Weather Records on 19 December 1985

1,179 weather records were set or tied worldwide on 19 December 1985. Highest significance: Sterkstroom, ZA.

Key Facts for 19 December 1985

On 19 December 1985, 1,179 weather records were set or tied at long-record stations worldwide.
162 were record highs and 400 were record lows, counting maximum and minimum temperature.
By timescale, 7 were all-time records, 73 monthly and 1,099 daily.
Sterkstroom set a monthly record daily precipitation of 83.0 mm (3.3 in) on 19 December 1985.
Across 152 earlier years (1793 to 2025) the same calendar date averaged 498 records.

Record Map

1,179 stations

1,179 station records on 19 December 1985 are marked on the map, coloured by record type. Dot size shows the significance score. Made with Natural Earth.

Weather records on 19 December 1985: highest significance records shown on the map
Station	Country	Type	Value	Significance
Sterkstroom	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	83.0 mm (3.3 in)	64 of 100 (Major)
Vondeling(Sar)"T...Kraal"	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	33.0 mm (1.3 in)	62 of 100 (Major)
Mzimba	Malawi	Record daily precipitation	74.6 mm (2.9 in)	58 of 100 (Notable)
Molteno (Mun)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	58.5 mm (2.3 in)	57 of 100 (Notable)
Yakutat AP	United States	Record daily precipitation	106.2 mm (4.2 in)	57 of 100 (Notable)
Tarkastad (Pol)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	48.0 mm (1.9 in)	56 of 100 (Notable)
Bowman	United States	Record daily snowfall	15.2 cm (6.0 in)	54 of 100 (Notable)
Dontsa	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	59.0 mm (2.3 in)	53 of 100 (Notable)
San Pedro	Mexico	Record daily precipitation	60.2 mm (2.4 in)	52 of 100 (Notable)
Wasta	United States	Record snow depth	27.9 cm (11.0 in)	51 of 100 (Notable)
Ardmore 1 NW	United States	Record snow depth	53.3 cm (21.0 in)	50 of 100 (Notable)
Maun	Botswana	Record daily precipitation	80.9 mm (3.2 in)	49 of 100 (Notable)
Wibaux 2 E	United States	Record snow depth	38.1 cm (15.0 in)	49 of 100 (Notable)
De Smet	United States	Record snow depth	78.7 cm (31.0 in)	49 of 100 (Notable)
Grootdoornrivier	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	40.5 mm (1.6 in)	47 of 100 (Notable)
Mitchell 5E	United States	Record snow depth	33.0 cm (13.0 in)	47 of 100 (Notable)
Deadwood	United States	Record daily snowfall	30.5 cm (12.0 in)	47 of 100 (Notable)
Cradock	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	32.0 mm (1.3 in)	46 of 100 (Notable)
Gaylord	United States	Record snow depth	73.7 cm (29.0 in)	46 of 100 (Notable)
Pretoria-Waterkloof-Cntry	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	90.5 mm (3.6 in)	45 of 100 (Notable)
Caldwell	United States	Record snow depth	25.4 cm (10.0 in)	45 of 100 (Notable)
Bison	United States	Record daily snowfall	10.2 cm (4.0 in)	45 of 100 (Notable)
Raymond 3 NE	United States	Record snow depth	63.5 cm (25.0 in)	45 of 100 (Notable)
Rust-En-Vrede	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	42.0 mm (1.7 in)	44 of 100 (Notable)
Sterling	United States	Record snow depth	15.2 cm (6.0 in)	44 of 100 (Notable)
Medina	United States	Record daily snowfall	10.2 cm (4.0 in)	44 of 100 (Notable)
Buffelsklip	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	48.0 mm (1.9 in)	43 of 100 (Notable)
Cape St. Francis	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	28.0 mm (1.1 in)	42 of 100 (Notable)
Kalabasput	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	91.0 mm (3.6 in)	42 of 100 (Notable)
Philipstown (Tnk)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	39.0 mm (1.5 in)	42 of 100 (Notable)
Corinth 5 WSW	United States	Record daily snowfall	5.1 cm (2.0 in)	42 of 100 (Notable)
De Hoop	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	55.0 mm (2.2 in)	41 of 100 (Notable)
Leliekloof	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	43.1 mm (1.7 in)	41 of 100 (Notable)
Windsor	United States	Record snow depth	22.9 cm (9.0 in)	41 of 100 (Notable)
White Lake	United States	Record snow depth	71.1 cm (28.0 in)	41 of 100 (Notable)
Klaarstroom (Pol)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	38.5 mm (1.5 in)	40 of 100 (Notable)
Boone	United States	Record snow depth	33.0 cm (13.0 in)	40 of 100 (Notable)
Bryant	United States	Record snow depth	50.8 cm (20.0 in)	40 of 100 (Notable)
Venterstad	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	65.5 mm (2.6 in)	39 of 100 (Notable)
Kokomo 3 WSW	United States	Record low maximum temperature	-16.1 C (3.0 F)	39 of 100 (Notable)
Marion 2 N	United States	Record low maximum temperature	-15.6 C (3.9 F)	39 of 100 (Notable)
Agate 3 E	United States	Record snow depth	40.6 cm (16.0 in)	39 of 100 (Notable)
Cottonwood 2 E	United States	Record snow depth	38.1 cm (15.0 in)	39 of 100 (Notable)
Chugwater	United States	Record snow depth	27.9 cm (11.0 in)	39 of 100 (Notable)
Galva	United States	Record low maximum temperature	-17.8 C (0.0 F)	38 of 100 (Notable)
Grinnell 3 SW	United States	Record low minimum temperature	-35.6 C (-32.1 F)	38 of 100 (Notable)
Caledonia	United States	Record snow depth	45.7 cm (18.0 in)	38 of 100 (Notable)
Defiance	United States	Record low maximum temperature	-13.3 C (8.1 F)	38 of 100 (Notable)
Archer	United States	Record snow depth	25.4 cm (10.0 in)	38 of 100 (Notable)
Wheatlands	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	52.4 mm (2.1 in)	37 of 100 (Notable)
Britstown (Pol)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	39.0 mm (1.5 in)	37 of 100 (Notable)
Alliance 1WNW	United States	Record snow depth	17.8 cm (7.0 in)	37 of 100 (Notable)
Dalton	United States	Record snow depth	38.1 cm (15.0 in)	37 of 100 (Notable)
Delaware	United States	Record low maximum temperature	-12.2 C (10.0 F)	37 of 100 (Notable)
Oberlin	United States	Record low maximum temperature	-11.7 C (10.9 F)	37 of 100 (Notable)
Portage Wwtp	United States	Record snow depth	35.6 cm (14.0 in)	37 of 100 (Notable)
Jamestown Muni AP	United States	Record snow depth	45.7 cm (18.0 in)	37 of 100 (Notable)
Salzburg	Austria	Record high minimum temperature	4.7 C (40.5 F)	36 of 100 (Notable)
Presa Guaracha	Mexico	Record low maximum temperature	12.2 C (54.0 F)	36 of 100 (Notable)
Hofmeyer (Mun)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	31.0 mm (1.2 in)	36 of 100 (Notable)

Counts by Type and Timescale

1,179 records

Records set or tied on 19 December 1985 by type: Highest daily maximum 87, Lowest daily maximum 225, Highest daily minimum 75, Lowest daily minimum 175, Heaviest daily rainfall 230, Heaviest daily snowfall 88, Deepest snow cover 299.

Records on 19 December 1985 by type
Record type	Records
Highest daily maximum	87
Lowest daily maximum	225
Highest daily minimum	75
Lowest daily minimum	175
Heaviest daily rainfall	230
Heaviest daily snowfall	88
Deepest snow cover	299

Records on 19 December 1985 by timescale: all-time 7, monthly 73, daily 1,099.

How Much Records Were Beaten By

906 broken records

Margins by which the 906 broken records beat the old ones, in degrees Celsius for temperature and millimetres for precipitation and snow; the largest margin was 381.0. Ties are not counted.

Top 20 by Significance

19 December 1985

Top 20 records on 19 December 1985 by significance
Date	Station	Record	Value	Beat old record by	Old record stood	Significance
19 December 1985	Sterkstroom, ZA	monthly rain	83.0 mm (3.3 in)	45.5 mm (1.8 in)	32 years	64 of 100 (Major)
19 December 1985	Vondeling(Sar)"T...Kraal", ZA	daily rain	33.0 mm (1.3 in)	22.8 mm (0.9 in)	68 years	62 of 100 (Major)
19 December 1985	Mzimba, MW	daily rain	74.6 mm (2.9 in)	47.9 mm (1.9 in)	62 years	58 of 100 (Notable)
19 December 1985	Molteno (Mun), ZA	daily rain	58.5 mm (2.3 in)	40.7 mm (1.6 in)	39 years	57 of 100 (Notable)
19 December 1985	Yakutat AP, US	daily rain	106.2 mm (4.2 in)	58.2 mm (2.3 in)	48 years	57 of 100 (Notable)
19 December 1985	Tarkastad (Pol), ZA	daily rain	48.0 mm (1.9 in)	18.0 mm (0.7 in)	96 years	56 of 100 (Notable)
19 December 1985	Bowman, US	monthly snowfall	15.2 cm (6.0 in)	5.0 cm (2.0 in)	53 years	54 of 100 (Notable)
19 December 1985	Dontsa, ZA	daily rain	59.0 mm (2.3 in)	30.6 mm (1.2 in)	62 years	53 of 100 (Notable)
19 December 1985	San Pedro, MX	daily rain	60.2 mm (2.4 in)	47.8 mm (1.9 in)	30 years	52 of 100 (Notable)
19 December 1985	Wasta, US	daily snow depth	27.9 cm (11.0 in)	15.2 cm (6.0 in)	30 years	51 of 100 (Notable)
19 December 1985	Ardmore 1 NW, US	daily snow depth	53.3 cm (21.0 in)	33.0 cm (13.0 in)	12 years	50 of 100 (Notable)
19 December 1985	Maun, BW	daily rain	80.9 mm (3.2 in)	39.3 mm (1.5 in)	28 years	49 of 100 (Notable)
19 December 1985	Wibaux 2 E, US	daily snow depth	38.1 cm (15.0 in)	15.2 cm (6.0 in)	63 years	49 of 100 (Notable)
19 December 1985	De Smet, US	daily snow depth	78.7 cm (31.0 in)	38.1 cm (15.0 in)	30 years	49 of 100 (Notable)
19 December 1985	Grootdoornrivier, ZA	daily rain	40.5 mm (1.6 in)	27.0 mm (1.1 in)	32 years	47 of 100 (Notable)
19 December 1985	Mitchell 5E, US	daily snow depth	33.0 cm (13.0 in)	20.3 cm (8.0 in)	2 years	47 of 100 (Notable)
19 December 1985	Deadwood, US	daily snowfall	30.5 cm (12.0 in)	15.3 cm (6.0 in)	68 years	47 of 100 (Notable)
19 December 1985	Cradock, ZA	daily rain	32.0 mm (1.3 in)	6.1 mm (0.24 in)	96 years	46 of 100 (Notable)
19 December 1985	Gaylord, US	daily snow depth	73.7 cm (29.0 in)	22.9 cm (9.0 in)	75 years	46 of 100 (Notable)
19 December 1985	Pretoria-Waterkloof-Cntry, ZA	daily rain	90.5 mm (3.6 in)	42.7 mm (1.7 in)	36 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

1793 to 1985

Records set or tied on this calendar date in each year from 1793 to 1985. 1985 had 1,179 records.

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

Records on 12-19 in each year
Year	Records
1793	2
1795	1
1805	1
1835	1
1846	2
1849	1
1852	3
1855	3
1859	3
1860	1
1861	2
1869	2
1870	1
1875	2
1877	2
1880	1
1884	2
1885	1
1888	1
1889	3
1890	4
1892	4
1894	1
1895	4
1896	1
1898	3
1899	2
1900	1
1901	3
1902	16
1903	2
1904	19
1905	5
1906	9
1907	12
1908	12
1909	18
1910	22
1911	17
1912	41
1913	50
1914	23
1915	31
1916	38
1917	36
1918	24
1919	53
1920	30
1921	60
1922	155
1923	180
1924	492
1925	79
1926	152
1927	222
1928	45
1929	386
1930	76
1931	650
1932	239
1933	459
1934	455
1935	110
1936	689
1937	211
1938	237
1939	390
1940	392
1941	588
1942	654
1943	364
1944	241
1945	700
1946	182
1947	283
1948	397
1949	632
1950	545
1951	622
1952	469
1953	517
1954	443
1955	906
1956	287
1957	984
1958	386
1959	249
1960	432
1961	595
1962	670
1963	966
1964	753
1965	392
1966	851
1967	1,063
1968	900
1969	381
1970	485
1971	288
1972	325
1973	1,014
1974	252
1975	843
1976	398
1977	569
1978	1,191
1979	829
1980	456
1981	1,515
1982	768
1983	2,804
1984	1,066
1985	1,179
1986	609
1987	1,095
1988	1,001
1989	1,740
1990	1,463
1991	1,236
1992	1,176
1993	1,153
1994	692
1995	1,459
1996	2,108
1997	830
1998	855
1999	609
2000	1,154
2001	627
2002	1,467
2003	996
2004	664
2005	697
2006	1,061
2007	689
2008	1,545
2009	1,937
2010	1,610
2011	832
2012	774
2013	636
2014	537
2015	1,109
2016	1,080
2017	783
2018	397
2019	541
2020	327
2021	603
2022	494
2023	1,224
2024	864
2025	1,542

Download the Data

Data for records on 1985-12-19: 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 2026-10-17 (17 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	731
50 to 100	91
100 to 150	49
150 to 200	22
200 to 250	8
250 to 300	1
300 to 350	2
350 to 400	2