Weather Records on 21 August 1981

1,015 weather records were set or tied worldwide on 21 August 1981. Highest significance: Sandhammaren, SE.

Key Facts for 21 August 1981

On 21 August 1981, 1,015 weather records were set or tied at long-record stations worldwide.
190 were record highs and 329 were record lows, counting maximum and minimum temperature.
By timescale, 0 were all-time records, 41 monthly and 974 daily.
Sandhammaren set a daily record precipitation of 29.6 mm (1.2 in) on 21 August 1981.
Across 165 earlier years (1800 to 2026) the same calendar date averaged 447 records.

Record Map

1,015 stations

1,015 station records on 21 August 1981 are marked on the map, coloured by record type. Dot size shows the significance score. Made with Natural Earth.

Weather records on 21 August 1981: highest significance records shown on the map
Station	Country	Type	Value	Significance
Sandhammaren	Sweden	Record daily precipitation	29.6 mm (1.2 in)	74 of 100 (Major)
Baudette	United States	Record daily precipitation	66.0 mm (2.6 in)	63 of 100 (Major)
Hvar	Croatia	Record daily precipitation	64.0 mm (2.5 in)	62 of 100 (Major)
Hano_A	Sweden	Record daily precipitation	50.9 mm (2.0 in)	62 of 100 (Major)
Irene	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	32.5 mm (1.3 in)	57 of 100 (Notable)
Klipfontein "Rietpan"	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	36.0 mm (1.4 in)	57 of 100 (Notable)
Waterland	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	49.0 mm (1.9 in)	56 of 100 (Notable)
Cartersville #2	United States	Record daily precipitation	85.9 mm (3.4 in)	55 of 100 (Notable)
Summerville 4W	United States	Record daily precipitation	89.9 mm (3.5 in)	55 of 100 (Notable)
Vryburg (Pol)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	26.0 mm (1.0 in)	54 of 100 (Notable)
Klipspruit	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	33.0 mm (1.3 in)	53 of 100 (Notable)
Barcelona -Fabra Observatory	Spain	Record daily precipitation	71.5 mm (2.8 in)	53 of 100 (Notable)
Jagersfontein	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	51.0 mm (2.0 in)	52 of 100 (Notable)
Ft Myers Page Fld AP	United States	Record daily precipitation	100.3 mm (3.9 in)	50 of 100 (Notable)
Kafferrivier (Pol)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	29.6 mm (1.2 in)	49 of 100 (Notable)
Woodfort	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	35.0 mm (1.4 in)	49 of 100 (Notable)
Rooisloot	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	33.5 mm (1.3 in)	48 of 100 (Notable)
Bothithong"Bothitho(Pol)"	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	28.0 mm (1.1 in)	48 of 100 (Notable)
Skedemosse	Sweden	Record daily precipitation	56.0 mm (2.2 in)	48 of 100 (Notable)
Louisville	United States	Record low maximum temperature	22.8 C (73.0 F)	48 of 100 (Notable)
Manoora	Australia	Record daily precipitation	27.6 mm (1.1 in)	47 of 100 (Notable)
Fielden	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	38.0 mm (1.5 in)	47 of 100 (Notable)
Bartow 1SE	United States	Record daily precipitation	95.3 mm (3.8 in)	47 of 100 (Notable)
Kommissiepoort	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	49.0 mm (1.9 in)	46 of 100 (Notable)
Korana "Xorana"	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	80.0 mm (3.1 in)	45 of 100 (Notable)
Mazelspoort Dam	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	46.5 mm (1.8 in)	45 of 100 (Notable)
Werk-Met-Lus	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	30.0 mm (1.2 in)	45 of 100 (Notable)
Rijeka	Croatia	Record daily precipitation	120.2 mm (4.7 in)	44 of 100 (Notable)
Tussenvier	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	56.5 mm (2.2 in)	44 of 100 (Notable)
Saddleworth	Australia	Record daily precipitation	27.4 mm (1.1 in)	43 of 100 (Notable)
Hanover (Pol)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	27.0 mm (1.1 in)	43 of 100 (Notable)
Thomasgat	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	33.0 mm (1.3 in)	43 of 100 (Notable)
Mazapil	Mexico	Record daily precipitation	54.9 mm (2.2 in)	42 of 100 (Notable)
Ohotsk	Russia	Record low minimum temperature	1.1 C (34.0 F)	42 of 100 (Notable)
Sheenspost	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	46.5 mm (1.8 in)	42 of 100 (Notable)
Westminter Estate	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	42.0 mm (1.7 in)	42 of 100 (Notable)
Kalmar_D	Sweden	Record daily precipitation	28.5 mm (1.1 in)	42 of 100 (Notable)
Lumpkin 2 SE	United States	Record low maximum temperature	23.9 C (75.0 F)	42 of 100 (Notable)
Uruoca	Brazil	Record daily precipitation	25.0 mm (1.0 in)	41 of 100 (Notable)
Uniteit	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	42.0 mm (1.7 in)	41 of 100 (Notable)
Lourensgeluk	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	32.0 mm (1.3 in)	41 of 100 (Notable)
Bollerup	Sweden	Record daily precipitation	38.0 mm (1.5 in)	41 of 100 (Notable)
Olands Norra Udde	Sweden	Record daily precipitation	32.7 mm (1.3 in)	40 of 100 (Notable)
Ultuna	Sweden	Record daily precipitation	32.6 mm (1.3 in)	40 of 100 (Notable)
Setlagodi (Pol)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	34.0 mm (1.3 in)	39 of 100 (Notable)
Hoopdal (Pol)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	85.0 mm (3.3 in)	39 of 100 (Notable)
Ft Gaines	United States	Record low maximum temperature	25.6 C (78.1 F)	39 of 100 (Notable)
Newnan 7 WNW	United States	Record low maximum temperature	23.9 C (75.0 F)	39 of 100 (Notable)
Hatch	United States	Record low minimum temperature	10.0 C (50.0 F)	39 of 100 (Notable)
Lewisburg Exp STN	United States	Record low maximum temperature	22.2 C (72.0 F)	39 of 100 (Notable)
Nooitgedag	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	40.0 mm (1.6 in)	38 of 100 (Notable)
Rietpan	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	32.5 mm (1.3 in)	38 of 100 (Notable)
Welgeleven	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	27.5 mm (1.1 in)	38 of 100 (Notable)
Ronneby-Bredakra	Sweden	Record daily precipitation	27.0 mm (1.1 in)	38 of 100 (Notable)
Clanton	United States	Record low maximum temperature	22.8 C (73.0 F)	38 of 100 (Notable)
Ft Pierce	United States	Record low minimum temperature	18.9 C (66.0 F)	38 of 100 (Notable)
Conroe	United States	Record low minimum temperature	14.4 C (57.9 F)	38 of 100 (Notable)
Temma (Temma Farm)	Australia	Record daily precipitation	38.6 mm (1.5 in)	37 of 100 (Notable)
Putbus	Germany	Record low maximum temperature	14.9 C (58.8 F)	37 of 100 (Notable)
Olifantshoek (Pol)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	39.5 mm (1.6 in)	37 of 100 (Notable)

Counts by Type and Timescale

1,015 records

Records set or tied on 21 August 1981 by type: Highest daily maximum 58, Lowest daily maximum 195, Highest daily minimum 132, Lowest daily minimum 134, Heaviest daily rainfall 495, Heaviest daily snowfall 1.

Records on 21 August 1981 by type
Record type	Records
Highest daily maximum	58
Lowest daily maximum	195
Highest daily minimum	132
Lowest daily minimum	134
Heaviest daily rainfall	495
Heaviest daily snowfall	1
Deepest snow cover	0

Records on 21 August 1981 by timescale: all-time 0, monthly 41, daily 974.

How Much Records Were Beaten By

827 broken records

Margins by which the 827 broken records beat the old ones, in degrees Celsius for temperature and millimetres for precipitation and snow; the largest margin was 61.8. Ties are not counted.

Top 20 by Significance

21 August 1981

Top 20 records on 21 August 1981 by significance
Date	Station	Record	Value	Beat old record by	Old record stood	Significance
21 August 1981	Sandhammaren, SE	daily rain	29.6 mm (1.2 in)	23.9 mm (0.9 in)	89 years	74 of 100 (Major)
21 August 1981	Baudette, US	daily rain	66.0 mm (2.6 in)	46.4 mm (1.8 in)	56 years	63 of 100 (Major)
21 August 1981	Hvar, HR	daily rain	64.0 mm (2.5 in)	28.7 mm (1.1 in)	122 years	62 of 100 (Major)
21 August 1981	Hano_A, SE	daily rain	50.9 mm (2.0 in)	24.7 mm (1.0 in)	52 years	62 of 100 (Major)
21 August 1981	Irene, ZA	monthly rain	32.5 mm (1.3 in)	18.0 mm (0.7 in)	7 years	57 of 100 (Notable)
21 August 1981	Klipfontein "Rietpan", ZA	daily rain	36.0 mm (1.4 in)	36.0 mm (1.4 in)	54 years	57 of 100 (Notable)
21 August 1981	Waterland, ZA	monthly rain	49.0 mm (1.9 in)	18.5 mm (0.7 in)	54 years	56 of 100 (Notable)
21 August 1981	Cartersville #2, US	daily rain	85.9 mm (3.4 in)	61.8 mm (2.4 in)	39 years	55 of 100 (Notable)
21 August 1981	Summerville 4W, US	daily rain	89.9 mm (3.5 in)	61.2 mm (2.4 in)	55 years	55 of 100 (Notable)
21 August 1981	Vryburg (Pol), ZA	daily rain	26.0 mm (1.0 in)	17.4 mm (0.7 in)	84 years	54 of 100 (Notable)
21 August 1981	Klipspruit, ZA	daily rain	33.0 mm (1.3 in)	33.0 mm (1.3 in)	50 years	53 of 100 (Notable)
21 August 1981	Barcelona -Fabra Observatory, ES	daily rain	71.5 mm (2.8 in)	43.5 mm (1.7 in)	43 years	53 of 100 (Notable)
21 August 1981	Jagersfontein, ZA	daily rain	51.0 mm (2.0 in)	25.1 mm (1.0 in)	60 years	52 of 100 (Notable)
21 August 1981	Ft Myers Page Fld AP, US	daily rain	100.3 mm (3.9 in)	32.5 mm (1.3 in)	70 years	50 of 100 (Notable)
21 August 1981	Kafferrivier (Pol), ZA	daily rain	29.6 mm (1.2 in)	29.6 mm (1.2 in)	68 years	49 of 100 (Notable)
21 August 1981	Woodfort, ZA	daily rain	35.0 mm (1.4 in)	22.6 mm (0.9 in)	58 years	49 of 100 (Notable)
21 August 1981	Rooisloot, ZA	monthly rain	33.5 mm (1.3 in)	13.3 mm (0.5 in)	23 years	48 of 100 (Notable)
21 August 1981	Bothithong"Bothitho(Pol)", ZA	daily rain	28.0 mm (1.1 in)	28.0 mm (1.1 in)	51 years	48 of 100 (Notable)
21 August 1981	Skedemosse, SE	daily rain	56.0 mm (2.2 in)	38.2 mm (1.5 in)	18 years	48 of 100 (Notable)
21 August 1981	Louisville, US	daily low max	22.8 C (73.0 F)	3.9 C (7.0 F)	83 years	48 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 1,015 records.

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

Records on 08-21 in each year
Year	Records
1800	1
1802	1
1804	1
1807	1
1816	1
1818	1
1832	1
1834	1
1839	3
1843	1
1847	1
1849	3
1850	1
1851	2
1863	1
1866	1
1867	2
1870	3
1871	2
1872	1
1873	1
1876	1
1877	2
1879	2
1884	2
1885	5
1886	1
1887	5
1888	2
1889	3
1890	4
1891	2
1893	4
1894	8
1895	3
1896	2
1897	4
1898	4
1899	7
1900	4
1901	9
1902	8
1903	6
1904	8
1905	4
1906	22
1907	20
1908	13
1909	17
1910	33
1911	19
1912	50
1913	37
1914	24
1915	21
1916	106
1917	101
1918	202
1919	19
1920	59
1921	34
1922	58
1923	111
1924	135
1925	220
1926	227
1927	228
1928	110
1929	234
1930	297
1931	277
1932	264
1933	328
1934	320
1935	318
1936	807
1937	762
1938	239
1939	630
1940	683
1941	180
1942	415
1943	438
1944	346
1945	544
1946	390
1947	954
1948	305
1949	508
1950	958
1951	699
1952	368
1953	331
1954	497
1955	885
1956	701
1957	490
1958	389
1959	704
1960	490
1961	644
1962	469
1963	338
1964	794
1965	455
1966	661
1967	541
1968	1,014
1969	650
1970	373
1971	660
1972	441
1973	438
1974	564
1975	545
1976	756
1977	764
1978	445
1979	778
1980	904
1981	1,015
1982	769
1983	1,407
1984	975
1985	623
1986	1,166
1987	740
1988	889
1989	828
1990	910
1991	828
1992	957
1993	698
1994	968
1995	962
1996	950
1997	1,291
1998	948
1999	717
2000	861
2001	797
2002	965
2003	1,241
2004	1,585
2005	1,071
2006	797
2007	1,829
2008	1,012
2009	1,319
2010	1,155
2011	1,022
2012	990
2013	513
2014	624
2015	651
2016	890
2017	347
2018	816
2019	631
2020	1,147
2021	767
2022	917
2023	1,826
2024	777
2025	1,230
2026	1,289

Download the Data

Data for records on 1981-08-21: 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 2026-10-13 (13 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 10	679
10 to 20	90
20 to 30	33
30 to 40	14
40 to 50	7
50 to 60	2
60 to 70	2