Weather Records on 3 March 1981

642 weather records were set or tied worldwide on 3 March 1981. Highest significance: Cape Barren Island (Cape Barre, AU.

Key Facts for 3 March 1981

On 3 March 1981, 642 weather records were set or tied at long-record stations worldwide.
206 were record highs and 34 were record lows, counting maximum and minimum temperature.
By timescale, 1 were all-time records, 13 monthly and 628 daily.
Cape Barren Island (Cape Barre set a daily record precipitation of 105.5 mm (4.2 in) on 3 March 1981.
Across 159 earlier years (1804 to 2026) the same calendar date averaged 522 records.

Record Map

642 stations

642 station records on 3 March 1981 are marked on the map, coloured by record type. Dot size shows the significance score. Made with Natural Earth.

Weather records on 3 March 1981: highest significance records shown on the map
Station	Country	Type	Value	Significance
Cape Barren Island (Cape Barre	Australia	Record daily precipitation	105.5 mm (4.2 in)	66 of 100 (Major)
Boobyalla	Australia	Record daily precipitation	40.0 mm (1.6 in)	65 of 100 (Major)
Ballinger 2 NW	United States	Record daily precipitation	56.4 mm (2.2 in)	60 of 100 (Major)
Orderville	United States	Record daily precipitation	50.8 mm (2.0 in)	60 of 100 (Major)
Flinders Island Airport	Australia	Record daily precipitation	119.4 mm (4.7 in)	58 of 100 (Notable)
Lobethal	Australia	Record daily precipitation	32.0 mm (1.3 in)	54 of 100 (Notable)
Putnam	United States	Record daily precipitation	47.8 mm (1.9 in)	53 of 100 (Notable)
Farson 2NNE	United States	Record daily snowfall	15.2 cm (6.0 in)	50 of 100 (Notable)
Stonehouse	Australia	Record daily precipitation	68.4 mm (2.7 in)	48 of 100 (Notable)
Beaverhead R/S	United States	Record daily precipitation	25.4 mm (1.0 in)	48 of 100 (Notable)
Burdekin Shire Council	Australia	Record high maximum temperature	37.0 C (98.6 F)	46 of 100 (Notable)
Vlakplaats	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	77.5 mm (3.1 in)	46 of 100 (Notable)
Elandshoek	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	42.4 mm (1.7 in)	44 of 100 (Notable)
Topia	Mexico	Record daily precipitation	68.6 mm (2.7 in)	43 of 100 (Notable)
Carrizozo 1SW	United States	Record daily precipitation	26.2 mm (1.0 in)	43 of 100 (Notable)
Schwangau-Horn	Germany	Record daily precipitation	30.7 mm (1.2 in)	42 of 100 (Notable)
Launceston Airport Comparison	Australia	Record daily precipitation	36.0 mm (1.4 in)	41 of 100 (Notable)
Lady Barron (Franklin Parade)	Australia	Record daily precipitation	39.0 mm (1.5 in)	41 of 100 (Notable)
Jaina	Mexico	Record daily precipitation	25.4 mm (1.0 in)	41 of 100 (Notable)
Black Hills	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	114.0 mm (4.5 in)	41 of 100 (Notable)
Yankalilla (Inman Valley)	Australia	Record daily precipitation	34.2 mm (1.3 in)	40 of 100 (Notable)
Campbell Town (Greenhill)	Australia	Record daily precipitation	27.0 mm (1.1 in)	40 of 100 (Notable)
Humble Pump STN 5 WNW	United States	Record daily precipitation	36.3 mm (1.4 in)	40 of 100 (Notable)
Cressy House	Australia	Record daily precipitation	36.0 mm (1.4 in)	39 of 100 (Notable)
Avoca (Railway House)	Australia	Record daily precipitation	68.6 mm (2.7 in)	39 of 100 (Notable)
Nugent	Australia	Record daily precipitation	45.0 mm (1.8 in)	39 of 100 (Notable)
De Wagendrift	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	46.0 mm (1.8 in)	39 of 100 (Notable)
Forestburg 5 S	United States	Record daily precipitation	50.8 mm (2.0 in)	39 of 100 (Notable)
Jericho (Bowsden)	Australia	Record daily precipitation	35.8 mm (1.4 in)	38 of 100 (Notable)
Ross (Ellinthorp)	Australia	Record daily precipitation	37.3 mm (1.5 in)	38 of 100 (Notable)
Ibapah	United States	Record daily snowfall	22.9 cm (9.0 in)	37 of 100 (Notable)
Abilene Rgnl AP	United States	Record daily precipitation	36.1 mm (1.4 in)	37 of 100 (Notable)
Lake Leake (Elizabeth River)	Australia	Record daily precipitation	60.0 mm (2.4 in)	36 of 100 (Notable)
Sorell (Whitlea)	Australia	Record daily precipitation	27.2 mm (1.1 in)	36 of 100 (Notable)
Del Norte 3ENE	United States	Record snow depth	10.2 cm (4.0 in)	36 of 100 (Notable)
Westcliffe	United States	Record daily snowfall	17.8 cm (7.0 in)	36 of 100 (Notable)
Echo Dam	United States	Record daily snowfall	25.4 cm (10.0 in)	36 of 100 (Notable)
Little Swanport (Lisdillon)	Australia	Record daily precipitation	29.4 mm (1.2 in)	35 of 100 (Notable)
Nooitgedacht	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	75.0 mm (3.0 in)	35 of 100 (Notable)
Mineral Wells AP	United States	Record daily precipitation	55.4 mm (2.2 in)	35 of 100 (Notable)
Jericho (Northumbria)	Australia	Record daily precipitation	35.6 mm (1.4 in)	34 of 100 (Routine)
Campania (the Pines)	Australia	Record daily precipitation	32.3 mm (1.3 in)	34 of 100 (Routine)
Mbabane	Swaziland	Record daily precipitation	91.5 mm (3.6 in)	34 of 100 (Routine)
Ross (Macquarie River)	Australia	Record daily precipitation	41.6 mm (1.6 in)	33 of 100 (Routine)
Goedgevonden	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	78.5 mm (3.1 in)	33 of 100 (Routine)
Tshakhuma	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	88.0 mm (3.5 in)	33 of 100 (Routine)
Lukachukai	United States	Record daily precipitation	50.8 mm (2.0 in)	33 of 100 (Routine)
Bridport Post Office	Australia	Record daily precipitation	48.0 mm (1.9 in)	32 of 100 (Routine)
Jetsonville ( Muskfield )	Australia	Record daily precipitation	55.4 mm (2.2 in)	32 of 100 (Routine)
Val (Sar)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	43.5 mm (1.7 in)	31 of 100 (Routine)
Nubeena	Australia	Record daily precipitation	31.0 mm (1.2 in)	30 of 100 (Routine)
Jimenez (Smn)	Mexico	Record high minimum temperature	10.6 C (51.1 F)	30 of 100 (Routine)
Badplaas (Pol)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	47.5 mm (1.9 in)	30 of 100 (Routine)
Illawarra	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	36.0 mm (1.4 in)	30 of 100 (Routine)
South Nietta	Australia	Record daily precipitation	48.0 mm (1.9 in)	29 of 100 (Routine)
Machadodorp	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	43.8 mm (1.7 in)	29 of 100 (Routine)
Ceylon (Bos)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	108.8 mm (4.3 in)	29 of 100 (Routine)
Santa Rita Exp Range	United States	Record daily precipitation	38.1 mm (1.5 in)	29 of 100 (Routine)
Broken Bow 2 W	United States	Record high minimum temperature	4.4 C (39.9 F)	29 of 100 (Routine)
Cressy Research Station (Main	Australia	Record daily precipitation	35.2 mm (1.4 in)	28 of 100 (Routine)

Counts by Type and Timescale

642 records

Records set or tied on 3 March 1981 by type: Highest daily maximum 77, Lowest daily maximum 16, Highest daily minimum 129, Lowest daily minimum 18, Heaviest daily rainfall 365, Heaviest daily snowfall 32, Deepest snow cover 5.

Records on 3 March 1981 by type
Record type	Records
Highest daily maximum	77
Lowest daily maximum	16
Highest daily minimum	129
Lowest daily minimum	18
Heaviest daily rainfall	365
Heaviest daily snowfall	32
Deepest snow cover	5

Records on 3 March 1981 by timescale: all-time 1, monthly 13, daily 628.

How Much Records Were Beaten By

547 broken records

Margins by which the 547 broken records beat the old ones, in degrees Celsius for temperature and millimetres for precipitation and snow; the largest margin was 220.0. Ties are not counted.

Top 20 by Significance

3 March 1981

Top 20 records on 3 March 1981 by significance
Date	Station	Record	Value	Beat old record by	Old record stood	Significance
3 March 1981	Cape Barren Island (Cape Barre, AU	daily rain	105.5 mm (4.2 in)	97.6 mm (3.8 in)	66 years	66 of 100 (Major)
3 March 1981	Boobyalla, AU	daily rain	40.0 mm (1.6 in)	32.9 mm (1.3 in)	56 years	65 of 100 (Major)
3 March 1981	Ballinger 2 NW, US	daily rain	56.4 mm (2.2 in)	33.5 mm (1.3 in)	58 years	60 of 100 (Major)
3 March 1981	Orderville, US	monthly rain	50.8 mm (2.0 in)	14.7 mm (0.6 in)	68 years	60 of 100 (Major)
3 March 1981	Flinders Island Airport, AU	all-time rain	119.4 mm (4.7 in)	24.7 mm (1.0 in)	19 years	58 of 100 (Notable)
3 March 1981	Lobethal, AU	daily rain	32.0 mm (1.3 in)	22.9 mm (0.9 in)	56 years	54 of 100 (Notable)
3 March 1981	Putnam, US	daily rain	47.8 mm (1.9 in)	38.4 mm (1.5 in)	46 years	53 of 100 (Notable)
3 March 1981	Farson 2NNE, US	daily snowfall	15.2 cm (6.0 in)	11.4 cm (4.5 in)	52 years	50 of 100 (Notable)
3 March 1981	Stonehouse, AU	daily rain	68.4 mm (2.7 in)	36.9 mm (1.5 in)	24 years	48 of 100 (Notable)
3 March 1981	Beaverhead R/S, US	daily rain	25.4 mm (1.0 in)	16.3 mm (0.6 in)	16 years	48 of 100 (Notable)
3 March 1981	Burdekin Shire Council, AU	daily high max	37.0 C (98.6 F)	2.3 C (4.1 F)	86 years	46 of 100 (Notable)
3 March 1981	Vlakplaats, ZA	daily rain	77.5 mm (3.1 in)	43.0 mm (1.7 in)	20 years	46 of 100 (Notable)
3 March 1981	Elandshoek, ZA	daily rain	42.4 mm (1.7 in)	20.6 mm (0.8 in)	64 years	44 of 100 (Notable)
3 March 1981	Topia, MX	daily rain	68.6 mm (2.7 in)	57.2 mm (2.3 in)	12 years	43 of 100 (Notable)
3 March 1981	Carrizozo 1SW, US	daily rain	26.2 mm (1.0 in)	10.2 mm (0.4 in)	58 years	43 of 100 (Notable)
3 March 1981	Schwangau-Horn, DE	daily rain	30.7 mm (1.2 in)	16.5 mm (0.6 in)	24 years	42 of 100 (Notable)
3 March 1981	Launceston Airport Comparison, AU	daily rain	36.0 mm (1.4 in)	18.0 mm (0.7 in)	24 years	41 of 100 (Notable)
3 March 1981	Lady Barron (Franklin Parade), AU	daily rain	39.0 mm (1.5 in)	21.2 mm (0.8 in)	56 years	41 of 100 (Notable)
3 March 1981	Jaina, MX	daily rain	25.4 mm (1.0 in)	25.4 mm (1.0 in)	39 years	41 of 100 (Notable)
3 March 1981	Black Hills, ZA	daily rain	114.0 mm (4.5 in)	64.0 mm (2.5 in)	8 years	41 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

1804 to 1981

Records set or tied on this calendar date in each year from 1804 to 1981. 1981 had 642 records.

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

Records on 03-03 in each year
Year	Records
1804	1
1840	1
1842	1
1843	1
1845	3
1846	3
1850	1
1851	2
1852	1
1853	1
1859	2
1862	2
1863	1
1866	1
1868	1
1869	1
1870	1
1875	1
1877	2
1878	2
1886	2
1887	1
1888	2
1889	4
1890	8
1891	2
1892	3
1893	1
1895	2
1896	6
1897	6
1898	4
1899	3
1900	9
1901	10
1902	8
1903	14
1904	9
1905	21
1906	24
1907	6
1908	7
1909	32
1910	6
1911	13
1912	73
1913	34
1914	24
1915	18
1916	36
1917	60
1918	61
1919	76
1920	56
1921	138
1922	56
1923	280
1924	83
1925	406
1926	152
1927	143
1928	79
1929	173
1930	203
1931	259
1932	279
1933	143
1934	504
1935	248
1936	265
1937	187
1938	455
1939	179
1940	300
1941	819
1942	454
1943	1,533
1944	366
1945	649
1946	530
1947	761
1948	449
1949	266
1950	780
1951	1,006
1952	810
1953	668
1954	480
1955	884
1956	669
1957	261
1958	247
1959	360
1960	2,276
1961	650
1962	568
1963	309
1964	794
1965	835
1966	949
1967	520
1968	697
1969	395
1970	705
1971	888
1972	1,141
1973	557
1974	1,849
1975	534
1976	1,611
1977	949
1978	1,504
1979	1,037
1980	1,741
1981	642
1982	968
1983	1,676
1984	378
1985	740
1986	987
1987	1,497
1988	1,081
1989	1,443
1990	775
1991	1,169
1992	1,354
1993	607
1994	1,574
1995	1,234
1996	693
1997	1,704
1998	957
1999	1,187
2000	1,049
2001	903
2002	1,880
2003	876
2004	778
2005	727
2006	604
2007	888
2008	917
2009	1,671
2010	685
2011	677
2012	866
2013	719
2014	2,301
2015	543
2016	545
2017	315
2018	516
2019	1,795
2020	678
2021	553
2022	962
2023	809
2024	1,359
2025	695
2026	970

Download the Data

Data for records on 1981-03-03: 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 2026-10-16 (16 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 50	534
50 to 100	11
100 to 150	1
150 to 200	0
200 to 250	1