Weather Records on 3 January 1986

676 weather records were set or tied worldwide on 3 January 1986. Highest significance: East London -Signal STN, ZA.

Key Facts for 3 January 1986

On 3 January 1986, 676 weather records were set or tied at long-record stations worldwide.
169 were record highs and 56 were record lows, counting maximum and minimum temperature.
By timescale, 4 were all-time records, 31 monthly and 641 daily.
East London -Signal STN set a daily record precipitation of 74.6 mm (2.9 in) on 3 January 1986.
Across 163 earlier years (1794 to 2026) the same calendar date averaged 490 records.

Record Map

676 stations

676 station records on 3 January 1986 are marked on the map, coloured by record type. Dot size shows the significance score. Made with Natural Earth.

Weather records on 3 January 1986: highest significance records shown on the map
Station	Country	Type	Value	Significance
East London -Signal STN	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	74.6 mm (2.9 in)	74 of 100 (Major)
Sihota	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	75.0 mm (3.0 in)	68 of 100 (Major)
Komga (Pol)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	66.0 mm (2.6 in)	65 of 100 (Major)
Shkodra	Albania	Record daily precipitation	218.8 mm (8.6 in)	61 of 100 (Major)
Granta	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	64.0 mm (2.5 in)	59 of 100 (Notable)
Adelaide (Pol)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	46.0 mm (1.8 in)	58 of 100 (Notable)
Kei Road (Pol)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	70.0 mm (2.8 in)	56 of 100 (Notable)
Queenstown	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	35.3 mm (1.4 in)	55 of 100 (Notable)
Hankey (Pol)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	40.5 mm (1.6 in)	54 of 100 (Notable)
Evart	United States	Record daily snowfall	22.9 cm (9.0 in)	54 of 100 (Notable)
Pretoria-Waterkloof-Cntry	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	90.0 mm (3.5 in)	52 of 100 (Notable)
East London	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	50.0 mm (2.0 in)	49 of 100 (Notable)
Indlunkulu (Bos)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	60.0 mm (2.4 in)	49 of 100 (Notable)
Manzini/Matsapa Air	Swaziland	Record daily precipitation	70.0 mm (2.8 in)	49 of 100 (Notable)
Calitzdorp Pol	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	62.0 mm (2.4 in)	48 of 100 (Notable)
Silverdales	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	62.0 mm (2.4 in)	48 of 100 (Notable)
Gann Valley 4NW	United States	Record snow depth	45.7 cm (18.0 in)	48 of 100 (Notable)
Bencuti (Bos)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	60.5 mm (2.4 in)	47 of 100 (Notable)
Kentani (Bos)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	60.0 mm (2.4 in)	45 of 100 (Notable)
Tarkastad (Pol)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	25.5 mm (1.0 in)	45 of 100 (Notable)
Dupree	United States	Record snow depth	66.0 cm (26.0 in)	45 of 100 (Notable)
Buffelsnek (Bos)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	49.0 mm (1.9 in)	43 of 100 (Notable)
Port Alfred	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	28.0 mm (1.1 in)	43 of 100 (Notable)
Parysfontein	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	40.0 mm (1.6 in)	43 of 100 (Notable)
Jamestown	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	31.0 mm (1.2 in)	43 of 100 (Notable)
E Tawas	United States	Record daily snowfall	18.5 cm (7.3 in)	43 of 100 (Notable)
Cape Otway Lighthouse	Australia	Record low minimum temperature	8.2 C (46.8 F)	42 of 100 (Notable)
Keurboomsrivier (Bos)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	52.0 mm (2.0 in)	42 of 100 (Notable)
Standish 4NE	United States	Record daily snowfall	15.2 cm (6.0 in)	42 of 100 (Notable)
W Branch 3SE	United States	Record daily snowfall	14.0 cm (5.5 in)	42 of 100 (Notable)
Intl Falls Intl AP	United States	Record daily snowfall	8.9 cm (3.5 in)	41 of 100 (Notable)
Lindsay	United States	Record daily snowfall	5.1 cm (2.0 in)	40 of 100 (Notable)
Seward AP	United States	Record daily precipitation	104.1 mm (4.1 in)	40 of 100 (Notable)
Alice Downs	Australia	Record daily precipitation	64.0 mm (2.5 in)	39 of 100 (Notable)
Artichoke Lake 1 E	United States	Record snow depth	35.6 cm (14.0 in)	39 of 100 (Notable)
Caribou WFO	United States	Record daily snowfall	33.5 cm (13.2 in)	39 of 100 (Notable)
Hopewell	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	49.5 mm (1.9 in)	38 of 100 (Notable)
Willowvale (Tnk)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	47.0 mm (1.9 in)	38 of 100 (Notable)
Dohne	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	45.0 mm (1.8 in)	37 of 100 (Notable)
Roseau	United States	Record daily snowfall	11.4 cm (4.5 in)	37 of 100 (Notable)
Cegcuana (Bos)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	50.5 mm (2.0 in)	36 of 100 (Notable)
Blanchardville #2	United States	Record daily snowfall	17.8 cm (7.0 in)	36 of 100 (Notable)
Dodgeville Wwtp	United States	Record daily snowfall	14.0 cm (5.5 in)	36 of 100 (Notable)
Springs-Olympia Park	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	48.5 mm (1.9 in)	35 of 100 (Notable)
Elsinore	United States	Record high minimum temperature	10.6 C (51.1 F)	35 of 100 (Notable)
Tripoli	United States	Record daily snowfall	27.9 cm (11.0 in)	35 of 100 (Notable)
Lupton 1S	United States	Record daily snowfall	15.0 cm (5.9 in)	35 of 100 (Notable)
Hillsboro 3 N	United States	Record snow depth	53.3 cm (21.0 in)	35 of 100 (Notable)
San Haven	United States	Record daily snowfall	7.6 cm (3.0 in)	35 of 100 (Notable)
Lemmon	United States	Record snow depth	35.6 cm (14.0 in)	35 of 100 (Notable)
Glen Florrie Station	Australia	Record daily precipitation	35.0 mm (1.4 in)	34 of 100 (Routine)
Strawberry Hill (Bos)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	41.0 mm (1.6 in)	34 of 100 (Routine)
Tierhoek	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	31.0 mm (1.2 in)	34 of 100 (Routine)
Isidinge (Bos)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	40.0 mm (1.6 in)	34 of 100 (Routine)
Houd Constant	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	34.0 mm (1.3 in)	34 of 100 (Routine)
Cwebe	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	46.0 mm (1.8 in)	34 of 100 (Routine)
Lemon Cove	United States	Record high minimum temperature	8.9 C (48.0 F)	34 of 100 (Routine)
Lewiston	United States	Record daily snowfall	18.5 cm (7.3 in)	34 of 100 (Routine)
Warroad	United States	Record daily snowfall	7.6 cm (3.0 in)	34 of 100 (Routine)
Kologha (Bos)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	46.5 mm (1.8 in)	33 of 100 (Routine)

Counts by Type and Timescale

676 records

Records set or tied on 3 January 1986 by type: Highest daily maximum 70, Lowest daily maximum 13, Highest daily minimum 99, Lowest daily minimum 43, Heaviest daily rainfall 220, Heaviest daily snowfall 94, Deepest snow cover 137.

Records on 3 January 1986 by type
Record type	Records
Highest daily maximum	70
Lowest daily maximum	13
Highest daily minimum	99
Lowest daily minimum	43
Heaviest daily rainfall	220
Heaviest daily snowfall	94
Deepest snow cover	137

Records on 3 January 1986 by timescale: all-time 4, monthly 31, daily 641.

How Much Records Were Beaten By

520 broken records

Margins by which the 520 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

3 January 1986

Top 20 records on 3 January 1986 by significance
Date	Station	Record	Value	Beat old record by	Old record stood	Significance
3 January 1986	East London -Signal STN, ZA	daily rain	74.6 mm (2.9 in)	55.5 mm (2.2 in)	82 years	74 of 100 (Major)
3 January 1986	Sihota, ZA	daily rain	75.0 mm (3.0 in)	49.6 mm (2.0 in)	70 years	68 of 100 (Major)
3 January 1986	Komga (Pol), ZA	daily rain	66.0 mm (2.6 in)	37.3 mm (1.5 in)	52 years	65 of 100 (Major)
3 January 1986	Shkodra, AL	monthly rain	218.8 mm (8.6 in)	88.5 mm (3.5 in)	29 years	61 of 100 (Major)
3 January 1986	Granta, ZA	daily rain	64.0 mm (2.5 in)	40.1 mm (1.6 in)	51 years	59 of 100 (Notable)
3 January 1986	Adelaide (Pol), ZA	daily rain	46.0 mm (1.8 in)	33.0 mm (1.3 in)	55 years	58 of 100 (Notable)
3 January 1986	Kei Road (Pol), ZA	daily rain	70.0 mm (2.8 in)	33.4 mm (1.3 in)	56 years	56 of 100 (Notable)
3 January 1986	Queenstown, ZA	daily rain	35.3 mm (1.4 in)	18.8 mm (0.7 in)	88 years	55 of 100 (Notable)
3 January 1986	Hankey (Pol), ZA	daily rain	40.5 mm (1.6 in)	31.1 mm (1.2 in)	51 years	54 of 100 (Notable)
3 January 1986	Evart, US	daily snowfall	22.9 cm (9.0 in)	17.8 cm (7.0 in)	16 years	54 of 100 (Notable)
3 January 1986	Pretoria-Waterkloof-Cntry, ZA	daily rain	90.0 mm (3.5 in)	51.9 mm (2.0 in)	44 years	52 of 100 (Notable)
3 January 1986	East London, ZA	daily rain	50.0 mm (2.0 in)	40.0 mm (1.6 in)	20 years	49 of 100 (Notable)
3 January 1986	Indlunkulu (Bos), ZA	daily rain	60.0 mm (2.4 in)	25.7 mm (1.0 in)	56 years	49 of 100 (Notable)
3 January 1986	Manzini/Matsapa Air, SZ	daily rain	70.0 mm (2.8 in)	43.1 mm (1.7 in)	68 years	49 of 100 (Notable)
3 January 1986	Calitzdorp Pol, ZA	daily rain	62.0 mm (2.4 in)	44.5 mm (1.8 in)	6 years	48 of 100 (Notable)
3 January 1986	Silverdales, ZA	daily rain	62.0 mm (2.4 in)	47.0 mm (1.9 in)	10 years	48 of 100 (Notable)
3 January 1986	Gann Valley 4NW, US	daily snow depth	45.7 cm (18.0 in)	15.2 cm (6.0 in)	83 years	48 of 100 (Notable)
3 January 1986	Bencuti (Bos), ZA	daily rain	60.5 mm (2.4 in)	29.0 mm (1.1 in)	51 years	47 of 100 (Notable)
3 January 1986	Kentani (Bos), ZA	daily rain	60.0 mm (2.4 in)	26.5 mm (1.0 in)	60 years	45 of 100 (Notable)
3 January 1986	Tarkastad (Pol), ZA	daily rain	25.5 mm (1.0 in)	5.4 mm (0.21 in)	100 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

1794 to 1986

Records set or tied on this calendar date in each year from 1794 to 1986. 1986 had 676 records.

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

Records on 01-03 in each year
Year	Records
1794	1
1798	1
1800	1
1823	2
1825	1
1830	2
1839	1
1848	1
1853	1
1860	2
1861	1
1864	1
1867	2
1868	2
1871	2
1873	1
1874	2
1876	2
1877	3
1878	1
1879	2
1882	2
1883	3
1884	1
1886	4
1887	5
1888	3
1889	4
1890	3
1891	4
1892	1
1893	1
1894	1
1895	3
1896	1
1897	3
1899	2
1900	15
1901	4
1902	15
1903	17
1904	51
1905	12
1906	13
1907	26
1908	8
1909	11
1910	23
1911	40
1912	26
1913	83
1914	33
1915	29
1916	60
1917	52
1918	80
1919	54
1920	31
1921	139
1922	80
1923	46
1924	222
1925	139
1926	268
1927	235
1928	412
1929	58
1930	160
1931	100
1932	167
1933	160
1934	208
1935	249
1936	404
1937	291
1938	139
1939	498
1940	312
1941	595
1942	505
1943	508
1944	361
1945	148
1946	171
1947	662
1948	462
1949	910
1950	2,025
1951	459
1952	587
1953	241
1954	370
1955	443
1956	188
1957	177
1958	326
1959	861
1960	431
1961	543
1962	802
1963	494
1964	513
1965	492
1966	885
1967	247
1968	582
1969	516
1970	749
1971	1,280
1972	313
1973	623
1974	1,010
1975	710
1976	524
1977	790
1978	745
1979	2,417
1980	470
1981	1,401
1982	1,380
1983	921
1984	983
1985	739
1986	676
1987	843
1988	1,034
1989	740
1990	467
1991	1,077
1992	1,200
1993	910
1994	902
1995	726
1996	2,085
1997	3,676
1998	1,434
1999	1,568
2000	2,063
2001	1,385
2002	1,307
2003	981
2004	1,406
2005	1,157
2006	1,472
2007	1,396
2008	948
2009	682
2010	1,337
2011	681
2012	956
2013	496
2014	1,029
2015	869
2016	605
2017	1,053
2018	1,444
2019	474
2020	772
2021	476
2022	989
2023	1,318
2024	734
2025	653
2026	902

Download the Data

Data for records on 1986-01-03: 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 2026-10-17 (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	427
50 to 100	59
100 to 150	19
150 to 200	8
200 to 250	3
250 to 300	2
300 to 350	1
350 to 400	1