Weather Records on 21 October 1988

696 weather records were set or tied worldwide on 21 October 1988. Highest significance: Winburg (Pol), ZA.

Key Facts for 21 October 1988

On 21 October 1988, 696 weather records were set or tied at long-record stations worldwide.
351 were record highs and 120 were record lows, counting maximum and minimum temperature.
By timescale, 0 were all-time records, 26 monthly and 670 daily.
Winburg (Pol) set a daily record precipitation of 58.0 mm (2.3 in) on 21 October 1988.
Across 167 earlier years (1795 to 2025) the same calendar date averaged 418 records.

Record Map

696 stations

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

Weather records on 21 October 1988: highest significance records shown on the map
Station	Country	Type	Value	Significance
Winburg (Pol)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	58.0 mm (2.3 in)	59 of 100 (Notable)
Maunabo	Puerto Rico [United States]	Record daily precipitation	107.7 mm (4.2 in)	54 of 100 (Notable)
Greene	United States	Record daily precipitation	35.8 mm (1.4 in)	45 of 100 (Notable)
Elandspoort	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	51.8 mm (2.0 in)	44 of 100 (Notable)
Hana AP 355	United States	Record daily precipitation	66.5 mm (2.6 in)	44 of 100 (Notable)
Gunnedah Pool	Australia	Record high maximum temperature	38.3 C (100.9 F)	42 of 100 (Notable)
Humacao 2 SSE	Puerto Rico [United States]	Record daily precipitation	76.7 mm (3.0 in)	42 of 100 (Notable)
Elmira	United States	Record daily snowfall	5.1 cm (2.0 in)	42 of 100 (Notable)
Gulkana AP	United States	Record snow depth	40.6 cm (16.0 in)	42 of 100 (Notable)
Matias Romero (Smn)	Mexico	Record high maximum temperature	38.9 C (102.0 F)	41 of 100 (Notable)
Ny City Cntrl Park	United States	Record daily precipitation	38.9 mm (1.5 in)	41 of 100 (Notable)
Bourke Post Office	Australia	Record high maximum temperature	41.6 C (106.9 F)	40 of 100 (Notable)
Dubbo (Darling Street)	Australia	Record high maximum temperature	40.6 C (105.1 F)	40 of 100 (Notable)
Forbes (Camp Street)	Australia	Record high maximum temperature	35.7 C (96.3 F)	40 of 100 (Notable)
Zwartrandjes	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	27.5 mm (1.1 in)	40 of 100 (Notable)
Inverell Comparison	Australia	Record high maximum temperature	35.7 C (96.3 F)	39 of 100 (Notable)
Santa Maria da Vitoria (Pcd)	Brazil	Record daily precipitation	42.9 mm (1.7 in)	39 of 100 (Notable)
Sotchi	Russia	Record daily precipitation	53.6 mm (2.1 in)	39 of 100 (Notable)
Nietverdiend (Pol)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	55.0 mm (2.2 in)	39 of 100 (Notable)
Waterkloof	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	95.0 mm (3.7 in)	38 of 100 (Notable)
Cape May 2 NW	United States	Record daily precipitation	35.8 mm (1.4 in)	38 of 100 (Notable)
Walgett Council Depot	Australia	Record high minimum temperature	24.5 C (76.1 F)	37 of 100 (Notable)
Laersdrift (Pol)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	45.0 mm (1.8 in)	37 of 100 (Notable)
Yap Island WSO AP	Federated States of Micronesia	Record daily precipitation	99.6 mm (3.9 in)	36 of 100 (Notable)
Utuado	Puerto Rico [United States]	Record low maximum temperature	28.3 C (82.9 F)	36 of 100 (Notable)
Lakeview 2 NNW	United States	Record high maximum temperature	25.6 C (78.1 F)	36 of 100 (Notable)
Chambersburg 1 ESE	United States	Record low maximum temperature	8.9 C (48.0 F)	36 of 100 (Notable)
Jfk Intl AP	United States	Record daily precipitation	40.1 mm (1.6 in)	36 of 100 (Notable)
South West Rocks (Smoky Cape L	Australia	Record high maximum temperature	33.5 C (92.3 F)	35 of 100 (Notable)
Charleston	United States	Record daily precipitation	40.1 mm (1.6 in)	35 of 100 (Notable)
Roosevelt 1 S	United States	Record high minimum temperature	18.3 C (64.9 F)	34 of 100 (Routine)
Clifton Vale	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	40.2 mm (1.6 in)	33 of 100 (Routine)
Botataboomen	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	45.0 mm (1.8 in)	33 of 100 (Routine)
Lexington	United States	Record daily precipitation	96.5 mm (3.8 in)	33 of 100 (Routine)
Waihee Vly 482	United States	Record daily precipitation	47.0 mm (1.9 in)	33 of 100 (Routine)
Kellerberrin	Australia	Record low minimum temperature	2.2 C (36.0 F)	32 of 100 (Routine)
Cosmorama	Brazil	Record daily precipitation	50.7 mm (2.0 in)	32 of 100 (Routine)
Nova Itapirema	Brazil	Record daily precipitation	47.9 mm (1.9 in)	32 of 100 (Routine)
Koror	Palau	Record daily precipitation	82.0 mm (3.2 in)	32 of 100 (Routine)
Guayama 1SW	Puerto Rico [United States]	Record daily precipitation	69.9 mm (2.8 in)	32 of 100 (Routine)
Nylsvley	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	34.0 mm (1.3 in)	32 of 100 (Routine)
Zaaiplaats	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	35.0 mm (1.4 in)	32 of 100 (Routine)
Livingston	United States	Record daily precipitation	57.2 mm (2.3 in)	32 of 100 (Routine)
Davis 2 WSW Exp Farm	United States	Record high maximum temperature	32.8 C (91.0 F)	32 of 100 (Routine)
Springer	United States	Record high maximum temperature	28.9 C (84.0 F)	32 of 100 (Routine)
Irapuru	Brazil	Record daily precipitation	56.8 mm (2.2 in)	31 of 100 (Routine)
Bowman Dam	United States	Record high maximum temperature	29.4 C (84.9 F)	31 of 100 (Routine)
Independence	United States	Record high maximum temperature	32.8 C (91.0 F)	31 of 100 (Routine)
Neshaminy Falls	United States	Record daily precipitation	39.6 mm (1.6 in)	31 of 100 (Routine)
Fazenda Porto Alegre	Brazil	Record daily precipitation	38.6 mm (1.5 in)	30 of 100 (Routine)
Fazenda Rio Preto	Brazil	Record daily precipitation	59.8 mm (2.4 in)	30 of 100 (Routine)
Ft Valley	United States	Record high maximum temperature	23.9 C (75.0 F)	30 of 100 (Routine)
Lukachukai	United States	Record high maximum temperature	23.9 C (75.0 F)	30 of 100 (Routine)
Mineola	United States	Record daily precipitation	39.9 mm (1.6 in)	30 of 100 (Routine)
Lexington	United States	Record daily precipitation	25.9 mm (1.0 in)	30 of 100 (Routine)
Walgett Council Depot	Australia	Record high maximum temperature	42.6 C (108.7 F)	29 of 100 (Routine)
San Felipe	Mexico	Record high minimum temperature	26.7 C (80.1 F)	29 of 100 (Routine)
Helena	United States	Record low maximum temperature	12.2 C (54.0 F)	29 of 100 (Routine)
Ny Ave V Brooklyn	United States	Record daily precipitation	38.9 mm (1.5 in)	29 of 100 (Routine)
Oxford 1 E	United States	Record low maximum temperature	10.0 C (50.0 F)	29 of 100 (Routine)

Counts by Type and Timescale

696 records

Records set or tied on 21 October 1988 by type: Highest daily maximum 211, Lowest daily maximum 86, Highest daily minimum 140, Lowest daily minimum 34, Heaviest daily rainfall 217, Heaviest daily snowfall 4, Deepest snow cover 4.

Records on 21 October 1988 by type
Record type	Records
Highest daily maximum	211
Lowest daily maximum	86
Highest daily minimum	140
Lowest daily minimum	34
Heaviest daily rainfall	217
Heaviest daily snowfall	4
Deepest snow cover	4

Records on 21 October 1988 by timescale: all-time 0, monthly 26, daily 670.

How Much Records Were Beaten By

560 broken records

Margins by which the 560 broken records beat the old ones, in degrees Celsius for temperature and millimetres for precipitation and snow; the largest margin was 203.0. Ties are not counted.

Top 20 by Significance

21 October 1988

Top 20 records on 21 October 1988 by significance
Date	Station	Record	Value	Beat old record by	Old record stood	Significance
21 October 1988	Winburg (Pol), ZA	daily rain	58.0 mm (2.3 in)	38.4 mm (1.5 in)	41 years	59 of 100 (Notable)
21 October 1988	Maunabo, PR	daily rain	107.7 mm (4.2 in)	41.7 mm (1.6 in)	85 years	54 of 100 (Notable)
21 October 1988	Greene, US	daily rain	35.8 mm (1.4 in)	14.2 mm (0.6 in)	75 years	45 of 100 (Notable)
21 October 1988	Elandspoort, ZA	daily rain	51.8 mm (2.0 in)	22.8 mm (0.9 in)	51 years	44 of 100 (Notable)
21 October 1988	Hana AP 355, US	daily rain	66.5 mm (2.6 in)	47.2 mm (1.9 in)	19 years	44 of 100 (Notable)
21 October 1988	Gunnedah Pool, AU	daily high max	38.3 C (100.9 F)	2.7 C (4.9 F)	89 years	42 of 100 (Notable)
21 October 1988	Humacao 2 SSE, PR	daily rain	76.7 mm (3.0 in)	44.2 mm (1.7 in)	41 years	42 of 100 (Notable)
21 October 1988	Elmira, US	monthly snowfall	5.1 cm (2.0 in)	2.6 cm (1.0 in)	62 years	42 of 100 (Notable)
21 October 1988	Gulkana AP, US	daily snow depth	40.6 cm (16.0 in)	20.3 cm (8.0 in)	23 years	42 of 100 (Notable)
21 October 1988	Matias Romero (Smn), MX	monthly high max	38.9 C (102.0 F)	2.8 C (5.0 F)	45 years	41 of 100 (Notable)
21 October 1988	Ny City Cntrl Park, US	daily rain	38.9 mm (1.5 in)	9.7 mm (0.38 in)	84 years	41 of 100 (Notable)
21 October 1988	Bourke Post Office, AU	daily high max	41.6 C (106.9 F)	0.5 C (0.9 F)	102 years	40 of 100 (Notable)
21 October 1988	Dubbo (Darling Street), AU	monthly high max	40.6 C (105.1 F)	2.3 C (4.1 F)	66 years	40 of 100 (Notable)
21 October 1988	Forbes (Camp Street), AU	daily high max	35.7 C (96.3 F)	0.1 C (0.2 F)	105 years	40 of 100 (Notable)
21 October 1988	Zwartrandjes, ZA	daily rain	27.5 mm (1.1 in)	18.9 mm (0.7 in)	51 years	40 of 100 (Notable)
21 October 1988	Inverell Comparison, AU	daily high max	35.7 C (96.3 F)	1.3 C (2.3 F)	88 years	39 of 100 (Notable)
21 October 1988	Santa Maria da Vitoria (Pcd), BR	daily rain	42.9 mm (1.7 in)	28.7 mm (1.1 in)	30 years	39 of 100 (Notable)
21 October 1988	Sotchi, RU	daily rain	53.6 mm (2.1 in)	6.3 mm (0.25 in)	88 years	39 of 100 (Notable)
21 October 1988	Nietverdiend (Pol), ZA	daily rain	55.0 mm (2.2 in)	23.2 mm (0.9 in)	52 years	39 of 100 (Notable)
21 October 1988	Waterkloof, ZA	monthly rain	95.0 mm (3.7 in)	7.6 mm (0.30 in)	44 years	38 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 1988

Records set or tied on this calendar date in each year from 1795 to 1988. 1988 had 696 records.

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

Records on 10-21 in each year
Year	Records
1795	1
1802	2
1805	1
1808	1
1810	1
1834	1
1835	1
1840	1
1845	1
1847	1
1850	1
1851	2
1854	1
1859	1
1863	1
1864	1
1866	3
1867	1
1868	3
1869	2
1871	1
1872	1
1873	1
1874	1
1876	4
1877	2
1878	1
1880	3
1881	1
1883	1
1886	1
1888	2
1889	2
1890	3
1891	6
1892	6
1893	1
1894	1
1895	2
1896	5
1898	6
1899	3
1900	2
1901	9
1902	2
1903	3
1904	30
1905	15
1906	11
1907	35
1908	35
1909	19
1910	21
1911	10
1912	18
1913	59
1914	35
1915	43
1916	70
1917	208
1918	18
1919	102
1920	149
1921	58
1922	78
1923	81
1924	389
1925	150
1926	77
1927	187
1928	78
1929	200
1930	492
1931	217
1932	165
1933	733
1934	407
1935	707
1936	407
1937	132
1938	121
1939	491
1940	537
1941	644
1942	258
1943	421
1944	367
1945	538
1946	297
1947	977
1948	266
1949	1,015
1950	438
1951	382
1952	848
1953	1,579
1954	279
1955	481
1956	276
1957	511
1958	322
1959	410
1960	408
1961	553
1962	359
1963	725
1964	457
1965	465
1966	425
1967	472
1968	174
1969	881
1970	548
1971	498
1972	813
1973	464
1974	866
1975	509
1976	1,467
1977	451
1978	616
1979	1,958
1980	378
1981	667
1982	870
1983	786
1984	1,872
1985	776
1986	814
1987	852
1988	696
1989	1,668
1990	807
1991	877
1992	1,095
1993	845
1994	670
1995	1,120
1996	1,581
1997	915
1998	711
1999	688
2000	771
2001	610
2002	1,241
2003	2,066
2004	1,674
2005	949
2006	1,057
2007	916
2008	610
2009	713
2010	710
2011	662
2012	703
2013	440
2014	716
2015	493
2016	734
2017	750
2018	440
2019	757
2020	1,135
2021	574
2022	629
2023	890
2024	1,138
2025	364

Download the Data

Data for records on 1988-10-21: 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 2026-10-14 (14 October 2026). Records are computed by this site and are not official.

Data as of 2026-10-12. Last revised 12 October 2026 (2026-10-12).

Margin	Records
0 to 50	557
50 to 100	2
100 to 150	0
150 to 200	0
200 to 250	1