Weather Records on 17 August 1981

1,112 weather records were set or tied worldwide on 17 August 1981. Highest significance: Cheyenne Wells 2NE, US.

Key Facts for 17 August 1981

On 17 August 1981, 1,112 weather records were set or tied at long-record stations worldwide.
219 were record highs and 523 were record lows, counting maximum and minimum temperature.
By timescale, 4 were all-time records, 23 monthly and 1,085 daily.
Cheyenne Wells 2NE set a daily record precipitation of 101.9 mm (4.0 in) on 17 August 1981.
Across 162 earlier years (1797 to 2026) the same calendar date averaged 470 records.

Record Map

1,112 stations

1,112 station records on 17 August 1981 are marked on the map, coloured by record type. Dot size shows the significance score. Made with Natural Earth.

Weather records on 17 August 1981: highest significance records shown on the map
Station	Country	Type	Value	Significance
Cheyenne Wells 2NE	United States	Record daily precipitation	101.9 mm (4.0 in)	73 of 100 (Major)
Homestead Exp STN	United States	Record daily precipitation	188.0 mm (7.4 in)	71 of 100 (Major)
Pioneer (Main Road)	Australia	Record daily precipitation	58.0 mm (2.3 in)	64 of 100 (Major)
Sydney A	Canada	Record daily precipitation	128.8 mm (5.1 in)	64 of 100 (Major)
Boobyalla	Australia	Record daily precipitation	33.6 mm (1.3 in)	61 of 100 (Major)
Moorina (Frome Dam)	Australia	Record daily precipitation	64.4 mm (2.5 in)	59 of 100 (Notable)
Burnet	United States	Record daily precipitation	76.5 mm (3.0 in)	57 of 100 (Notable)
Sonora	United States	Record daily precipitation	98.3 mm (3.9 in)	57 of 100 (Notable)
Jasper	United States	Record daily precipitation	147.3 mm (5.8 in)	55 of 100 (Notable)
Eddystone Point	Australia	Record daily precipitation	38.7 mm (1.5 in)	54 of 100 (Notable)
Royal Palm Rs	United States	Record daily precipitation	120.7 mm (4.8 in)	52 of 100 (Notable)
Huamantla	Mexico	Record daily precipitation	59.9 mm (2.4 in)	49 of 100 (Notable)
Malvern	United States	Record low maximum temperature	24.4 C (75.9 F)	49 of 100 (Notable)
Tavernier	United States	Record daily precipitation	104.9 mm (4.1 in)	49 of 100 (Notable)
Sidney 6NNW	United States	Record daily precipitation	38.6 mm (1.5 in)	49 of 100 (Notable)
City of Melbourne Bay	Australia	Record daily precipitation	53.4 mm (2.1 in)	48 of 100 (Notable)
Shaki	Azerbaijan	Record daily precipitation	47.0 mm (1.9 in)	47 of 100 (Notable)
Cape Nelson Lighthouse Compari	Australia	Record daily precipitation	33.6 mm (1.3 in)	47 of 100 (Notable)
Puottaure	Sweden	Record daily precipitation	35.0 mm (1.4 in)	47 of 100 (Notable)
Calico Rock 2 WSW	United States	Record daily precipitation	83.3 mm (3.3 in)	45 of 100 (Notable)
Ridgley	Australia	Record daily precipitation	56.0 mm (2.2 in)	44 of 100 (Notable)
Hallnas-Lund	Sweden	Record daily precipitation	26.3 mm (1.0 in)	44 of 100 (Notable)
Fizuly	Azerbaijan	Record daily precipitation	42.8 mm (1.7 in)	43 of 100 (Notable)
Gladstone (Old Post Office)	Australia	Record daily precipitation	41.4 mm (1.6 in)	43 of 100 (Notable)
Naracoopa	Australia	Record daily precipitation	52.0 mm (2.0 in)	43 of 100 (Notable)
Big Springs	United States	Record daily precipitation	41.7 mm (1.6 in)	43 of 100 (Notable)
Lipan 4NW	United States	Record daily precipitation	62.0 mm (2.4 in)	43 of 100 (Notable)
Temple	United States	Record daily precipitation	62.7 mm (2.5 in)	43 of 100 (Notable)
Arcola	United States	Record daily precipitation	63.8 mm (2.5 in)	42 of 100 (Notable)
Caribou WFO	United States	Record daily precipitation	169.4 mm (6.7 in)	42 of 100 (Notable)
Alikdjer	Russia	Record daily precipitation	46.9 mm (1.8 in)	41 of 100 (Notable)
Paducah 7E	United States	Record daily precipitation	53.8 mm (2.1 in)	41 of 100 (Notable)
Mount Gambier Aero	Australia	Record daily precipitation	31.0 mm (1.2 in)	40 of 100 (Notable)
Cape Bridgewater	Australia	Record daily precipitation	30.2 mm (1.2 in)	40 of 100 (Notable)
Westbury (Valley View)	Australia	Record daily precipitation	26.6 mm (1.0 in)	40 of 100 (Notable)
Harwell	Australia	Record daily precipitation	62.8 mm (2.5 in)	40 of 100 (Notable)
Sodankyla AWS	Finland	Record daily precipitation	26.8 mm (1.1 in)	40 of 100 (Notable)
Holmogadd A	Sweden	Record daily precipitation	38.1 mm (1.5 in)	40 of 100 (Notable)
Cresco 1 NE	United States	Record low minimum temperature	5.0 C (41.0 F)	40 of 100 (Notable)
Lodgepole	United States	Record daily precipitation	38.4 mm (1.5 in)	40 of 100 (Notable)
Harleton	United States	Record daily precipitation	49.0 mm (1.9 in)	40 of 100 (Notable)
Lenorah	United States	Record daily precipitation	44.7 mm (1.8 in)	40 of 100 (Notable)
Lake Leake (Kooeeyong)	Australia	Record daily precipitation	34.2 mm (1.3 in)	39 of 100 (Notable)
Mazapa	Mexico	Record high minimum temperature	13.3 C (55.9 F)	39 of 100 (Notable)
Stratton	United States	Record daily precipitation	52.3 mm (2.1 in)	39 of 100 (Notable)
New Iberia AP - Acadiana Rgnl	United States	Record daily precipitation	39.4 mm (1.6 in)	39 of 100 (Notable)
Hillsdale	United States	Record low minimum temperature	4.4 C (39.9 F)	39 of 100 (Notable)
Mason	United States	Record daily precipitation	73.2 mm (2.9 in)	39 of 100 (Notable)
Pittsburg 5 SSE	United States	Record daily precipitation	43.9 mm (1.7 in)	39 of 100 (Notable)
San Saba	United States	Record daily precipitation	41.7 mm (1.6 in)	39 of 100 (Notable)
Beauceville	Canada	Record daily precipitation	62.2 mm (2.4 in)	38 of 100 (Notable)
Arnsberg	Germany	Record low maximum temperature	14.0 C (57.2 F)	38 of 100 (Notable)
Turgaj	Kazakhstan	Record high minimum temperature	23.6 C (74.5 F)	38 of 100 (Notable)
Vasteras-Hasslo	Sweden	Record low maximum temperature	14.2 C (57.6 F)	38 of 100 (Notable)
Fagerheden	Sweden	Record daily precipitation	49.0 mm (1.9 in)	38 of 100 (Notable)
Tuscola	United States	Record low maximum temperature	23.3 C (73.9 F)	38 of 100 (Notable)
Curtis	United States	Record low maximum temperature	23.9 C (75.0 F)	38 of 100 (Notable)
Guba	Azerbaijan	Record daily precipitation	37.0 mm (1.5 in)	37 of 100 (Notable)
Derbent	Russia	Record daily precipitation	48.8 mm (1.9 in)	37 of 100 (Notable)
Cheyenne Wells 2NE	United States	Record low maximum temperature	23.3 C (73.9 F)	37 of 100 (Notable)

Counts by Type and Timescale

1,112 records

Records set or tied on 17 August 1981 by type: Highest daily maximum 107, Lowest daily maximum 286, Highest daily minimum 112, Lowest daily minimum 237, Heaviest daily rainfall 370.

Records on 17 August 1981 by type
Record type	Records
Highest daily maximum	107
Lowest daily maximum	286
Highest daily minimum	112
Lowest daily minimum	237
Heaviest daily rainfall	370
Heaviest daily snowfall	0
Deepest snow cover	0

Records on 17 August 1981 by timescale: all-time 4, monthly 23, daily 1,085.

How Much Records Were Beaten By

845 broken records

Margins by which the 845 broken records beat the old ones, in degrees Celsius for temperature and millimetres for precipitation and snow; the largest margin was 85.6. Ties are not counted.

Top 20 by Significance

17 August 1981

Top 20 records on 17 August 1981 by significance
Date	Station	Record	Value	Beat old record by	Old record stood	Significance
17 August 1981	Cheyenne Wells 2NE, US	daily rain	101.9 mm (4.0 in)	71.4 mm (2.8 in)	83 years	73 of 100 (Major)
17 August 1981	Homestead Exp STN, US	monthly rain	188.0 mm (7.4 in)	70.9 mm (2.8 in)	48 years	71 of 100 (Major)
17 August 1981	Pioneer (Main Road), AU	daily rain	58.0 mm (2.3 in)	36.2 mm (1.4 in)	60 years	64 of 100 (Major)
17 August 1981	Sydney A, CA	all-time rain	128.8 mm (5.1 in)	31.5 mm (1.2 in)	36 years	64 of 100 (Major)
17 August 1981	Boobyalla, AU	daily rain	33.6 mm (1.3 in)	22.2 mm (0.9 in)	55 years	61 of 100 (Major)
17 August 1981	Moorina (Frome Dam), AU	daily rain	64.4 mm (2.5 in)	45.9 mm (1.8 in)	42 years	59 of 100 (Notable)
17 August 1981	Burnet, US	daily rain	76.5 mm (3.0 in)	51.1 mm (2.0 in)	66 years	57 of 100 (Notable)
17 August 1981	Sonora, US	daily rain	98.3 mm (3.9 in)	85.6 mm (3.4 in)	31 years	57 of 100 (Notable)
17 August 1981	Jasper, US	monthly rain	147.3 mm (5.8 in)	66.0 mm (2.6 in)	6 years	55 of 100 (Notable)
17 August 1981	Eddystone Point, AU	daily rain	38.7 mm (1.5 in)	20.2 mm (0.8 in)	48 years	54 of 100 (Notable)
17 August 1981	Royal Palm Rs, US	monthly rain	120.7 mm (4.8 in)	44.2 mm (1.7 in)	17 years	52 of 100 (Notable)
17 August 1981	Huamantla, MX	daily rain	59.9 mm (2.4 in)	38.1 mm (1.5 in)	20 years	49 of 100 (Notable)
17 August 1981	Malvern, US	daily low max	24.4 C (75.9 F)	4.5 C (8.1 F)	91 years	49 of 100 (Notable)
17 August 1981	Tavernier, US	daily rain	104.9 mm (4.1 in)	84.1 mm (3.3 in)	19 years	49 of 100 (Notable)
17 August 1981	Sidney 6NNW, US	daily rain	38.6 mm (1.5 in)	31.5 mm (1.2 in)	32 years	49 of 100 (Notable)
17 August 1981	City of Melbourne Bay, AU	daily rain	53.4 mm (2.1 in)	26.2 mm (1.0 in)	16 years	48 of 100 (Notable)
17 August 1981	Shaki, AZ	daily rain	47.0 mm (1.9 in)	42.9 mm (1.7 in)	22 years	47 of 100 (Notable)
17 August 1981	Cape Nelson Lighthouse Compari, AU	daily rain	33.6 mm (1.3 in)	16.3 mm (0.6 in)	27 years	47 of 100 (Notable)
17 August 1981	Puottaure, SE	daily rain	35.0 mm (1.4 in)	21.5 mm (0.8 in)	56 years	47 of 100 (Notable)
17 August 1981	Calico Rock 2 WSW, US	daily rain	83.3 mm (3.3 in)	40.1 mm (1.6 in)	55 years	45 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

1797 to 1981

Records set or tied on this calendar date in each year from 1797 to 1981. 1981 had 1,112 records.

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

Records on 08-17 in each year
Year	Records
1797	2
1802	2
1820	2
1837	1
1838	2
1841	2
1842	1
1845	2
1853	1
1854	1
1856	1
1857	1
1861	3
1862	1
1867	1
1868	3
1869	1
1872	1
1875	2
1876	5
1879	1
1881	1
1882	1
1883	2
1885	3
1886	1
1888	5
1891	1
1892	3
1893	2
1894	3
1895	2
1896	3
1897	1
1898	5
1899	8
1900	3
1901	14
1902	7
1903	6
1904	2
1905	11
1906	28
1907	9
1908	26
1909	24
1910	17
1911	18
1912	31
1913	79
1914	41
1915	28
1916	33
1917	35
1918	112
1919	37
1920	110
1921	37
1922	169
1923	161
1924	171
1925	130
1926	182
1927	228
1928	131
1929	243
1930	138
1931	302
1932	360
1933	260
1934	377
1935	437
1936	670
1937	726
1938	466
1939	364
1940	341
1941	378
1942	461
1943	743
1944	531
1945	387
1946	433
1947	682
1948	475
1949	371
1950	522
1951	413
1952	470
1953	345
1954	685
1955	465
1956	407
1957	504
1958	519
1959	543
1960	533
1961	998
1962	445
1963	650
1964	410
1965	641
1966	496
1967	679
1968	953
1969	593
1970	467
1971	447
1972	1,044
1973	750
1974	582
1975	612
1976	797
1977	1,216
1978	814
1979	1,464
1980	895
1981	1,112
1982	554
1983	1,574
1984	726
1985	948
1986	916
1987	1,150
1988	1,608
1989	687
1990	949
1991	560
1992	1,813
1993	803
1994	1,038
1995	1,724
1996	752
1997	1,544
1998	1,003
1999	697
2000	994
2001	1,101
2002	1,266
2003	948
2004	1,046
2005	722
2006	814
2007	1,646
2008	1,301
2009	922
2010	1,105
2011	956
2012	1,215
2013	802
2014	997
2015	890
2016	748
2017	544
2018	518
2019	467
2020	1,529
2021	800
2022	1,428
2023	1,032
2024	740
2025	538
2026	535

Download the Data

Data for records on 1981-08-17: 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 20	775
20 to 40	50
40 to 60	15
60 to 80	3
80 to 100	2