Weather Records on 21 December 1979

558 weather records were set or tied worldwide on 21 December 1979. Highest significance: Krakmo, NO.

Key Facts for 21 December 1979

On 21 December 1979, 558 weather records were set or tied at long-record stations worldwide.
340 were record highs and 56 were record lows, counting maximum and minimum temperature.
By timescale, 0 were all-time records, 5 monthly and 553 daily.
Krakmo set a daily record precipitation of 71.1 mm (2.8 in) on 21 December 1979.
Across 158 earlier years (1793 to 2025) the same calendar date averaged 489 records.

Record Map

558 stations

558 station records on 21 December 1979 are marked on the map, coloured by record type. Dot size shows the significance score. Made with Natural Earth.

Weather records on 21 December 1979: highest significance records shown on the map
Station	Country	Type	Value	Significance
Krakmo	Norway	Record daily precipitation	71.1 mm (2.8 in)	63 of 100 (Major)
De Emigratie	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	74.4 mm (2.9 in)	60 of 100 (Major)
Eagle	United States	Record daily snowfall	17.8 cm (7.0 in)	51 of 100 (Notable)
Texarkana Webb Fld	United States	Record high minimum temperature	16.1 C (61.0 F)	38 of 100 (Notable)
Steigen	Norway	Record daily precipitation	37.5 mm (1.5 in)	37 of 100 (Notable)
Glenbrook	United States	Record daily snowfall	17.8 cm (7.0 in)	37 of 100 (Notable)
Red Lake Indian Agcy	United States	Record high maximum temperature	8.9 C (48.0 F)	36 of 100 (Notable)
Ajan	Russia	Record daily precipitation	30.3 mm (1.2 in)	35 of 100 (Notable)
Cumikan	Russia	Record daily precipitation	32.0 mm (1.3 in)	35 of 100 (Notable)
Den Haag	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	43.5 mm (1.7 in)	35 of 100 (Notable)
Crookston NW Exp STN	United States	Record high minimum temperature	-2.8 C (27.0 F)	35 of 100 (Notable)
Ellendale	United States	Record high maximum temperature	13.3 C (55.9 F)	35 of 100 (Notable)
Brady	United States	Record high maximum temperature	25.6 C (78.1 F)	34 of 100 (Routine)
Port Washington	United States	Record high minimum temperature	1.7 C (35.1 F)	34 of 100 (Routine)
Franca	Brazil	Record daily precipitation	75.7 mm (3.0 in)	33 of 100 (Routine)
Sisseton	United States	Record high maximum temperature	11.7 C (53.1 F)	33 of 100 (Routine)
Oujda	Morocco	Record low maximum temperature	7.0 C (44.6 F)	32 of 100 (Routine)
Alldays	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	60.0 mm (2.4 in)	32 of 100 (Routine)
Tucson WFO	United States	Record high minimum temperature	11.1 C (52.0 F)	32 of 100 (Routine)
Grand Forks UNIV (NWS)	United States	Record high maximum temperature	6.1 C (43.0 F)	32 of 100 (Routine)
Washburn	United States	Record high maximum temperature	10.0 C (50.0 F)	32 of 100 (Routine)
Coimbra	Portugal	Record low minimum temperature	-1.5 C (29.3 F)	31 of 100 (Routine)
Utuado	Puerto Rico [United States]	Record low maximum temperature	23.3 C (73.9 F)	31 of 100 (Routine)
Larimore 4SW	United States	Record high minimum temperature	-1.7 C (28.9 F)	31 of 100 (Routine)
Wessington Springs	United States	Record high maximum temperature	11.1 C (52.0 F)	31 of 100 (Routine)
Sonora	United States	Record high minimum temperature	8.9 C (48.0 F)	31 of 100 (Routine)
South Grafton Post Office	Australia	Record daily precipitation	40.0 mm (1.6 in)	30 of 100 (Routine)
Santa Lucia	Brazil	Record daily precipitation	93.6 mm (3.7 in)	30 of 100 (Routine)
Boca	United States	Record daily snowfall	10.2 cm (4.0 in)	30 of 100 (Routine)
Hallock	United States	Record high minimum temperature	-4.4 C (24.1 F)	30 of 100 (Routine)
Jamestown State Hosp	United States	Record high maximum temperature	10.0 C (50.0 F)	30 of 100 (Routine)
Fort Huachuca	United States	Record high minimum temperature	7.8 C (46.0 F)	30 of 100 (Routine)
Amberley AMO	Australia	Record daily precipitation	68.8 mm (2.7 in)	29 of 100 (Routine)
Mayo A	Canada	Record daily snowfall	12.5 cm (4.9 in)	29 of 100 (Routine)
Barkly East	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	28.5 mm (1.1 in)	29 of 100 (Routine)
Bottineau	United States	Record high minimum temperature	-5.6 C (21.9 F)	29 of 100 (Routine)
Hannah 2 N	United States	Record high minimum temperature	-3.9 C (25.0 F)	29 of 100 (Routine)
Andradina	Brazil	Record daily precipitation	71.8 mm (2.8 in)	28 of 100 (Routine)
Fazenda Boa Vista de Jacare	Brazil	Record daily precipitation	51.9 mm (2.0 in)	28 of 100 (Routine)
Lagoa Dos Cochos	Brazil	Record daily precipitation	54.8 mm (2.2 in)	28 of 100 (Routine)
Swan River	Canada	Record high maximum temperature	6.0 C (42.8 F)	28 of 100 (Routine)
Jaen (Instituto)	Spain	Record low minimum temperature	-2.6 C (27.3 F)	28 of 100 (Routine)
Cameron	United States	Record high minimum temperature	15.0 C (59.0 F)	28 of 100 (Routine)
McAlester Rgnl AP	United States	Record high minimum temperature	12.8 C (55.0 F)	28 of 100 (Routine)
Hobart Muni AP	United States	Record high minimum temperature	5.6 C (42.1 F)	28 of 100 (Routine)
Kholo	Australia	Record daily precipitation	57.2 mm (2.3 in)	27 of 100 (Routine)
Panuco (Smn)	Mexico	Record low maximum temperature	10.6 C (51.1 F)	27 of 100 (Routine)
Fosston 1 E	United States	Record high maximum temperature	8.3 C (46.9 F)	27 of 100 (Routine)
Warroad	United States	Record high minimum temperature	-3.3 C (26.1 F)	27 of 100 (Routine)
Barbers Point NAS	United States	Record high maximum temperature	31.7 C (89.1 F)	27 of 100 (Routine)
Corozal Substn	Puerto Rico [United States]	Record low maximum temperature	22.8 C (73.0 F)	26 of 100 (Routine)
Canfield 1 S	United States	Record high maximum temperature	15.0 C (59.0 F)	26 of 100 (Routine)
Koosharem	United States	Record daily snowfall	7.6 cm (3.0 in)	26 of 100 (Routine)
Moroni	United States	Record daily snowfall	22.9 cm (9.0 in)	26 of 100 (Routine)
Waialua 847	United States	Record high maximum temperature	28.9 C (84.0 F)	26 of 100 (Routine)
Summerland Cda	Canada	Record high minimum temperature	4.0 C (39.2 F)	25 of 100 (Routine)
La Poza Grande	Mexico	Record high minimum temperature	18.9 C (66.0 F)	25 of 100 (Routine)
Frontera Hidalgo	Mexico	Record high maximum temperature	36.7 C (98.1 F)	25 of 100 (Routine)
Lome	Togo	Record high minimum temperature	26.6 C (79.9 F)	25 of 100 (Routine)
Doyle	United States	Record daily snowfall	6.4 cm (2.5 in)	25 of 100 (Routine)

Counts by Type and Timescale

558 records

Records set or tied on 21 December 1979 by type: Highest daily maximum 134, Lowest daily maximum 35, Highest daily minimum 206, Lowest daily minimum 21, Heaviest daily rainfall 133, Heaviest daily snowfall 22, Deepest snow cover 7.

Records on 21 December 1979 by type
Record type	Records
Highest daily maximum	134
Lowest daily maximum	35
Highest daily minimum	206
Lowest daily minimum	21
Heaviest daily rainfall	133
Heaviest daily snowfall	22
Deepest snow cover	7

Records on 21 December 1979 by timescale: all-time 0, monthly 5, daily 553.

How Much Records Were Beaten By

464 broken records

Margins by which the 464 broken records beat the old ones, in degrees Celsius for temperature and millimetres for precipitation and snow; the largest margin was 153.0. Ties are not counted.

Top 20 by Significance

21 December 1979

Top 20 records on 21 December 1979 by significance
Date	Station	Record	Value	Beat old record by	Old record stood	Significance
21 December 1979	Krakmo, NO	daily rain	71.1 mm (2.8 in)	40.7 mm (1.6 in)	64 years	63 of 100 (Major)
21 December 1979	De Emigratie, ZA	daily rain	74.4 mm (2.9 in)	39.9 mm (1.6 in)	68 years	60 of 100 (Major)
21 December 1979	Eagle, US	daily snowfall	17.8 cm (7.0 in)	10.2 cm (4.0 in)	57 years	51 of 100 (Notable)
21 December 1979	Texarkana Webb Fld, US	daily high min	16.1 C (61.0 F)	5.0 C (9.0 F)	74 years	38 of 100 (Notable)
21 December 1979	Steigen, NO	daily rain	37.5 mm (1.5 in)	18.7 mm (0.7 in)	4 years	37 of 100 (Notable)
21 December 1979	Glenbrook, US	daily snowfall	17.8 cm (7.0 in)	12.7 cm (5.0 in)	65 years	37 of 100 (Notable)
21 December 1979	Red Lake Indian Agcy, US	daily high max	8.9 C (48.0 F)	2.8 C (5.0 F)	84 years	36 of 100 (Notable)
21 December 1979	Ajan, RU	monthly rain	30.3 mm (1.2 in)	7.4 mm (0.29 in)	17 years	35 of 100 (Notable)
21 December 1979	Cumikan, RU	daily rain	32.0 mm (1.3 in)	12.2 mm (0.5 in)	36 years	35 of 100 (Notable)
21 December 1979	Den Haag, ZA	daily rain	43.5 mm (1.7 in)	20.6 mm (0.8 in)	38 years	35 of 100 (Notable)
21 December 1979	Crookston NW Exp STN, US	daily high min	-2.8 C (27.0 F)	1.1 C (2.0 F)	83 years	35 of 100 (Notable)
21 December 1979	Ellendale, US	daily high max	13.3 C (55.9 F)	3.3 C (5.9 F)	78 years	35 of 100 (Notable)
21 December 1979	Brady, US	daily high max	25.6 C (78.1 F)	1.2 C (2.2 F)	84 years	34 of 100 (Routine)
21 December 1979	Port Washington, US	daily high min	1.7 C (35.1 F)	1.1 C (2.0 F)	83 years	34 of 100 (Routine)
21 December 1979	Franca, BR	daily rain	75.7 mm (3.0 in)	29.5 mm (1.2 in)	38 years	33 of 100 (Routine)
21 December 1979	Sisseton, US	daily high max	11.7 C (53.1 F)	1.7 C (3.1 F)	78 years	33 of 100 (Routine)
21 December 1979	Oujda, MA	daily low max	7.0 C (44.6 F)	2.0 C (3.6 F)	68 years	32 of 100 (Routine)
21 December 1979	Alldays, ZA	daily rain	60.0 mm (2.4 in)	31.0 mm (1.2 in)	41 years	32 of 100 (Routine)
21 December 1979	Tucson WFO, US	daily high min	11.1 C (52.0 F)	1.1 C (2.0 F)	74 years	32 of 100 (Routine)
21 December 1979	Grand Forks UNIV (NWS), US	daily high max	6.1 C (43.0 F)	1.1 C (2.0 F)	78 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

1793 to 1979

Records set or tied on this calendar date in each year from 1793 to 1979. 1979 had 558 records.

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

Records on 12-21 in each year
Year	Records
1793	1
1794	1
1799	1
1801	2
1808	3
1825	1
1828	1
1839	1
1846	1
1850	1
1855	7
1859	1
1860	1
1868	1
1870	1
1871	2
1874	2
1875	3
1876	1
1877	1
1878	1
1879	1
1880	1
1884	1
1886	3
1889	1
1890	4
1893	4
1894	1
1895	5
1896	3
1897	3
1898	1
1900	8
1901	15
1902	5
1903	25
1904	3
1905	15
1906	15
1907	17
1908	19
1909	20
1910	29
1911	36
1912	23
1913	11
1914	107
1915	43
1916	40
1917	18
1918	41
1919	57
1920	30
1921	104
1922	34
1923	323
1924	377
1925	120
1926	178
1927	147
1928	70
1929	156
1930	66
1931	556
1932	150
1933	581
1934	230
1935	398
1936	323
1937	189
1938	145
1939	140
1940	622
1941	651
1942	968
1943	148
1944	762
1945	396
1946	495
1947	700
1948	297
1949	1,281
1950	504
1951	1,061
1952	197
1953	256
1954	444
1955	888
1956	672
1957	846
1958	516
1959	272
1960	585
1961	254
1962	563
1963	1,137
1964	613
1965	247
1966	400
1967	1,923
1968	818
1969	828
1970	547
1971	680
1972	651
1973	1,292
1974	374
1975	548
1976	446
1977	470
1978	517
1979	558
1980	726
1981	1,476
1982	702
1983	3,324
1984	1,012
1985	979
1986	404
1987	775
1988	717
1989	3,203
1990	2,701
1991	1,125
1992	751
1993	967
1994	793
1995	878
1996	1,114
1997	810
1998	1,142
1999	851
2000	944
2001	650
2002	579
2003	1,103
2004	675
2005	606
2006	1,443
2007	946
2008	1,062
2009	1,097
2010	2,039
2011	653
2012	759
2013	1,029
2014	878
2015	1,173
2016	543
2017	459
2018	742
2019	755
2020	965
2021	323
2022	528
2023	1,170
2024	778
2025	1,099

Download the Data

Data for records on 1979-12-21: 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 2026-10-14 (14 October 2026). Records are computed by this site and are not official.

Data as of 2026-10-12. Last revised 12 October 2026 (2026-10-12).

Margin	Records
0 to 20	430
20 to 40	22
40 to 60	5
60 to 80	4
80 to 100	0
100 to 120	1
120 to 140	1
140 to 160	1