Weather Records on 4 January 1986

705 weather records were set or tied worldwide on 4 January 1986. Highest significance: Puntilla, US.

Key Facts for 4 January 1986

On 4 January 1986, 705 weather records were set or tied at long-record stations worldwide.
174 were record highs and 43 were record lows, counting maximum and minimum temperature.
By timescale, 8 were all-time records, 34 monthly and 663 daily.
Puntilla set an all-time record daily snowfall of 48.3 cm (19.0 in) on 4 January 1986.
Across 162 earlier years (1795 to 2026) the same calendar date averaged 504 records.

Record Map

705 stations

705 station records on 4 January 1986 are marked on the map, coloured by record type. Dot size shows the significance score. Made with Natural Earth.

Weather records on 4 January 1986: highest significance records shown on the map
Station	Country	Type	Value	Significance
Puntilla	United States	Record daily snowfall	48.3 cm (19.0 in)	69 of 100 (Major)
Cape Hermes	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	146.0 mm (5.7 in)	64 of 100 (Major)
Moosehead	United States	Record daily precipitation	47.5 mm (1.9 in)	60 of 100 (Major)
Presque Isle	United States	Record daily snowfall	30.5 cm (12.0 in)	60 of 100 (Major)
Jackman	United States	Record daily snowfall	45.7 cm (18.0 in)	59 of 100 (Notable)
Iliamna AP	United States	Record daily precipitation	37.1 mm (1.5 in)	55 of 100 (Notable)
Ripogenus Dam	United States	Record daily snowfall	63.5 cm (25.0 in)	54 of 100 (Notable)
Live Oak	United States	Record daily precipitation	86.4 mm (3.4 in)	53 of 100 (Notable)
Cumberland	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	48.0 mm (1.9 in)	52 of 100 (Notable)
Orono	United States	Record daily snowfall	33.0 cm (13.0 in)	52 of 100 (Notable)
Eklutna Project	United States	Record daily precipitation	43.7 mm (1.7 in)	52 of 100 (Notable)
Kentani (Bos)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	100.0 mm (3.9 in)	51 of 100 (Notable)
Korana "Xorana"	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	72.5 mm (2.9 in)	51 of 100 (Notable)
Gann Valley 4NW	United States	Record snow depth	48.3 cm (19.0 in)	51 of 100 (Notable)
Kasilof 3 NW	United States	Record daily precipitation	35.1 mm (1.4 in)	51 of 100 (Notable)
Brassua Dam	United States	Record daily precipitation	41.9 mm (1.6 in)	50 of 100 (Notable)
Clontarf Farm	Australia	Record daily precipitation	25.0 mm (1.0 in)	49 of 100 (Notable)
Alice Downs	Australia	Record daily precipitation	140.0 mm (5.5 in)	48 of 100 (Notable)
Zapotitlan de Mendez	Mexico	Record daily precipitation	53.8 mm (2.1 in)	48 of 100 (Notable)
Jackman	United States	Record daily precipitation	25.4 mm (1.0 in)	48 of 100 (Notable)
Presque Isle	United States	Record daily precipitation	25.9 mm (1.0 in)	48 of 100 (Notable)
Long Falls Dam	United States	Record daily snowfall	36.8 cm (14.5 in)	47 of 100 (Notable)
Eagle Butte	United States	Record daily snowfall	7.6 cm (3.0 in)	47 of 100 (Notable)
Harkerville (Bos)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	75.1 mm (3.0 in)	46 of 100 (Notable)
Squa Pan Dam	United States	Record daily snowfall	38.1 cm (15.0 in)	46 of 100 (Notable)
Dupree	United States	Record snow depth	66.0 cm (26.0 in)	45 of 100 (Notable)
Moosehead	United States	Record daily snowfall	53.3 cm (21.0 in)	44 of 100 (Notable)
Platteville	United States	Record snow depth	71.1 cm (28.0 in)	43 of 100 (Notable)
Tirana	Albania	Record daily precipitation	107.3 mm (4.2 in)	42 of 100 (Notable)
Elliot	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	46.0 mm (1.8 in)	42 of 100 (Notable)
Farmington	United States	Record daily precipitation	30.0 mm (1.2 in)	42 of 100 (Notable)
Bethlehem	United States	Record daily snowfall	20.3 cm (8.0 in)	42 of 100 (Notable)
Iroquois	United States	Record daily snowfall	10.2 cm (4.0 in)	42 of 100 (Notable)
Millinocket	United States	Record daily snowfall	43.2 cm (17.0 in)	41 of 100 (Notable)
Killdeer 8 NW	United States	Record daily snowfall	5.1 cm (2.0 in)	41 of 100 (Notable)
Blunt	United States	Record daily snowfall	5.1 cm (2.0 in)	40 of 100 (Notable)
Willowvale (Tnk)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	64.5 mm (2.5 in)	39 of 100 (Notable)
Matatiele	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	37.5 mm (1.5 in)	39 of 100 (Notable)
Artichoke Lake 1 E	United States	Record snow depth	35.6 cm (14.0 in)	39 of 100 (Notable)
N Stratford	United States	Record daily snowfall	25.4 cm (10.0 in)	39 of 100 (Notable)
Nemuro	Japan	Record daily precipitation	35.0 mm (1.4 in)	38 of 100 (Notable)
Butterworth (Tnk)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	55.0 mm (2.2 in)	38 of 100 (Notable)
Belfast	United States	Record daily snowfall	22.9 cm (9.0 in)	38 of 100 (Notable)
Ripogenus Dam	United States	Record daily precipitation	39.4 mm (1.6 in)	38 of 100 (Notable)
Fazenda Laranjal	Brazil	Record daily precipitation	71.1 mm (2.8 in)	37 of 100 (Notable)
Bodie California St Historic P	United States	Record high minimum temperature	-4.4 C (24.1 F)	37 of 100 (Notable)
Red Lodge	United States	Record daily snowfall	20.3 cm (8.0 in)	37 of 100 (Notable)
Milesville 5 NE	United States	Record snow depth	45.7 cm (18.0 in)	37 of 100 (Notable)
Matanuska Exp Farm	United States	Record daily precipitation	27.7 mm (1.1 in)	37 of 100 (Notable)
Masvingo	Zimbabwe	Record daily precipitation	86.1 mm (3.4 in)	37 of 100 (Notable)
Elliotdale (Tnk)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	57.0 mm (2.2 in)	36 of 100 (Notable)
Farmington	United States	Record daily snowfall	27.9 cm (11.0 in)	36 of 100 (Notable)
Mitchell 5E	United States	Record snow depth	27.9 cm (11.0 in)	36 of 100 (Notable)
Biskra	Algeria	Record high minimum temperature	12.4 C (54.3 F)	35 of 100 (Notable)
Madison	United States	Record daily snowfall	27.9 cm (11.0 in)	35 of 100 (Notable)
Hillsboro 3 N	United States	Record snow depth	53.3 cm (21.0 in)	35 of 100 (Notable)
Elm Springs 3 ESE	United States	Record daily snowfall	7.6 cm (3.0 in)	35 of 100 (Notable)
Winner	United States	Record daily snowfall	10.2 cm (4.0 in)	35 of 100 (Notable)
Huahuaxtla (Cfe)	Mexico	Record daily precipitation	40.9 mm (1.6 in)	34 of 100 (Routine)
Wasco	United States	Record high minimum temperature	11.1 C (52.0 F)	34 of 100 (Routine)

Counts by Type and Timescale

705 records

Records set or tied on 4 January 1986 by type: Highest daily maximum 70, Lowest daily maximum 23, Highest daily minimum 104, Lowest daily minimum 20, Heaviest daily rainfall 259, Heaviest daily snowfall 82, Deepest snow cover 147.

Records on 4 January 1986 by type
Record type	Records
Highest daily maximum	70
Lowest daily maximum	23
Highest daily minimum	104
Lowest daily minimum	20
Heaviest daily rainfall	259
Heaviest daily snowfall	82
Deepest snow cover	147

Records on 4 January 1986 by timescale: all-time 8, monthly 34, daily 663.

How Much Records Were Beaten By

556 broken records

Margins by which the 556 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

4 January 1986

Top 20 records on 4 January 1986 by significance
Date	Station	Record	Value	Beat old record by	Old record stood	Significance
4 January 1986	Puntilla, US	all-time snowfall	48.3 cm (19.0 in)	14.8 cm (5.8 in)	40 years	69 of 100 (Major)
4 January 1986	Cape Hermes, ZA	daily rain	146.0 mm (5.7 in)	95.2 mm (3.7 in)	60 years	64 of 100 (Major)
4 January 1986	Moosehead, US	daily rain	47.5 mm (1.9 in)	29.2 mm (1.1 in)	50 years	60 of 100 (Major)
4 January 1986	Presque Isle, US	daily snowfall	30.5 cm (12.0 in)	17.8 cm (7.0 in)	68 years	60 of 100 (Major)
4 January 1986	Jackman, US	daily snowfall	45.7 cm (18.0 in)	26.6 cm (10.5 in)	44 years	59 of 100 (Notable)
4 January 1986	Iliamna AP, US	daily rain	37.1 mm (1.5 in)	19.6 mm (0.8 in)	32 years	55 of 100 (Notable)
4 January 1986	Ripogenus Dam, US	monthly snowfall	63.5 cm (25.0 in)	20.3 cm (8.0 in)	25 years	54 of 100 (Notable)
4 January 1986	Live Oak, US	daily rain	86.4 mm (3.4 in)	67.1 mm (2.6 in)	19 years	53 of 100 (Notable)
4 January 1986	Cumberland, ZA	daily rain	48.0 mm (1.9 in)	34.5 mm (1.4 in)	68 years	52 of 100 (Notable)
4 January 1986	Orono, US	daily snowfall	33.0 cm (13.0 in)	12.7 cm (5.0 in)	80 years	52 of 100 (Notable)
4 January 1986	Eklutna Project, US	daily rain	43.7 mm (1.7 in)	31.5 mm (1.2 in)	31 years	52 of 100 (Notable)
4 January 1986	Kentani (Bos), ZA	daily rain	100.0 mm (3.9 in)	51.0 mm (2.0 in)	23 years	51 of 100 (Notable)
4 January 1986	Korana "Xorana", ZA	daily rain	72.5 mm (2.9 in)	43.5 mm (1.7 in)	23 years	51 of 100 (Notable)
4 January 1986	Gann Valley 4NW, US	daily snow depth	48.3 cm (19.0 in)	17.8 cm (7.0 in)	83 years	51 of 100 (Notable)
4 January 1986	Kasilof 3 NW, US	daily rain	35.1 mm (1.4 in)	26.2 mm (1.0 in)	19 years	51 of 100 (Notable)
4 January 1986	Brassua Dam, US	daily rain	41.9 mm (1.6 in)	24.9 mm (1.0 in)	32 years	50 of 100 (Notable)
4 January 1986	Clontarf Farm, AU	daily rain	25.0 mm (1.0 in)	25.0 mm (1.0 in)	56 years	49 of 100 (Notable)
4 January 1986	Alice Downs, AU	daily rain	140.0 mm (5.5 in)	75.2 mm (3.0 in)	26 years	48 of 100 (Notable)
4 January 1986	Zapotitlan de Mendez, MX	daily rain	53.8 mm (2.1 in)	49.0 mm (1.9 in)	14 years	48 of 100 (Notable)
4 January 1986	Jackman, US	daily rain	25.4 mm (1.0 in)	16.0 mm (0.6 in)	44 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

1795 to 1986

Records set or tied on this calendar date in each year from 1795 to 1986. 1986 had 705 records.

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

Records on 01-04 in each year
Year	Records
1795	2
1803	2
1824	1
1845	1
1855	1
1860	2
1864	4
1866	1
1867	2
1869	2
1871	2
1872	1
1873	2
1874	3
1876	1
1877	3
1878	3
1879	1
1880	1
1881	3
1882	2
1884	2
1886	5
1887	2
1888	4
1889	4
1890	2
1891	4
1892	1
1893	2
1894	9
1895	8
1896	2
1897	1
1898	2
1899	4
1900	6
1901	9
1902	7
1903	16
1904	51
1905	21
1906	15
1907	13
1908	8
1909	23
1910	20
1911	17
1912	30
1913	27
1914	45
1915	21
1916	59
1917	59
1918	78
1919	34
1920	113
1921	121
1922	56
1923	54
1924	184
1925	128
1926	310
1927	185
1928	150
1929	96
1930	134
1931	94
1932	200
1933	231
1934	319
1935	207
1936	394
1937	251
1938	136
1939	647
1940	332
1941	1,010
1942	1,191
1943	453
1944	300
1945	194
1946	371
1947	858
1948	391
1949	1,261
1950	2,015
1951	394
1952	349
1953	267
1954	249
1955	659
1956	462
1957	262
1958	448
1959	1,124
1960	358
1961	378
1962	359
1963	559
1964	349
1965	403
1966	798
1967	319
1968	661
1969	645
1970	497
1971	1,191
1972	728
1973	667
1974	957
1975	394
1976	534
1977	524
1978	656
1979	1,606
1980	643
1981	1,430
1982	2,261
1983	953
1984	996
1985	1,049
1986	705
1987	1,172
1988	903
1989	1,205
1990	509
1991	1,016
1992	1,201
1993	1,538
1994	1,418
1995	922
1996	1,389
1997	3,256
1998	1,246
1999	1,842
2000	1,486
2001	1,350
2002	1,151
2003	1,229
2004	1,611
2005	1,581
2006	1,167
2007	2,045
2008	845
2009	824
2010	1,183
2011	586
2012	1,357
2013	797
2014	770
2015	715
2016	618
2017	997
2018	1,096
2019	616
2020	497
2021	427
2022	698
2023	1,236
2024	562
2025	477
2026	1,013

Download the Data

Data for records on 1986-01-04: 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	467
50 to 100	47
100 to 150	24
150 to 200	7
200 to 250	6
250 to 300	3
300 to 350	1
350 to 400	1