Weather Records on 31 January 1981

687 weather records were set or tied worldwide on 31 January 1981. Highest significance: Tshakhuma, ZA.

Key Facts for 31 January 1981

On 31 January 1981, 687 weather records were set or tied at long-record stations worldwide.
199 were record highs and 69 were record lows, counting maximum and minimum temperature.
By timescale, 3 were all-time records, 13 monthly and 671 daily.
Tshakhuma set an all-time record daily precipitation of 316.0 mm (12.4 in) on 31 January 1981.
Across 162 earlier years (1800 to 2026) the same calendar date averaged 501 records.

Record Map

687 stations

687 station records on 31 January 1981 are marked on the map, coloured by record type. Dot size shows the significance score. Made with Natural Earth.

Weather records on 31 January 1981: highest significance records shown on the map
Station	Country	Type	Value	Significance
Tshakhuma	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	316.0 mm (12.4 in)	67 of 100 (Major)
Scottsbluff W B Heilig Fld AP	United States	Record daily snowfall	17.8 cm (7.0 in)	63 of 100 (Major)
Macumba	Australia	Record daily precipitation	32.2 mm (1.3 in)	57 of 100 (Notable)
Ernabella	Australia	Record daily precipitation	100.0 mm (3.9 in)	55 of 100 (Notable)
Richmond	United States	Record daily snowfall	20.3 cm (8.0 in)	50 of 100 (Notable)
Mitchell 5E	United States	Record daily snowfall	10.2 cm (4.0 in)	49 of 100 (Notable)
Auburn 5 ESE	United States	Record daily snowfall	20.3 cm (8.0 in)	48 of 100 (Notable)
Coloso	Puerto Rico [United States]	Record daily precipitation	50.8 mm (2.0 in)	46 of 100 (Notable)
Riverdale	United States	Record daily snowfall	35.6 cm (14.0 in)	45 of 100 (Notable)
Emerson	Canada	Record daily snowfall	7.0 cm (2.8 in)	44 of 100 (Notable)
Amatikulu(Mill)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	133.0 mm (5.2 in)	44 of 100 (Notable)
Black Lake	United States	Record daily snowfall	17.8 cm (7.0 in)	44 of 100 (Notable)
Utah Lake Lehi	United States	Record daily snowfall	12.7 cm (5.0 in)	44 of 100 (Notable)
Eads	United States	Record daily snowfall	17.8 cm (7.0 in)	43 of 100 (Notable)
Heppner	United States	Record daily precipitation	34.0 mm (1.3 in)	43 of 100 (Notable)
Holyoke	United States	Record daily snowfall	14.7 cm (5.8 in)	40 of 100 (Notable)
Hornindal	Norway	Record daily precipitation	50.8 mm (2.0 in)	39 of 100 (Notable)
Samnanger	Norway	Record daily precipitation	87.6 mm (3.4 in)	38 of 100 (Notable)
Lamoni	United States	Record daily snowfall	11.7 cm (4.6 in)	38 of 100 (Notable)
Forestburg 4 NNE	United States	Record daily snowfall	12.7 cm (5.0 in)	38 of 100 (Notable)
Sioux City AP	United States	Record daily snowfall	14.0 cm (5.5 in)	38 of 100 (Notable)
Entabeni (Bos)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	162.8 mm (6.4 in)	37 of 100 (Notable)
Sprague	Canada	Record daily snowfall	7.0 cm (2.8 in)	36 of 100 (Notable)
Bulwer (Tnk)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	79.9 mm (3.1 in)	36 of 100 (Notable)
Cookeville	United States	Record daily snowfall	7.6 cm (3.0 in)	36 of 100 (Notable)
Coober Pedy (McDouall Peak)	Australia	Record daily precipitation	29.0 mm (1.1 in)	35 of 100 (Notable)
Holter Dam	United States	Record daily snowfall	7.6 cm (3.0 in)	35 of 100 (Notable)
Red Lodge	United States	Record daily snowfall	33.0 cm (13.0 in)	35 of 100 (Notable)
Agate 3 E	United States	Record daily snowfall	9.4 cm (3.7 in)	35 of 100 (Notable)
Weeping Water	United States	Record daily snowfall	12.7 cm (5.0 in)	34 of 100 (Routine)
Langdon Exp Farm	United States	Record daily snowfall	7.6 cm (3.0 in)	34 of 100 (Routine)
La Grange	United States	Record daily snowfall	12.7 cm (5.0 in)	34 of 100 (Routine)
Kenora A	Canada	Record daily snowfall	8.0 cm (3.1 in)	33 of 100 (Routine)
Le Mars	United States	Record daily snowfall	9.4 cm (3.7 in)	33 of 100 (Routine)
Lyman	United States	Record daily snowfall	15.2 cm (6.0 in)	33 of 100 (Routine)
Bulken	Norway	Record daily precipitation	46.8 mm (1.8 in)	32 of 100 (Routine)
Warroad	United States	Record daily snowfall	10.2 cm (4.0 in)	32 of 100 (Routine)
Kenai AP	United States	Record high minimum temperature	0.6 C (33.1 F)	32 of 100 (Routine)
Mineirolandia	Brazil	Record daily precipitation	43.2 mm (1.7 in)	31 of 100 (Routine)
Dividalen	Norway	Record snow depth	78.0 cm (30.7 in)	30 of 100 (Routine)
Ponce 4 E	Puerto Rico [United States]	Record high minimum temperature	21.7 C (71.1 F)	30 of 100 (Routine)
Kirov	Russia	Record high minimum temperature	-3.9 C (25.0 F)	30 of 100 (Routine)
Glenwood 3SW	United States	Record daily snowfall	11.4 cm (4.5 in)	30 of 100 (Routine)
Sanborn	United States	Record daily snowfall	7.6 cm (3.0 in)	30 of 100 (Routine)
Artichoke Lake 1 E	United States	Record daily snowfall	10.2 cm (4.0 in)	30 of 100 (Routine)
Rhinelander	United States	Record daily snowfall	8.9 cm (3.5 in)	30 of 100 (Routine)
Mtn View 91	United States	Record high minimum temperature	18.9 C (66.0 F)	30 of 100 (Routine)
Lander AP	United States	Record daily snowfall	20.6 cm (8.1 in)	30 of 100 (Routine)
Klintonel	Canada	Record daily snowfall	9.9 cm (3.9 in)	29 of 100 (Routine)
Misurata	Libya	Record low maximum temperature	11.0 C (51.8 F)	29 of 100 (Routine)
Brekke I Sogn	Norway	Record daily precipitation	92.4 mm (3.6 in)	29 of 100 (Routine)
Minusinsk	Russia	Record high minimum temperature	-7.4 C (18.7 F)	29 of 100 (Routine)
Sheldon	United States	Record daily snowfall	7.6 cm (3.0 in)	29 of 100 (Routine)
Chadron 3SW	United States	Record daily snowfall	8.9 cm (3.5 in)	29 of 100 (Routine)
Mullen 3S	United States	Record daily snowfall	17.8 cm (7.0 in)	29 of 100 (Routine)
Oconto	United States	Record daily snowfall	7.6 cm (3.0 in)	29 of 100 (Routine)
Transou	United States	Record low minimum temperature	-25.0 C (-13.0 F)	29 of 100 (Routine)
Suhana	Russia	Record high minimum temperature	-23.2 C (-9.8 F)	28 of 100 (Routine)
Ordway 4 W	United States	Record daily precipitation	26.2 mm (1.0 in)	28 of 100 (Routine)
Arlington 1 W	United States	Record daily snowfall	15.2 cm (6.0 in)	28 of 100 (Routine)

Counts by Type and Timescale

687 records

Records set or tied on 31 January 1981 by type: Highest daily maximum 112, Lowest daily maximum 18, Highest daily minimum 87, Lowest daily minimum 51, Heaviest daily rainfall 212, Heaviest daily snowfall 160, Deepest snow cover 47.

Records on 31 January 1981 by type
Record type	Records
Highest daily maximum	112
Lowest daily maximum	18
Highest daily minimum	87
Lowest daily minimum	51
Heaviest daily rainfall	212
Heaviest daily snowfall	160
Deepest snow cover	47

Records on 31 January 1981 by timescale: all-time 3, monthly 13, daily 671.

How Much Records Were Beaten By

572 broken records

Margins by which the 572 broken records beat the old ones, in degrees Celsius for temperature and millimetres for precipitation and snow; the largest margin was 360.0. Ties are not counted.

Top 20 by Significance

31 January 1981

Top 20 records on 31 January 1981 by significance
Date	Station	Record	Value	Beat old record by	Old record stood	Significance
31 January 1981	Tshakhuma, ZA	all-time rain	316.0 mm (12.4 in)	72.2 mm (2.8 in)	66 years	67 of 100 (Major)
31 January 1981	Scottsbluff W B Heilig Fld AP, US	daily snowfall	17.8 cm (7.0 in)	10.2 cm (4.0 in)	85 years	63 of 100 (Major)
31 January 1981	Macumba, AU	daily rain	32.2 mm (1.3 in)	32.2 mm (1.3 in)	89 years	57 of 100 (Notable)
31 January 1981	Ernabella, AU	daily rain	100.0 mm (3.9 in)	67.2 mm (2.6 in)	39 years	55 of 100 (Notable)
31 January 1981	Richmond, US	daily snowfall	20.3 cm (8.0 in)	12.7 cm (5.0 in)	59 years	50 of 100 (Notable)
31 January 1981	Mitchell 5E, US	daily snowfall	10.2 cm (4.0 in)	9.7 cm (3.8 in)	68 years	49 of 100 (Notable)
31 January 1981	Auburn 5 ESE, US	daily snowfall	20.3 cm (8.0 in)	7.6 cm (3.0 in)	83 years	48 of 100 (Notable)
31 January 1981	Coloso, PR	daily rain	50.8 mm (2.0 in)	36.1 mm (1.4 in)	3 years	46 of 100 (Notable)
31 January 1981	Riverdale, US	monthly snowfall	35.6 cm (14.0 in)	10.2 cm (4.0 in)	32 years	45 of 100 (Notable)
31 January 1981	Emerson, CA	daily snowfall	7.0 cm (2.8 in)	4.5 cm (1.8 in)	77 years	44 of 100 (Notable)
31 January 1981	Amatikulu(Mill), ZA	monthly rain	133.0 mm (5.2 in)	33.5 mm (1.3 in)	13 years	44 of 100 (Notable)
31 January 1981	Black Lake, US	daily snowfall	17.8 cm (7.0 in)	12.7 cm (5.0 in)	59 years	44 of 100 (Notable)
31 January 1981	Utah Lake Lehi, US	daily snowfall	12.7 cm (5.0 in)	6.3 cm (2.5 in)	68 years	44 of 100 (Notable)
31 January 1981	Eads, US	daily snowfall	17.8 cm (7.0 in)	13.2 cm (5.2 in)	30 years	43 of 100 (Notable)
31 January 1981	Heppner, US	monthly rain	34.0 mm (1.3 in)	6.8 mm (0.27 in)	25 years	43 of 100 (Notable)
31 January 1981	Holyoke, US	daily snowfall	14.7 cm (5.8 in)	10.9 cm (4.3 in)	25 years	40 of 100 (Notable)
31 January 1981	Hornindal, NO	daily rain	50.8 mm (2.0 in)	11.5 mm (0.5 in)	72 years	39 of 100 (Notable)
31 January 1981	Samnanger, NO	daily rain	87.6 mm (3.4 in)	15.1 mm (0.6 in)	78 years	38 of 100 (Notable)
31 January 1981	Lamoni, US	daily snowfall	11.7 cm (4.6 in)	10.4 cm (4.1 in)	31 years	38 of 100 (Notable)
31 January 1981	Forestburg 4 NNE, US	daily snowfall	12.7 cm (5.0 in)	5.1 cm (2.0 in)	73 years	38 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

1800 to 1981

Records set or tied on this calendar date in each year from 1800 to 1981. 1981 had 687 records.

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

Records on 01-31 in each year
Year	Records
1800	1
1801	1
1830	2
1843	1
1846	1
1850	1
1852	1
1853	2
1854	2
1862	1
1863	2
1868	1
1869	2
1870	1
1873	1
1875	1
1877	1
1878	2
1880	1
1882	1
1883	1
1884	5
1885	1
1886	2
1887	1
1888	3
1889	3
1890	2
1892	1
1893	9
1894	1
1895	3
1896	1
1897	2
1898	7
1899	7
1900	5
1901	4
1902	10
1903	3
1904	6
1905	21
1906	17
1907	8
1908	36
1909	27
1910	10
1911	52
1912	20
1913	49
1914	36
1915	115
1916	94
1917	190
1918	150
1919	14
1920	113
1921	29
1922	55
1923	152
1924	203
1925	134
1926	204
1927	64
1928	47
1929	263
1930	83
1931	326
1932	153
1933	212
1934	597
1935	431
1936	830
1937	309
1938	362
1939	323
1940	361
1941	354
1942	273
1943	698
1944	232
1945	943
1946	359
1947	788
1948	600
1949	1,058
1950	1,022
1951	1,192
1952	519
1953	879
1954	744
1955	383
1956	434
1957	563
1958	692
1959	237
1960	349
1961	475
1962	686
1963	928
1964	402
1965	696
1966	1,295
1967	637
1968	524
1969	703
1970	209
1971	1,506
1972	426
1973	714
1974	1,128
1975	1,110
1976	569
1977	781
1978	844
1979	1,995
1980	757
1981	687
1982	1,287
1983	1,078
1984	610
1985	1,725
1986	616
1987	787
1988	1,582
1989	1,718
1990	821
1991	617
1992	1,573
1993	856
1994	1,049
1995	1,122
1996	1,594
1997	898
1998	641
1999	938
2000	1,115
2001	1,061
2002	3,080
2003	1,281
2004	1,392
2005	767
2006	722
2007	713
2008	704
2009	552
2010	1,311
2011	741
2012	1,037
2013	1,397
2014	986
2015	663
2016	1,147
2017	575
2018	564
2019	1,426
2020	1,031
2021	504
2022	255
2023	907
2024	1,117
2025	827
2026	839

Download the Data

Data for records on 1981-01-31: 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 2026-10-15 (15 October 2026). Records are computed by this site and are not official.

Data as of 2026-10-15. Last revised 15 October 2026 (2026-10-15).

Margin	Records
0 to 50	503
50 to 100	51
100 to 150	14
150 to 200	1
200 to 250	1
250 to 300	1
300 to 350	0
350 to 400	1