Weather Records on 21 April 1988

898 weather records were set or tied worldwide on 21 April 1988. Highest significance: Arlington, US.

Key Facts for 21 April 1988

On 21 April 1988, 898 weather records were set or tied at long-record stations worldwide.
169 were record highs and 189 were record lows, counting maximum and minimum temperature.
By timescale, 5 were all-time records, 30 monthly and 863 daily.
Arlington set a monthly record daily precipitation of 37.8 mm (1.5 in) on 21 April 1988.
Across 159 earlier years (1793 to 2026) the same calendar date averaged 460 records.

Record Map

898 stations

898 station records on 21 April 1988 are marked on the map, coloured by record type. Dot size shows the significance score. Made with Natural Earth.

Weather records on 21 April 1988: highest significance records shown on the map
Station	Country	Type	Value	Significance
Arlington	United States	Record daily precipitation	37.8 mm (1.5 in)	87 of 100 (Exceptional)
Moro	United States	Record daily precipitation	30.7 mm (1.2 in)	72 of 100 (Major)
Zion Np	United States	Record daily precipitation	43.9 mm (1.7 in)	69 of 100 (Major)
Panguitch	United States	Record daily precipitation	27.9 mm (1.1 in)	66 of 100 (Major)
Oregon City	United States	Record daily precipitation	48.8 mm (1.9 in)	65 of 100 (Major)
Woomera (Pernatty Station)	Australia	Record daily precipitation	26.2 mm (1.0 in)	62 of 100 (Major)
Wasco	United States	Record daily precipitation	40.4 mm (1.6 in)	62 of 100 (Major)
Ojos Negros	Mexico	Record daily precipitation	47.0 mm (1.9 in)	60 of 100 (Major)
Gaylord	United States	Record daily snowfall	14.0 cm (5.5 in)	60 of 100 (Major)
Headworks Portland Wtr B	United States	Record daily precipitation	55.4 mm (2.2 in)	60 of 100 (Major)
Timber Lake	United States	Record daily snowfall	17.8 cm (7.0 in)	60 of 100 (Major)
McNary Dam	United States	Record daily precipitation	28.7 mm (1.1 in)	58 of 100 (Notable)
San Diego Intl AP	United States	Record daily precipitation	33.8 mm (1.3 in)	58 of 100 (Notable)
Dufur	United States	Record daily precipitation	31.2 mm (1.2 in)	57 of 100 (Notable)
Koosharem	United States	Record daily snowfall	12.7 cm (5.0 in)	57 of 100 (Notable)
Hatch	United States	Record daily precipitation	30.5 mm (1.2 in)	56 of 100 (Notable)
Faulkton	United States	Record daily snowfall	15.2 cm (6.0 in)	54 of 100 (Notable)
Onaka	United States	Record daily snowfall	15.2 cm (6.0 in)	54 of 100 (Notable)
Kanab	United States	Record daily precipitation	29.0 mm (1.1 in)	54 of 100 (Notable)
Gabo Island Lighthouse	Australia	Record daily precipitation	61.0 mm (2.4 in)	53 of 100 (Notable)
Kent	United States	Record daily precipitation	36.8 mm (1.4 in)	51 of 100 (Notable)
Svinhult_D	Sweden	Record daily precipitation	27.2 mm (1.1 in)	50 of 100 (Notable)
Rairden 2WSW	United States	Record daily precipitation	31.2 mm (1.2 in)	49 of 100 (Notable)
Booligal (Belmont)	Australia	Record daily precipitation	31.0 mm (1.2 in)	47 of 100 (Notable)
Plattsburgh AFB	United States	Record daily snowfall	6.9 cm (2.7 in)	47 of 100 (Notable)
Alton	United States	Record daily snowfall	25.9 cm (10.2 in)	47 of 100 (Notable)
Tathra Post Office	Australia	Record daily precipitation	96.2 mm (3.8 in)	46 of 100 (Notable)
Luverne	United States	Record daily snowfall	5.1 cm (2.0 in)	46 of 100 (Notable)
Alton	United States	Record daily precipitation	25.7 mm (1.0 in)	46 of 100 (Notable)
Koolunga	Australia	Record daily precipitation	29.8 mm (1.2 in)	45 of 100 (Notable)
De Smet	United States	Record daily snowfall	6.4 cm (2.5 in)	44 of 100 (Notable)
Laras	Brazil	Record daily precipitation	56.9 mm (2.2 in)	43 of 100 (Notable)
McCall	United States	Record daily snowfall	5.1 cm (2.0 in)	43 of 100 (Notable)
Mitchell 5E	United States	Record snow depth	15.2 cm (6.0 in)	43 of 100 (Notable)
Sioux Falls	United States	Record daily snowfall	9.1 cm (3.6 in)	43 of 100 (Notable)
Wilcannia (Mount Murchison)	Australia	Record daily precipitation	27.0 mm (1.1 in)	40 of 100 (Notable)
Olivares Mexicanos	Mexico	Record daily precipitation	34.8 mm (1.4 in)	40 of 100 (Notable)
Laguna Beach	United States	Record daily precipitation	29.2 mm (1.1 in)	40 of 100 (Notable)
Clear Lake	United States	Record daily snowfall	5.1 cm (2.0 in)	40 of 100 (Notable)
Wentworth 2.5 WNW	United States	Record snow depth	10.2 cm (4.0 in)	40 of 100 (Notable)
Tierra Blanca (Smn)	Mexico	Record high maximum temperature	45.0 C (113.0 F)	39 of 100 (Notable)
La Mesa	United States	Record daily precipitation	27.9 mm (1.1 in)	39 of 100 (Notable)
Mellette 4 W	United States	Record daily snowfall	8.1 cm (3.2 in)	39 of 100 (Notable)
Rinconada	Mexico	Record low minimum temperature	10.0 C (50.0 F)	38 of 100 (Notable)
Haverhill	United States	Record low minimum temperature	-6.1 C (21.0 F)	38 of 100 (Notable)
Castlewood	United States	Record daily snowfall	5.1 cm (2.0 in)	38 of 100 (Notable)
Scottsbluff W B Heilig Fld AP	United States	Record daily snowfall	9.1 cm (3.6 in)	38 of 100 (Notable)
Usina Tamoio (Bela Vista)	Brazil	Record daily precipitation	40.8 mm (1.6 in)	37 of 100 (Notable)
Los Banos	United States	Record daily precipitation	30.5 mm (1.2 in)	37 of 100 (Notable)
Plymouth Pwr Substn	United States	Record low maximum temperature	7.2 C (45.0 F)	37 of 100 (Notable)
Colgate	United States	Record low minimum temperature	-10.6 C (12.9 F)	37 of 100 (Notable)
Troutdale	United States	Record daily precipitation	29.2 mm (1.1 in)	37 of 100 (Notable)
Beaver Canyon Pwr House	United States	Record daily precipitation	26.7 mm (1.1 in)	37 of 100 (Notable)
Hatch	United States	Record daily snowfall	17.8 cm (7.0 in)	37 of 100 (Notable)
Scottsbluff W B Heilig Fld AP	United States	Record daily precipitation	32.3 mm (1.3 in)	37 of 100 (Notable)
Ogdensburg 4 NE	United States	Record daily snowfall	5.1 cm (2.0 in)	36 of 100 (Notable)
Raymond 3 NE	United States	Record daily snowfall	7.6 cm (3.0 in)	36 of 100 (Notable)
Prescott Love Fld	United States	Record daily snowfall	10.4 cm (4.1 in)	36 of 100 (Notable)
Louth (Belah)	Australia	Record daily precipitation	40.2 mm (1.6 in)	35 of 100 (Notable)
Walnut Grove	United States	Record daily precipitation	29.2 mm (1.1 in)	35 of 100 (Notable)

Counts by Type and Timescale

898 records

Records set or tied on 21 April 1988 by type: Highest daily maximum 73, Lowest daily maximum 74, Highest daily minimum 96, Lowest daily minimum 115, Heaviest daily rainfall 436, Heaviest daily snowfall 76, Deepest snow cover 28.

Records on 21 April 1988 by type
Record type	Records
Highest daily maximum	73
Lowest daily maximum	74
Highest daily minimum	96
Lowest daily minimum	115
Heaviest daily rainfall	436
Heaviest daily snowfall	76
Deepest snow cover	28

Records on 21 April 1988 by timescale: all-time 5, monthly 30, daily 863.

How Much Records Were Beaten By

753 broken records

Margins by which the 753 broken records beat the old ones, in degrees Celsius for temperature and millimetres for precipitation and snow; the largest margin was 178.0. Ties are not counted.

Top 20 by Significance

21 April 1988

Top 20 records on 21 April 1988 by significance
Date	Station	Record	Value	Beat old record by	Old record stood	Significance
21 April 1988	Arlington, US	monthly rain	37.8 mm (1.5 in)	13.2 mm (0.5 in)	93 years	87 of 100 (Exceptional)
21 April 1988	Moro, US	monthly rain	30.7 mm (1.2 in)	13.9 mm (0.5 in)	44 years	72 of 100 (Major)
21 April 1988	Zion Np, US	daily rain	43.9 mm (1.7 in)	31.2 mm (1.2 in)	73 years	69 of 100 (Major)
21 April 1988	Panguitch, US	daily rain	27.9 mm (1.1 in)	15.2 mm (0.6 in)	63 years	66 of 100 (Major)
21 April 1988	Oregon City, US	daily rain	48.8 mm (1.9 in)	25.9 mm (1.0 in)	60 years	65 of 100 (Major)
21 April 1988	Woomera (Pernatty Station), AU	daily rain	26.2 mm (1.0 in)	26.2 mm (1.0 in)	60 years	62 of 100 (Major)
21 April 1988	Wasco, US	monthly rain	40.4 mm (1.6 in)	18.8 mm (0.7 in)	13 years	62 of 100 (Major)
21 April 1988	Ojos Negros, MX	monthly rain	47.0 mm (1.9 in)	23.1 mm (0.9 in)	21 years	60 of 100 (Major)
21 April 1988	Gaylord, US	daily snowfall	14.0 cm (5.5 in)	11.5 cm (4.5 in)	94 years	60 of 100 (Major)
21 April 1988	Headworks Portland Wtr B, US	daily rain	55.4 mm (2.2 in)	28.0 mm (1.1 in)	72 years	60 of 100 (Major)
21 April 1988	Timber Lake, US	daily snowfall	17.8 cm (7.0 in)	17.8 cm (7.0 in)	76 years	60 of 100 (Major)
21 April 1988	McNary Dam, US	monthly rain	28.7 mm (1.1 in)	13.0 mm (0.5 in)	19 years	58 of 100 (Notable)
21 April 1988	San Diego Intl AP, US	daily rain	33.8 mm (1.3 in)	25.9 mm (1.0 in)	46 years	58 of 100 (Notable)
21 April 1988	Dufur, US	monthly rain	31.2 mm (1.2 in)	9.6 mm (0.38 in)	41 years	57 of 100 (Notable)
21 April 1988	Koosharem, US	daily snowfall	12.7 cm (5.0 in)	10.2 cm (4.0 in)	90 years	57 of 100 (Notable)
21 April 1988	Hatch, US	monthly rain	30.5 mm (1.2 in)	7.6 mm (0.30 in)	63 years	56 of 100 (Notable)
21 April 1988	Faulkton, US	daily snowfall	15.2 cm (6.0 in)	12.7 cm (5.0 in)	79 years	54 of 100 (Notable)
21 April 1988	Onaka, US	daily snowfall	15.2 cm (6.0 in)	15.2 cm (6.0 in)	74 years	54 of 100 (Notable)
21 April 1988	Kanab, US	daily rain	29.0 mm (1.1 in)	16.3 mm (0.6 in)	63 years	54 of 100 (Notable)
21 April 1988	Gabo Island Lighthouse, AU	daily rain	61.0 mm (2.4 in)	23.4 mm (0.9 in)	75 years	53 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 1988

Records set or tied on this calendar date in each year from 1793 to 1988. 1988 had 898 records.

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

Records on 04-21 in each year
Year	Records
1793	1
1814	1
1820	1
1838	1
1849	2
1851	1
1852	3
1854	1
1858	3
1861	2
1865	3
1866	1
1868	1
1870	1
1875	4
1876	2
1877	1
1879	3
1880	1
1881	1
1882	1
1884	1
1885	2
1888	1
1890	1
1891	1
1892	1
1893	2
1894	4
1895	1
1897	1
1898	2
1899	2
1900	7
1901	17
1902	7
1903	3
1904	10
1905	18
1906	5
1907	17
1908	25
1909	20
1910	33
1911	9
1912	22
1913	14
1914	220
1915	24
1916	64
1917	48
1918	84
1919	31
1920	85
1921	59
1922	70
1923	223
1924	119
1925	295
1926	148
1927	284
1928	269
1929	193
1930	127
1931	358
1932	304
1933	201
1934	497
1935	266
1936	277
1937	416
1938	295
1939	110
1940	462
1941	306
1942	285
1943	481
1944	261
1945	367
1946	448
1947	459
1948	365
1949	448
1950	529
1951	884
1952	665
1953	640
1954	527
1955	607
1956	497
1957	824
1958	329
1959	505
1960	889
1961	647
1962	319
1963	778
1964	1,125
1965	658
1966	756
1967	903
1968	655
1969	388
1970	728
1971	546
1972	593
1973	1,163
1974	528
1975	360
1976	452
1977	854
1978	735
1979	449
1980	1,934
1981	944
1982	1,075
1983	1,366
1984	1,231
1985	1,245
1986	977
1987	1,290
1988	898
1989	1,557
1990	1,463
1991	1,291
1992	1,763
1993	847
1994	859
1995	1,476
1996	788
1997	964
1998	876
1999	752
2000	921
2001	967
2002	1,312
2003	607
2004	586
2005	693
2006	761
2007	480
2008	1,327
2009	983
2010	805
2011	1,053
2012	687
2013	1,015
2014	393
2015	621
2016	587
2017	797
2018	862
2019	731
2020	397
2021	1,608
2022	433
2023	887
2024	754
2025	506
2026	853

Download the Data

Data for records on 1988-04-21: 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 2026-10-15 (15 October 2026). Records are computed by this site and are not official.

Data as of 2026-10-15. Last revised 15 October 2026 (2026-10-15).

Margin	Records
0 to 25	665
25 to 50	41
50 to 75	23
75 to 100	7
100 to 125	9
125 to 150	5
150 to 175	2
175 to 200	1