Weather Records on 20 January 1986

1,327 weather records were set or tied worldwide on 20 January 1986. Highest significance: Westfield 2 SSE, US.

Key Facts for 20 January 1986

On 20 January 1986, 1,327 weather records were set or tied at long-record stations worldwide.
826 were record highs and 110 were record lows, counting maximum and minimum temperature.
By timescale, 0 were all-time records, 57 monthly and 1,270 daily.
Westfield 2 SSE set a daily record precipitation of 31.8 mm (1.3 in) on 20 January 1986.
Across 157 earlier years (1795 to 2026) the same calendar date averaged 506 records.

Record Map

1,327 stations

1,327 station records on 20 January 1986 are marked on the map, coloured by record type. Dot size shows the significance score. Made with Natural Earth.

Weather records on 20 January 1986: highest significance records shown on the map
Station	Country	Type	Value	Significance
Westfield 2 SSE	United States	Record daily precipitation	31.8 mm (1.3 in)	59 of 100 (Notable)
Wellsburg Wtr Trmt Pl	United States	Record daily precipitation	45.7 mm (1.8 in)	58 of 100 (Notable)
Napier Downs	Australia	Record daily precipitation	164.0 mm (6.5 in)	57 of 100 (Notable)
Marion Ctr 2 SE	United States	Record daily precipitation	40.1 mm (1.6 in)	57 of 100 (Notable)
Creekside	United States	Record daily precipitation	40.9 mm (1.6 in)	55 of 100 (Notable)
Jackson 3 NW	United States	Record daily snowfall	17.8 cm (7.0 in)	54 of 100 (Notable)
Glenwillard Dashields L&D	United States	Record daily precipitation	38.9 mm (1.5 in)	54 of 100 (Notable)
Uniontown 1 NE	United States	Record daily precipitation	42.2 mm (1.7 in)	54 of 100 (Notable)
Middleboro	United States	Record daily precipitation	50.5 mm (2.0 in)	53 of 100 (Notable)
Canisteo 1 SW	United States	Record daily precipitation	30.5 mm (1.2 in)	53 of 100 (Notable)
Burgettstown 2 W	United States	Record daily precipitation	38.1 mm (1.5 in)	53 of 100 (Notable)
Middlebourne	United States	Record daily precipitation	43.2 mm (1.7 in)	52 of 100 (Notable)
Fairmont	United States	Record daily snowfall	33.0 cm (13.0 in)	51 of 100 (Notable)
Philippi	United States	Record daily precipitation	45.0 mm (1.8 in)	51 of 100 (Notable)
State College	United States	Record daily precipitation	27.4 mm (1.1 in)	50 of 100 (Notable)
Clyde Lock 26	United States	Record daily precipitation	30.5 mm (1.2 in)	48 of 100 (Notable)
Acmetonia Lock 3	United States	Record daily precipitation	31.0 mm (1.2 in)	48 of 100 (Notable)
Bath	United States	Record daily precipitation	25.1 mm (1.0 in)	47 of 100 (Notable)
Caldwell 6 NW	United States	Record daily precipitation	43.7 mm (1.7 in)	47 of 100 (Notable)
Putneyville 2 SE Dam	United States	Record daily precipitation	40.1 mm (1.6 in)	47 of 100 (Notable)
Uniontown 1 NE	United States	Record daily snowfall	20.3 cm (8.0 in)	47 of 100 (Notable)
Huajintlan	Mexico	Record low maximum temperature	15.6 C (60.1 F)	46 of 100 (Notable)
Busby	United States	Record daily snowfall	15.2 cm (6.0 in)	46 of 100 (Notable)
Wolcott 3 NW	United States	Record daily precipitation	32.0 mm (1.3 in)	46 of 100 (Notable)
New Lexington 2 NW	United States	Record daily precipitation	43.2 mm (1.7 in)	46 of 100 (Notable)
Johnstown	United States	Record daily snowfall	26.7 cm (10.5 in)	46 of 100 (Notable)
Fairmont	United States	Record daily precipitation	36.1 mm (1.4 in)	46 of 100 (Notable)
Gibb River	Australia	Record daily precipitation	72.6 mm (2.9 in)	45 of 100 (Notable)
Greensboro Lock 7	United States	Record daily precipitation	37.3 mm (1.5 in)	45 of 100 (Notable)
Rowlesburg 1	United States	Record daily precipitation	30.5 mm (1.2 in)	45 of 100 (Notable)
Kimberley Downs	Australia	Record daily precipitation	125.0 mm (4.9 in)	44 of 100 (Notable)
Troupsburg 4 NE	United States	Record daily precipitation	32.3 mm (1.3 in)	44 of 100 (Notable)
Mc Connellsville Lk 7	United States	Record daily precipitation	40.4 mm (1.6 in)	44 of 100 (Notable)
Piedmont Lake	United States	Record daily precipitation	36.3 mm (1.4 in)	44 of 100 (Notable)
Ford City 4 S Dam	United States	Record daily precipitation	29.2 mm (1.1 in)	44 of 100 (Notable)
Buckhannon	United States	Record daily snowfall	25.4 cm (10.0 in)	44 of 100 (Notable)
Galiwinku	Australia	Record daily precipitation	171.8 mm (6.8 in)	42 of 100 (Notable)
Itanhaem	Brazil	Record daily precipitation	138.5 mm (5.5 in)	42 of 100 (Notable)
Eenbult	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	42.5 mm (1.7 in)	42 of 100 (Notable)
Castle Rock	United States	Record high minimum temperature	6.7 C (44.1 F)	42 of 100 (Notable)
Hyannis	United States	Record high minimum temperature	10.6 C (51.1 F)	42 of 100 (Notable)
Norwich 1 E	United States	Record daily precipitation	50.8 mm (2.0 in)	42 of 100 (Notable)
Etwa (Bos)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	79.0 mm (3.1 in)	41 of 100 (Notable)
Chestnut Hill	United States	Record high minimum temperature	8.3 C (46.9 F)	41 of 100 (Notable)
Anadarko 3 E	United States	Record high maximum temperature	26.7 C (80.1 F)	41 of 100 (Notable)
El Reno 1 N	United States	Record high maximum temperature	26.7 C (80.1 F)	41 of 100 (Notable)
Laurelville	United States	Record daily snowfall	20.3 cm (8.0 in)	40 of 100 (Notable)
Perry	United States	Record high maximum temperature	27.2 C (81.0 F)	40 of 100 (Notable)
Donegal 2 NW	United States	Record daily snowfall	20.3 cm (8.0 in)	40 of 100 (Notable)
Burnsville Lake	United States	Record daily precipitation	37.6 mm (1.5 in)	40 of 100 (Notable)
Batavia	United States	Record daily precipitation	25.1 mm (1.0 in)	39 of 100 (Notable)
Tappan Dam	United States	Record daily precipitation	31.0 mm (1.2 in)	39 of 100 (Notable)
Braddock Lock 2	United States	Record daily precipitation	26.7 mm (1.1 in)	39 of 100 (Notable)
Derry 4 SW	United States	Record daily snowfall	18.5 cm (7.3 in)	39 of 100 (Notable)
Sinnemahoning	United States	Record daily precipitation	30.7 mm (1.2 in)	39 of 100 (Notable)
Morgantown L&D	United States	Record daily precipitation	31.2 mm (1.2 in)	39 of 100 (Notable)
Drummond Aviation	United States	Record daily snowfall	15.7 cm (6.2 in)	39 of 100 (Notable)
Sugarloaf Rsvr	United States	Record high maximum temperature	10.6 C (51.1 F)	38 of 100 (Notable)
Ottawa	United States	Record high maximum temperature	20.0 C (68.0 F)	38 of 100 (Notable)
Neosho	United States	Record high maximum temperature	24.4 C (75.9 F)	38 of 100 (Notable)

Counts by Type and Timescale

1,327 records

Records set or tied on 20 January 1986 by type: Highest daily maximum 525, Lowest daily maximum 49, Highest daily minimum 301, Lowest daily minimum 61, Heaviest daily rainfall 324, Heaviest daily snowfall 52, Deepest snow cover 15.

Records on 20 January 1986 by type
Record type	Records
Highest daily maximum	525
Lowest daily maximum	49
Highest daily minimum	301
Lowest daily minimum	61
Heaviest daily rainfall	324
Heaviest daily snowfall	52
Deepest snow cover	15

Records on 20 January 1986 by timescale: all-time 0, monthly 57, daily 1,270.

How Much Records Were Beaten By

1,111 broken records

Margins by which the 1,111 broken records beat the old ones, in degrees Celsius for temperature and millimetres for precipitation and snow; the largest margin was 220.0. Ties are not counted.

Top 20 by Significance

20 January 1986

Top 20 records on 20 January 1986 by significance
Date	Station	Record	Value	Beat old record by	Old record stood	Significance
20 January 1986	Westfield 2 SSE, US	daily rain	31.8 mm (1.3 in)	13.3 mm (0.5 in)	85 years	59 of 100 (Notable)
20 January 1986	Wellsburg Wtr Trmt Pl, US	daily rain	45.7 mm (1.8 in)	31.2 mm (1.2 in)	27 years	58 of 100 (Notable)
20 January 1986	Napier Downs, AU	daily rain	164.0 mm (6.5 in)	106.8 mm (4.2 in)	34 years	57 of 100 (Notable)
20 January 1986	Marion Ctr 2 SE, US	daily rain	40.1 mm (1.6 in)	24.6 mm (1.0 in)	44 years	57 of 100 (Notable)
20 January 1986	Creekside, US	daily rain	40.9 mm (1.6 in)	25.9 mm (1.0 in)	51 years	55 of 100 (Notable)
20 January 1986	Jackson 3 NW, US	daily snowfall	17.8 cm (7.0 in)	12.7 cm (5.0 in)	71 years	54 of 100 (Notable)
20 January 1986	Glenwillard Dashields L&D, US	daily rain	38.9 mm (1.5 in)	26.5 mm (1.0 in)	34 years	54 of 100 (Notable)
20 January 1986	Uniontown 1 NE, US	daily rain	42.2 mm (1.7 in)	24.9 mm (1.0 in)	27 years	54 of 100 (Notable)
20 January 1986	Middleboro, US	daily rain	50.5 mm (2.0 in)	21.0 mm (0.8 in)	87 years	53 of 100 (Notable)
20 January 1986	Canisteo 1 SW, US	daily rain	30.5 mm (1.2 in)	25.2 mm (1.0 in)	34 years	53 of 100 (Notable)
20 January 1986	Burgettstown 2 W, US	daily rain	38.1 mm (1.5 in)	28.2 mm (1.1 in)	34 years	53 of 100 (Notable)
20 January 1986	Middlebourne, US	daily rain	43.2 mm (1.7 in)	28.0 mm (1.1 in)	32 years	52 of 100 (Notable)
20 January 1986	Fairmont, US	daily snowfall	33.0 cm (13.0 in)	20.3 cm (8.0 in)	8 years	51 of 100 (Notable)
20 January 1986	Philippi, US	daily rain	45.0 mm (1.8 in)	18.3 mm (0.7 in)	60 years	51 of 100 (Notable)
20 January 1986	State College, US	daily rain	27.4 mm (1.1 in)	10.1 mm (0.4 in)	87 years	50 of 100 (Notable)
20 January 1986	Clyde Lock 26, US	daily rain	30.5 mm (1.2 in)	15.8 mm (0.6 in)	39 years	48 of 100 (Notable)
20 January 1986	Acmetonia Lock 3, US	daily rain	31.0 mm (1.2 in)	16.5 mm (0.6 in)	51 years	48 of 100 (Notable)
20 January 1986	Bath, US	daily rain	25.1 mm (1.0 in)	20.3 mm (0.8 in)	30 years	47 of 100 (Notable)
20 January 1986	Caldwell 6 NW, US	daily rain	43.7 mm (1.7 in)	22.1 mm (0.9 in)	39 years	47 of 100 (Notable)
20 January 1986	Putneyville 2 SE Dam, US	daily rain	40.1 mm (1.6 in)	30.7 mm (1.2 in)	12 years	47 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 1,327 records.

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

Records on 01-20 in each year
Year	Records
1795	2
1796	1
1798	1
1804	2
1820	1
1844	1
1850	1
1858	2
1861	1
1862	1
1863	1
1866	2
1867	1
1872	1
1874	4
1875	4
1878	1
1879	1
1880	5
1881	4
1885	1
1890	2
1891	1
1892	3
1893	3
1894	1
1895	2
1896	1
1897	3
1898	6
1899	12
1900	15
1901	11
1902	5
1903	4
1904	14
1905	2
1906	25
1907	26
1908	9
1909	30
1910	11
1911	3
1912	7
1913	44
1914	57
1915	153
1916	34
1917	123
1918	71
1919	28
1920	103
1921	45
1922	86
1923	41
1924	298
1925	181
1926	110
1927	381
1928	383
1929	203
1930	540
1931	90
1932	139
1933	441
1934	118
1935	904
1936	602
1937	1,041
1938	219
1939	238
1940	1,147
1941	214
1942	979
1943	1,002
1944	568
1945	302
1946	487
1947	534
1948	422
1949	429
1950	653
1951	958
1952	386
1953	476
1954	791
1955	278
1956	906
1957	349
1958	494
1959	603
1960	329
1961	641
1962	1,162
1963	921
1964	567
1965	283
1966	634
1967	556
1968	1,096
1969	859
1970	1,301
1971	936
1972	823
1973	450
1974	978
1975	688
1976	848
1977	997
1978	1,669
1979	1,158
1980	423
1981	823
1982	958
1983	847
1984	1,957
1985	2,188
1986	1,327
1987	1,063
1988	1,637
1989	955
1990	1,257
1991	562
1992	493
1993	1,327
1994	2,035
1995	1,136
1996	851
1997	658
1998	576
1999	1,368
2000	1,132
2001	667
2002	666
2003	732
2004	451
2005	1,335
2006	1,395
2007	2,143
2008	1,366
2009	738
2010	986
2011	731
2012	848
2013	432
2014	480
2015	413
2016	726
2017	1,370
2018	634
2019	722
2020	498
2021	375
2022	346
2023	778
2024	841
2025	1,599
2026	193

Download the Data

Data for records on 1986-01-20: 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	1,077
50 to 100	18
100 to 150	10
150 to 200	4
200 to 250	2