Weather Records on 18 January 1981

1,072 weather records were set or tied worldwide on 18 January 1981. Highest significance: Kieskamahoek (Pol), ZA.

Key Facts for 18 January 1981

On 18 January 1981, 1,072 weather records were set or tied at long-record stations worldwide.
379 were record highs and 237 were record lows, counting maximum and minimum temperature.
By timescale, 28 were all-time records, 35 monthly and 1,009 daily.
Kieskamahoek (Pol) set a daily record precipitation of 90.0 mm (3.5 in) on 18 January 1981.
Across 161 earlier years (1795 to 2026) the same calendar date averaged 489 records.

Record Map

1,072 stations

1,072 station records on 18 January 1981 are marked on the map, coloured by record type. Dot size shows the significance score. Made with Natural Earth.

Weather records on 18 January 1981: highest significance records shown on the map
Station	Country	Type	Value	Significance
Kieskamahoek (Pol)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	90.0 mm (3.5 in)	65 of 100 (Major)
Marathon	United States	Record daily snowfall	12.7 cm (5.0 in)	58 of 100 (Notable)
Afton Downs Station	Australia	Record daily precipitation	91.0 mm (3.6 in)	55 of 100 (Notable)
Zara Station	Australia	Record daily precipitation	101.0 mm (4.0 in)	55 of 100 (Notable)
Sholapur	India	Record daily precipitation	27.9 mm (1.1 in)	52 of 100 (Notable)
Grindstone Island	Canada	Record daily snowfall	38.4 cm (15.1 in)	50 of 100 (Notable)
Letaba Estates	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	114.5 mm (4.5 in)	50 of 100 (Notable)
Lordsburg 4 SE	United States	Record daily snowfall	7.6 cm (3.0 in)	48 of 100 (Notable)
Coalcoman (Smn)	Mexico	Record low maximum temperature	16.7 C (62.1 F)	47 of 100 (Notable)
Brunette Downs	Australia	Record daily precipitation	68.6 mm (2.7 in)	46 of 100 (Notable)
Katandra	Australia	Record daily precipitation	203.2 mm (8.0 in)	46 of 100 (Notable)
La Union	Mexico	Record daily precipitation	25.1 mm (1.0 in)	46 of 100 (Notable)
Paso del Cuarenta I	Mexico	Record daily precipitation	28.7 mm (1.1 in)	46 of 100 (Notable)
Palpan	Mexico	Record low maximum temperature	11.7 C (53.1 F)	46 of 100 (Notable)
Roseway	Canada	Record daily snowfall	36.0 cm (14.2 in)	45 of 100 (Notable)
Crescent City 3 NNW	United States	Record high minimum temperature	15.6 C (60.1 F)	45 of 100 (Notable)
Ashland	United States	Record high minimum temperature	12.8 C (55.0 F)	45 of 100 (Notable)
Bowling Green Wwtp	United States	Record snow depth	35.6 cm (14.0 in)	44 of 100 (Notable)
Valencia Estates	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	86.0 mm (3.4 in)	43 of 100 (Notable)
Leeuwfontein	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	105.5 mm (4.2 in)	43 of 100 (Notable)
Elephant Butte Dam	United States	Record daily snowfall	7.6 cm (3.0 in)	43 of 100 (Notable)
Ajojucar	Mexico	Record low maximum temperature	8.9 C (48.0 F)	42 of 100 (Notable)
Port Shepstone	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	62.0 mm (2.4 in)	41 of 100 (Notable)
Wilburra Downs Station	Australia	Record daily precipitation	75.0 mm (3.0 in)	40 of 100 (Notable)
Maseru	Lesotho	Record daily precipitation	34.0 mm (1.3 in)	40 of 100 (Notable)
Hughenden Post Office	Australia	Record daily precipitation	79.8 mm (3.1 in)	39 of 100 (Notable)
Yalleroi	Australia	Record daily precipitation	79.2 mm (3.1 in)	39 of 100 (Notable)
Pio IX (Patrocinio)	Brazil	Record daily precipitation	55.8 mm (2.2 in)	39 of 100 (Notable)
Harmony	Canada	Record daily snowfall	43.0 cm (16.9 in)	39 of 100 (Notable)
Kemptville	Canada	Record daily snowfall	25.0 cm (9.8 in)	39 of 100 (Notable)
Briksdal	Norway	Record snow depth	84.0 cm (33.1 in)	39 of 100 (Notable)
Stamford Station	Australia	Record daily precipitation	74.5 mm (2.9 in)	38 of 100 (Notable)
Lagoinha	Brazil	Record daily precipitation	66.2 mm (2.6 in)	38 of 100 (Notable)
Santa Cruz Juventino Rosas (S	Mexico	Record low maximum temperature	10.0 C (50.0 F)	38 of 100 (Notable)
Atoyac (Smn)	Mexico	Record low maximum temperature	20.6 C (69.1 F)	38 of 100 (Notable)
Ciudad Victoria	Mexico	Record daily precipitation	26.0 mm (1.0 in)	37 of 100 (Notable)
Zinapecuaro	Mexico	Record daily precipitation	57.4 mm (2.3 in)	37 of 100 (Notable)
Hutchinson 1 N	United States	Record high maximum temperature	9.4 C (48.9 F)	37 of 100 (Notable)
Camoola Park	Australia	Record daily precipitation	26.0 mm (1.0 in)	36 of 100 (Notable)
Tuxcueca	Mexico	Record low maximum temperature	10.6 C (51.1 F)	36 of 100 (Notable)
San Pedro Piedra Gorda -Ciuda	Mexico	Record daily precipitation	43.9 mm (1.7 in)	36 of 100 (Notable)
Dividalen	Norway	Record snow depth	80.0 cm (31.5 in)	36 of 100 (Notable)
Leech Lake	United States	Record high maximum temperature	8.9 C (48.0 F)	36 of 100 (Notable)
Ft Stockton	United States	Record snow depth	12.7 cm (5.0 in)	36 of 100 (Notable)
Sandspit A	Canada	Record daily precipitation	47.4 mm (1.9 in)	35 of 100 (Notable)
Tbilisi	Georgia	Record high minimum temperature	6.0 C (42.8 F)	35 of 100 (Notable)
Cape Hermes	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	69.0 mm (2.7 in)	35 of 100 (Notable)
Crescent City	United States	Record low maximum temperature	10.0 C (50.0 F)	35 of 100 (Notable)
Pine Rvr Dam	United States	Record high maximum temperature	9.4 C (48.9 F)	35 of 100 (Notable)
Grandfalls 3SSE	United States	Record daily snowfall	15.2 cm (6.0 in)	35 of 100 (Notable)
Lake Nash	Australia	Record daily precipitation	102.0 mm (4.0 in)	34 of 100 (Routine)
Presa Jocoque	Mexico	Record low maximum temperature	5.6 C (42.1 F)	34 of 100 (Routine)
Lysebotn	Norway	Record snow depth	40.0 cm (15.7 in)	34 of 100 (Routine)
Pafuri	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	56.0 mm (2.2 in)	34 of 100 (Routine)
Glenwood 2WNW	United States	Record high maximum temperature	5.6 C (42.1 F)	34 of 100 (Routine)
Clearwater	United States	Record high minimum temperature	9.4 C (48.9 F)	34 of 100 (Routine)
Morstone Station	Australia	Record daily precipitation	53.0 mm (2.1 in)	33 of 100 (Routine)
Presa Potrerillos	Mexico	Record daily precipitation	27.2 mm (1.1 in)	33 of 100 (Routine)
Jocotepec	Mexico	Record daily precipitation	28.4 mm (1.1 in)	33 of 100 (Routine)
Villa Purificacion (Smn)	Mexico	Record low maximum temperature	17.2 C (63.0 F)	33 of 100 (Routine)

Counts by Type and Timescale

1,072 records

Records set or tied on 18 January 1981 by type: Highest daily maximum 262, Lowest daily maximum 166, Highest daily minimum 117, Lowest daily minimum 71, Heaviest daily rainfall 331, Heaviest daily snowfall 53, Deepest snow cover 72.

Records on 18 January 1981 by type
Record type	Records
Highest daily maximum	262
Lowest daily maximum	166
Highest daily minimum	117
Lowest daily minimum	71
Heaviest daily rainfall	331
Heaviest daily snowfall	53
Deepest snow cover	72

Records on 18 January 1981 by timescale: all-time 28, monthly 35, daily 1,009.

How Much Records Were Beaten By

920 broken records

Margins by which the 920 broken records beat the old ones, in degrees Celsius for temperature and millimetres for precipitation and snow; the largest margin was 310.0. Ties are not counted.

Top 20 by Significance

18 January 1981

Top 20 records on 18 January 1981 by significance
Date	Station	Record	Value	Beat old record by	Old record stood	Significance
18 January 1981	Kieskamahoek (Pol), ZA	daily rain	90.0 mm (3.5 in)	75.0 mm (3.0 in)	55 years	65 of 100 (Major)
18 January 1981	Marathon, US	daily snowfall	12.7 cm (5.0 in)	12.7 cm (5.0 in)	83 years	58 of 100 (Notable)
18 January 1981	Afton Downs Station, AU	daily rain	91.0 mm (3.6 in)	75.0 mm (3.0 in)	31 years	55 of 100 (Notable)
18 January 1981	Zara Station, AU	daily rain	101.0 mm (4.0 in)	69.2 mm (2.7 in)	31 years	55 of 100 (Notable)
18 January 1981	Sholapur, IN	daily rain	27.9 mm (1.1 in)	27.9 mm (1.1 in)	80 years	52 of 100 (Notable)
18 January 1981	Grindstone Island, CA	daily snowfall	38.4 cm (15.1 in)	25.2 cm (9.9 in)	3 years	50 of 100 (Notable)
18 January 1981	Letaba Estates, ZA	daily rain	114.5 mm (4.5 in)	71.6 mm (2.8 in)	51 years	50 of 100 (Notable)
18 January 1981	Lordsburg 4 SE, US	daily snowfall	7.6 cm (3.0 in)	7.6 cm (3.0 in)	86 years	48 of 100 (Notable)
18 January 1981	Coalcoman (Smn), MX	daily low max	16.7 C (62.1 F)	7.2 C (13.0 F)	54 years	47 of 100 (Notable)
18 January 1981	Brunette Downs, AU	daily rain	68.6 mm (2.7 in)	26.9 mm (1.1 in)	84 years	46 of 100 (Notable)
18 January 1981	Katandra, AU	all-time rain	203.2 mm (8.0 in)	6.6 mm (0.26 in)	47 years	46 of 100 (Notable)
18 January 1981	La Union, MX	daily rain	25.1 mm (1.0 in)	25.1 mm (1.0 in)	55 years	46 of 100 (Notable)
18 January 1981	Paso del Cuarenta I, MX	daily rain	28.7 mm (1.1 in)	23.4 mm (0.9 in)	33 years	46 of 100 (Notable)
18 January 1981	Palpan, MX	daily low max	11.7 C (53.1 F)	11.1 C (20.0 F)	4 years	46 of 100 (Notable)
18 January 1981	Roseway, CA	all-time snowfall	36.0 cm (14.2 in)	8.1 cm (3.2 in)	24 years	45 of 100 (Notable)
18 January 1981	Crescent City 3 NNW, US	monthly high min	15.6 C (60.1 F)	2.3 C (4.1 F)	71 years	45 of 100 (Notable)
18 January 1981	Ashland, US	monthly high min	12.8 C (55.0 F)	1.7 C (3.1 F)	76 years	45 of 100 (Notable)
18 January 1981	Bowling Green Wwtp, US	daily snow depth	35.6 cm (14.0 in)	15.3 cm (6.0 in)	54 years	44 of 100 (Notable)
18 January 1981	Valencia Estates, ZA	daily rain	86.0 mm (3.4 in)	52.0 mm (2.0 in)	50 years	43 of 100 (Notable)
18 January 1981	Leeuwfontein, ZA	daily rain	105.5 mm (4.2 in)	59.5 mm (2.3 in)	45 years	43 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 1981

Records set or tied on this calendar date in each year from 1795 to 1981. 1981 had 1,072 records.

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

Records on 01-18 in each year
Year	Records
1795	2
1804	2
1809	1
1828	2
1834	2
1838	2
1841	1
1844	1
1845	1
1849	1
1858	2
1863	1
1864	2
1866	1
1868	1
1872	2
1873	1
1874	1
1875	1
1876	4
1877	1
1879	1
1883	1
1886	2
1887	2
1889	4
1890	1
1891	2
1893	5
1894	8
1895	3
1896	7
1897	6
1898	1
1899	5
1900	7
1901	4
1902	1
1903	2
1904	21
1905	16
1906	30
1907	8
1908	15
1909	5
1910	50
1911	101
1912	5
1913	58
1914	30
1915	57
1916	53
1917	53
1918	65
1919	38
1920	109
1921	72
1922	28
1923	166
1924	62
1925	188
1926	233
1927	233
1928	451
1929	588
1930	951
1931	235
1932	221
1933	343
1934	136
1935	400
1936	385
1937	475
1938	194
1939	285
1940	1,364
1941	277
1942	617
1943	1,380
1944	589
1945	363
1946	1,142
1947	290
1948	717
1949	664
1950	1,184
1951	748
1952	440
1953	444
1954	347
1955	487
1956	387
1957	830
1958	345
1959	613
1960	561
1961	287
1962	652
1963	478
1964	302
1965	537
1966	369
1967	523
1968	508
1969	616
1970	796
1971	953
1972	729
1973	1,334
1974	1,077
1975	822
1976	835
1977	2,053
1978	1,365
1979	997
1980	517
1981	1,072
1982	1,267
1983	581
1984	1,630
1985	536
1986	1,359
1987	1,419
1988	825
1989	679
1990	1,536
1991	612
1992	718
1993	1,383
1994	2,673
1995	907
1996	2,155
1997	1,026
1998	887
1999	909
2000	1,141
2001	639
2002	554
2003	826
2004	662
2005	807
2006	1,229
2007	2,059
2008	947
2009	682
2010	720
2011	755
2012	914
2013	709
2014	442
2015	527
2016	599
2017	799
2018	1,033
2019	490
2020	932
2021	371
2022	423
2023	941
2024	1,075
2025	987
2026	350

Download the Data

Data for records on 1981-01-18: 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 50	859
50 to 100	47
100 to 150	5
150 to 200	4
200 to 250	2
250 to 300	2
300 to 350	1