April 1979	Longview, US	daily rain	57.7 mm (2.3 in)	36.1 mm (1.4 in)	66 years	45 of 100 (Notable)
20 April 1979	Elandshoek, Boston, ZA	daily rain	27.8 mm (1.1 in)	14.1 mm (0.6 in)	73 years	43 of 100 (Notable)
20 April 1979	Manley Hot Springs, US	monthly rain	26.4 mm (1.0 in)	8.4 mm (0.33 in)	12 years	43 of 100 (Notable)
20 April 1979	Jhb-Joubert Park, ZA	daily rain	55.0 mm (2.2 in)	15.9 mm (0.6 in)	61 years	42 of 100 (Notable)
20 April 1979	Orange, US	daily rain	133.4 mm (5.3 in)	87.7 mm (3.5 in)	1 year	42 of 100 (Notable)
20 April 1979	Waller, US	monthly rain	138.2 mm (5.4 in)	43.5 mm (1.7 in)	25 years	42 of 100 (Notable)
20 April 1979	Harlan, US	daily rain	45.2 mm (1.8 in)	10.4 mm (0.4 in)	79 years	41 of 100 (Notable)
20 April 1979	Belle Plaine, US	daily rain	55.1 mm (2.2 in)	18.5 mm (0.7 in)	48 years	40 of 100 (Notable)
20 April 1979	Hawkestone, Howick, ZA	daily rain	44.7 mm (1.8 in)	31.5 mm (1.2 in)	17 years	39 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

1807 to 1979

Records set or tied on this calendar date in each year from 1807 to 1979. 1979 had 495 records.

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

Records on 04-20 in each year
Year	Records
1807	3
1817	1
1838	1
1849	2
1851	1
1852	4
1854	1
1858	1
1860	1
1864	1
1865	3
1868	1
1869	1
1870	1
1872	1
1874	3
1875	4
1876	1
1878	2
1880	2
1881	2
1884	1
1885	1
1886	2
1889	1
1891	2
1892	1
1893	6
1894	8
1895	7
1896	3
1897	6
1898	1
1899	1
1901	8
1902	3
1903	14
1904	31
1905	9
1906	12
1907	18
1908	14
1909	22
1910	25
1911	18
1912	12
1913	19
1914	46
1915	45
1916	19
1917	33
1918	42
1919	17
1920	49
1921	27
1922	40
1923	157
1924	113
1925	169
1926	310
1927	442
1928	212
1929	182
1930	87
1931	255
1932	166
1933	279
1934	384
1935	384
1936	311
1937	427
1938	339
1939	158
1940	519
1941	558
1942	223
1943	670
1944	304
1945	391
1946	395
1947	308
1948	493
1949	477
1950	329
1951	690
1952	552
1953	1,071
1954	377
1955	623
1956	384
1957	730
1958	327
1959	563
1960	472
1961	1,078
1962	487
1963	595
1964	749
1965	724
1966	1,174
1967	864
1968	975
1969	382
1970	948
1971	765
1972	531
1973	982
1974	673
1975	344
1976	661
1977	693
1978	800
1979	495
1980	1,539
1981	706
1982	906
1983	1,844
1984	922
1985	1,140
1986	770
1987	1,447
1988	1,144
1989	1,187
1990	1,495
1991	1,075
1992	1,009
1993	772
1994	756
1995	1,351
1996	970
1997	833
1998	1,490
1999	674
2000	931
2001	752
2002	1,081
2003	758
2004	567
2005	707
2006	859
2007	582
2008	1,110
2009	845
2010	693
2011	1,477
2012	726
2013	1,520
2014	384
2015	702
2016	650
2017	734
2018	1,309
2019	1,019
2020	449
2021	1,215
2022	596
2023	828
2024	673
2025	836
2026	533

Download the Data

Data for records on 1979-04-20: 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 200	436
200 to 400	1
400 to 600	0
600 to 800	0
800 to 1000	0
1000 to 1200	0
1200 to 1400	1