Weather Records on 17 December 1988

481 weather records were set or tied worldwide on 17 December 1988. Highest significance: De Grey, AU.

Key Facts for 17 December 1988

On 17 December 1988, 481 weather records were set or tied at long-record stations worldwide.
128 were record highs and 127 were record lows, counting maximum and minimum temperature.
By timescale, 1 were all-time records, 12 monthly and 468 daily.
De Grey set a daily record precipitation of 131.8 mm (5.2 in) on 17 December 1988.
Across 160 earlier years (1793 to 2025) the same calendar date averaged 463 records.

Record Map

481 stations

481 station records on 17 December 1988 are marked on the map, coloured by record type. Dot size shows the significance score. Made with Natural Earth.

Weather records on 17 December 1988: highest significance records shown on the map
Station	Country	Type	Value	Significance
De Grey	Australia	Record daily precipitation	131.8 mm (5.2 in)	79 of 100 (Major)
Benton Harbor AP	United States	Record daily snowfall	30.5 cm (12.0 in)	76 of 100 (Major)
Kooline	Australia	Record daily precipitation	43.0 mm (1.7 in)	66 of 100 (Major)
San Andres	Mexico	Record daily precipitation	74.9 mm (2.9 in)	64 of 100 (Major)
Paia 406	United States	Record daily precipitation	94.0 mm (3.7 in)	60 of 100 (Major)
Roebourne	Australia	Record daily precipitation	48.1 mm (1.9 in)	57 of 100 (Notable)
Hamakuapoko 485	United States	Record daily precipitation	100.3 mm (3.9 in)	56 of 100 (Notable)
Sterling	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	38.0 mm (1.5 in)	53 of 100 (Notable)
Dunolly	Australia	Record daily precipitation	36.2 mm (1.4 in)	52 of 100 (Notable)
Spreckelsville 400	United States	Record daily precipitation	119.4 mm (4.7 in)	51 of 100 (Notable)
Puunene 396	United States	Record daily precipitation	101.9 mm (4.0 in)	50 of 100 (Notable)
Moorarie	Australia	Record daily precipitation	31.0 mm (1.2 in)	49 of 100 (Notable)
Upolu Point Uscg 159.2	United States	Record daily precipitation	105.9 mm (4.2 in)	49 of 100 (Notable)
Brakfontein	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	25.0 mm (1.0 in)	48 of 100 (Notable)
Mt Brisbane	Australia	Record daily precipitation	57.0 mm (2.2 in)	47 of 100 (Notable)
Melbourne Regional Office	Australia	Record high minimum temperature	23.9 C (75.0 F)	47 of 100 (Notable)
Kanalohuluhulu 1075	United States	Record low maximum temperature	6.7 C (44.1 F)	47 of 100 (Notable)
Newlyn - Cynthia	Australia	Record daily precipitation	76.6 mm (3.0 in)	46 of 100 (Notable)
Keahua 410	United States	Record daily precipitation	92.7 mm (3.6 in)	46 of 100 (Notable)
Hamersley	Australia	Record daily precipitation	64.0 mm (2.5 in)	45 of 100 (Notable)
Cordalba Store	Australia	Record daily precipitation	163.4 mm (6.4 in)	45 of 100 (Notable)
Marburg - Warrego Highway	Australia	Record daily precipitation	89.0 mm (3.5 in)	44 of 100 (Notable)
Kihei 311	United States	Record daily precipitation	90.2 mm (3.6 in)	44 of 100 (Notable)
"Kageon" Dawes	Australia	Record daily precipitation	69.0 mm (2.7 in)	42 of 100 (Notable)
Junee Reefs (Clear Hills)	Australia	Record daily precipitation	26.2 mm (1.0 in)	42 of 100 (Notable)
Mahlabatini (Mag)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	106.0 mm (4.2 in)	42 of 100 (Notable)
Langmorn	Australia	Record daily precipitation	55.8 mm (2.2 in)	41 of 100 (Notable)
Saxon 1WSW	United States	Record daily precipitation	25.4 mm (1.0 in)	41 of 100 (Notable)
Walcha (Emu Creek)	Australia	Record daily precipitation	50.4 mm (2.0 in)	40 of 100 (Notable)
S Bend AP	United States	Record daily snowfall	13.0 cm (5.1 in)	39 of 100 (Notable)
Eagle Farm Racecourse	Australia	Record daily precipitation	73.2 mm (2.9 in)	38 of 100 (Notable)
Salida	United States	Record low minimum temperature	-21.7 C (-7.1 F)	37 of 100 (Notable)
Wallal Downs	Australia	Record daily precipitation	26.0 mm (1.0 in)	36 of 100 (Notable)
Minderoo	Australia	Record daily precipitation	35.0 mm (1.4 in)	36 of 100 (Notable)
Tecoma	Australia	Record daily precipitation	68.4 mm (2.7 in)	35 of 100 (Notable)
Glenorie	Australia	Record daily precipitation	55.0 mm (2.2 in)	35 of 100 (Notable)
Traverse Cy Cherry Capital AP	United States	Record daily snowfall	15.5 cm (6.1 in)	35 of 100 (Notable)
Atlatlahuacan	Mexico	Record high minimum temperature	16.7 C (62.1 F)	34 of 100 (Routine)
Yautepec	Mexico	Record high maximum temperature	35.0 C (95.0 F)	34 of 100 (Routine)
Kukuihaele Hic 199	United States	Record daily precipitation	99.1 mm (3.9 in)	34 of 100 (Routine)
Aniak AP	United States	Record snow depth	83.8 cm (33.0 in)	34 of 100 (Routine)
Springlea	Australia	Record daily precipitation	41.0 mm (1.6 in)	33 of 100 (Routine)
San Luis Obispo Poly	United States	Record daily precipitation	35.6 mm (1.4 in)	33 of 100 (Routine)
Fredonia	United States	Record daily snowfall	10.2 cm (4.0 in)	33 of 100 (Routine)
University Exp STN	United States	Record high maximum temperature	6.1 C (43.0 F)	33 of 100 (Routine)
Gull Lake Biological STN	United States	Record daily snowfall	9.9 cm (3.9 in)	32 of 100 (Routine)
Port Hedland Airport	Australia	Record daily precipitation	51.2 mm (2.0 in)	31 of 100 (Routine)
Larissa	Greece	Record daily precipitation	27.8 mm (1.1 in)	31 of 100 (Routine)
Santa Maria Chilchotla	Mexico	Record daily precipitation	104.9 mm (4.1 in)	31 of 100 (Routine)
Waihee Vly 482	United States	Record daily precipitation	89.9 mm (3.5 in)	31 of 100 (Routine)
Winfield	Australia	Record daily precipitation	149.0 mm (5.9 in)	30 of 100 (Routine)
Low Head (Comparison)	Australia	Record high maximum temperature	22.9 C (73.2 F)	30 of 100 (Routine)
Rooisloot	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	27.0 mm (1.1 in)	30 of 100 (Routine)
Belhaven 1 SE	United States	Record low maximum temperature	0.6 C (33.1 F)	30 of 100 (Routine)
Bullyard	Australia	Record daily precipitation	159.0 mm (6.3 in)	28 of 100 (Routine)
Russell Island	Australia	Record daily precipitation	70.8 mm (2.8 in)	28 of 100 (Routine)
Wamuran	Australia	Record daily precipitation	42.8 mm (1.7 in)	28 of 100 (Routine)
Low Head (Comparison)	Australia	Record high minimum temperature	17.1 C (62.8 F)	28 of 100 (Routine)
Manga	Brazil	Record daily precipitation	94.6 mm (3.7 in)	28 of 100 (Routine)
Rush 1N	United States	Record snow depth	15.2 cm (6.0 in)	28 of 100 (Routine)

Counts by Type and Timescale

481 records

Records set or tied on 17 December 1988 by type: Highest daily maximum 61, Lowest daily maximum 85, Highest daily minimum 67, Lowest daily minimum 42, Heaviest daily rainfall 179, Heaviest daily snowfall 26, Deepest snow cover 21.

Records on 17 December 1988 by type
Record type	Records
Highest daily maximum	61
Lowest daily maximum	85
Highest daily minimum	67
Lowest daily minimum	42
Heaviest daily rainfall	179
Heaviest daily snowfall	26
Deepest snow cover	21

Records on 17 December 1988 by timescale: all-time 1, monthly 12, daily 468.

How Much Records Were Beaten By

398 broken records

Margins by which the 398 broken records beat the old ones, in degrees Celsius for temperature and millimetres for precipitation and snow; the largest margin was 254.0. Ties are not counted.

Top 20 by Significance

17 December 1988

Top 20 records on 17 December 1988 by significance
Date	Station	Record	Value	Beat old record by	Old record stood	Significance
17 December 1988	De Grey, AU	daily rain	131.8 mm (5.2 in)	131.8 mm (5.2 in)	97 years	79 of 100 (Major)
17 December 1988	Benton Harbor AP, US	daily snowfall	30.5 cm (12.0 in)	22.9 cm (9.0 in)	90 years	76 of 100 (Major)
17 December 1988	Kooline, AU	daily rain	43.0 mm (1.7 in)	40.0 mm (1.6 in)	58 years	66 of 100 (Major)
17 December 1988	San Andres, MX	daily rain	74.9 mm (2.9 in)	59.9 mm (2.4 in)	63 years	64 of 100 (Major)
17 December 1988	Paia 406, US	daily rain	94.0 mm (3.7 in)	54.1 mm (2.1 in)	42 years	60 of 100 (Major)
17 December 1988	Roebourne, AU	daily rain	48.1 mm (1.9 in)	45.3 mm (1.8 in)	58 years	57 of 100 (Notable)
17 December 1988	Hamakuapoko 485, US	daily rain	100.3 mm (3.9 in)	55.3 mm (2.2 in)	42 years	56 of 100 (Notable)
17 December 1988	Sterling, ZA	daily rain	38.0 mm (1.5 in)	34.3 mm (1.4 in)	33 years	53 of 100 (Notable)
17 December 1988	Dunolly, AU	daily rain	36.2 mm (1.4 in)	14.6 mm (0.6 in)	86 years	52 of 100 (Notable)
17 December 1988	Spreckelsville 400, US	daily rain	119.4 mm (4.7 in)	85.4 mm (3.4 in)	24 years	51 of 100 (Notable)
17 December 1988	Puunene 396, US	daily rain	101.9 mm (4.0 in)	72.2 mm (2.8 in)	20 years	50 of 100 (Notable)
17 December 1988	Moorarie, AU	monthly rain	31.0 mm (1.2 in)	7.1 mm (0.28 in)	56 years	49 of 100 (Notable)
17 December 1988	Upolu Point Uscg 159.2, US	daily rain	105.9 mm (4.2 in)	87.1 mm (3.4 in)	20 years	49 of 100 (Notable)
17 December 1988	Brakfontein, ZA	daily rain	25.0 mm (1.0 in)	13.1 mm (0.5 in)	88 years	48 of 100 (Notable)
17 December 1988	Mt Brisbane, AU	daily rain	57.0 mm (2.2 in)	16.1 mm (0.6 in)	93 years	47 of 100 (Notable)
17 December 1988	Melbourne Regional Office, AU	daily high min	23.9 C (75.0 F)	3.2 C (5.8 F)	90 years	47 of 100 (Notable)
17 December 1988	Kanalohuluhulu 1075, US	all-time low max	6.7 C (44.1 F)	1.1 C (2.0 F)	57 years	47 of 100 (Notable)
17 December 1988	Newlyn - Cynthia, AU	daily rain	76.6 mm (3.0 in)	62.6 mm (2.5 in)	11 years	46 of 100 (Notable)
17 December 1988	Keahua 410, US	daily rain	92.7 mm (3.6 in)	52.1 mm (2.1 in)	24 years	46 of 100 (Notable)
17 December 1988	Hamersley, AU	daily rain	64.0 mm (2.5 in)	41.6 mm (1.6 in)	73 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

1793 to 1988

Records set or tied on this calendar date in each year from 1793 to 1988. 1988 had 481 records.

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

Records on 12-17 in each year
Year	Records
1793	2
1796	1
1806	2
1808	2
1814	1
1815	1
1839	1
1845	1
1846	4
1847	1
1848	1
1859	3
1866	1
1867	1
1868	1
1869	2
1873	2
1876	3
1877	2
1878	1
1879	2
1881	2
1885	1
1886	1
1888	2
1889	2
1890	4
1892	4
1893	2
1894	4
1895	3
1896	4
1897	4
1898	2
1899	1
1900	6
1901	5
1902	47
1903	2
1904	14
1905	2
1906	17
1907	9
1908	13
1909	5
1910	37
1911	12
1912	15
1913	21
1914	17
1915	31
1916	21
1917	21
1918	21
1919	109
1920	97
1921	94
1922	120
1923	170
1924	505
1925	79
1926	172
1927	143
1928	359
1929	221
1930	362
1931	217
1932	684
1933	710
1934	200
1935	87
1936	504
1937	379
1938	118
1939	1,126
1940	248
1941	261
1942	507
1943	444
1944	189
1945	621
1946	207
1947	258
1948	316
1949	296
1950	294
1951	773
1952	277
1953	283
1954	409
1955	419
1956	448
1957	686
1958	540
1959	548
1960	492
1961	911
1962	676
1963	531
1964	1,239
1965	482
1966	516
1967	1,121
1968	338
1969	238
1970	820
1971	781
1972	601
1973	1,016
1974	390
1975	474
1976	507
1977	1,024
1978	710
1979	951
1980	1,116
1981	1,354
1982	569
1983	1,264
1984	1,618
1985	1,210
1986	743
1987	1,191
1988	481
1989	2,905
1990	866
1991	577
1992	1,461
1993	761
1994	685
1995	956
1996	1,212
1997	1,279
1998	695
1999	901
2000	1,566
2001	1,262
2002	858
2003	751
2004	554
2005	806
2006	1,307
2007	1,100
2008	1,354
2009	926
2010	1,405
2011	430
2012	942
2013	718
2014	370
2015	1,378
2016	1,521
2017	408
2018	498
2019	917
2020	768
2021	908
2022	595
2023	931
2024	560
2025	1,198

Download the Data

Data for records on 1988-12-17: 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	375
50 to 100	20
100 to 150	1
150 to 200	0
200 to 250	1
250 to 300	1