Weather Records on 21 December 1989

3,203 weather records were set or tied worldwide on 21 December 1989. Highest significance: Big Timber, US.

Key Facts for 21 December 1989

On 21 December 1989, 3,203 weather records were set or tied at long-record stations worldwide.
876 were record highs and 1,763 were record lows, counting maximum and minimum temperature.
By timescale, 38 were all-time records, 311 monthly and 2,854 daily.
Big Timber set a monthly record daily snowfall of 45.7 cm (18.0 in) on 21 December 1989.
Across 158 earlier years (1793 to 2025) the same calendar date averaged 472 records.

Record Map

2,000 stations, highest significance shown

2,000 station records on 21 December 1989 are marked on the map, coloured by record type. Dot size shows the significance score. Made with Natural Earth.

Weather records on 21 December 1989: highest significance records shown on the map
Station	Country	Type	Value	Significance
Big Timber	United States	Record daily snowfall	45.7 cm (18.0 in)	70 of 100 (Major)
Ljungby	Sweden	Record daily precipitation	27.8 mm (1.1 in)	58 of 100 (Notable)
Howard	United States	Record low maximum temperature	-28.9 C (-20.0 F)	56 of 100 (Notable)
Erie Intl AP	United States	Record snow depth	99.1 cm (39.0 in)	56 of 100 (Notable)
Lovell	United States	Record daily snowfall	10.2 cm (4.0 in)	53 of 100 (Notable)
Fredonia	United States	Record daily snowfall	30.5 cm (12.0 in)	52 of 100 (Notable)
Brodhead Wwtp	United States	Record low maximum temperature	-24.4 C (-11.9 F)	52 of 100 (Notable)
Huron Rgnl AP	United States	Record low maximum temperature	-27.2 C (-17.0 F)	52 of 100 (Notable)
Tower 2S	United States	Record low maximum temperature	-29.4 C (-20.9 F)	51 of 100 (Notable)
Juazeiro (Pcd)	Brazil	Record daily precipitation	72.2 mm (2.8 in)	49 of 100 (Notable)
Hamburg Fuhlsbuettel	Germany	Record high minimum temperature	11.1 C (52.0 F)	49 of 100 (Notable)
Stephan 2 NW	United States	Record low maximum temperature	-29.4 C (-20.9 F)	49 of 100 (Notable)
Mitchell 5E	United States	Record low minimum temperature	-40.6 C (-41.1 F)	48 of 100 (Notable)
Ironwood	United States	Record low maximum temperature	-25.6 C (-14.1 F)	46 of 100 (Notable)
Chinook	United States	Record low minimum temperature	-47.2 C (-53.0 F)	46 of 100 (Notable)
Bennetts Brg	United States	Record daily snowfall	55.9 cm (22.0 in)	46 of 100 (Notable)
Bottineau	United States	Record low maximum temperature	-31.7 C (-25.1 F)	46 of 100 (Notable)
Reedsburg Wwtp	United States	Record low maximum temperature	-22.2 C (-8.0 F)	46 of 100 (Notable)
Mt Clemens Ang Base	United States	Record low maximum temperature	-13.3 C (8.1 F)	45 of 100 (Notable)
Marquette	United States	Record low maximum temperature	-14.4 C (6.1 F)	45 of 100 (Notable)
Usina Mauricio	Brazil	Record daily precipitation	139.0 mm (5.5 in)	44 of 100 (Notable)
Castle Rock	United States	Record low maximum temperature	-15.6 C (3.9 F)	44 of 100 (Notable)
Winamac 2SSE	United States	Record low maximum temperature	-15.6 C (3.9 F)	44 of 100 (Notable)
Forest City 2 NNE	United States	Record low maximum temperature	-26.1 C (-15.0 F)	44 of 100 (Notable)
Wilsall 8 ENE	United States	Record daily snowfall	25.4 cm (10.0 in)	44 of 100 (Notable)
Kewaunee	United States	Record low maximum temperature	-21.7 C (-7.1 F)	44 of 100 (Notable)
Leon Virgen del Camino	Spain	Record daily precipitation	31.3 mm (1.2 in)	43 of 100 (Notable)
Quinter	United States	Record low minimum temperature	-30.6 C (-23.1 F)	43 of 100 (Notable)
Timber Lake	United States	Record low maximum temperature	-28.9 C (-20.0 F)	43 of 100 (Notable)
Clarksville Wwtp	United States	Record low minimum temperature	-20.6 C (-5.1 F)	43 of 100 (Notable)
Pierre Rgnl AP	United States	Record low maximum temperature	-27.8 C (-18.0 F)	43 of 100 (Notable)
Ribeirao de Sao Joaquim	Brazil	Record daily precipitation	88.5 mm (3.5 in)	42 of 100 (Notable)
Madison Sewage Plt	United States	Record low minimum temperature	-25.0 C (-13.0 F)	42 of 100 (Notable)
Hallock	United States	Record low maximum temperature	-31.1 C (-24.0 F)	42 of 100 (Notable)
Rapelje	United States	Record daily snowfall	20.3 cm (8.0 in)	42 of 100 (Notable)
Winifred	United States	Record low minimum temperature	-45.0 C (-49.0 F)	42 of 100 (Notable)
Amidon	United States	Record low minimum temperature	-40.0 C (-40.0 F)	42 of 100 (Notable)
Bowling Green Wwtp	United States	Record snow depth	25.4 cm (10.0 in)	42 of 100 (Notable)
Madill	United States	Record low minimum temperature	-18.9 C (-2.0 F)	42 of 100 (Notable)
Dodgeville Wwtp	United States	Record low maximum temperature	-18.9 C (-2.0 F)	42 of 100 (Notable)
Marquette	United States	Record low minimum temperature	-23.3 C (-9.9 F)	42 of 100 (Notable)
Piranga	Brazil	Record daily precipitation	120.0 mm (4.7 in)	41 of 100 (Notable)
Lake City Exp Farm	United States	Record low maximum temperature	-15.0 C (5.0 F)	41 of 100 (Notable)
Mc Connellsville Lk 7	United States	Record low minimum temperature	-26.7 C (-16.1 F)	41 of 100 (Notable)
Appleton	United States	Record low minimum temperature	-30.6 C (-23.1 F)	41 of 100 (Notable)
Chugwater	United States	Record low maximum temperature	-17.2 C (1.0 F)	41 of 100 (Notable)
Heart Mtn	United States	Record daily snowfall	7.6 cm (3.0 in)	41 of 100 (Notable)
Usina Ituere	Brazil	Record daily precipitation	112.0 mm (4.4 in)	40 of 100 (Notable)
Piller	Brazil	Record daily precipitation	124.1 mm (4.9 in)	40 of 100 (Notable)
Jena Sternwarte	Germany	Record high minimum temperature	11.0 C (51.8 F)	40 of 100 (Notable)
Burgos-Villafria	Spain	Record daily precipitation	25.1 mm (1.0 in)	40 of 100 (Notable)
Effingham 3SW	United States	Record low minimum temperature	-28.9 C (-20.0 F)	40 of 100 (Notable)
Mt Vernon 3 NE	United States	Record low minimum temperature	-22.2 C (-8.0 F)	40 of 100 (Notable)
Mt Vernon 3 NE	United States	Record snow depth	15.2 cm (6.0 in)	40 of 100 (Notable)
1 WSW Princeton	United States	Record low minimum temperature	-25.0 C (-13.0 F)	40 of 100 (Notable)
Rushville	United States	Record low minimum temperature	-30.6 C (-23.1 F)	40 of 100 (Notable)
Vevay	United States	Record low maximum temperature	-11.1 C (12.0 F)	40 of 100 (Notable)
Mt Pleasant 1 SW	United States	Record low maximum temperature	-22.8 C (-9.0 F)	40 of 100 (Notable)
Huntley Exp STN	United States	Record daily snowfall	12.7 cm (5.0 in)	40 of 100 (Notable)
Fairmont	United States	Record low minimum temperature	-32.2 C (-26.0 F)	40 of 100 (Notable)

Counts by Type and Timescale

3,203 records

Records set or tied on 21 December 1989 by type: Highest daily maximum 471, Lowest daily maximum 907, Highest daily minimum 405, Lowest daily minimum 856, Heaviest daily rainfall 299, Heaviest daily snowfall 69, Deepest snow cover 196.

Records on 21 December 1989 by type
Record type	Records
Highest daily maximum	471
Lowest daily maximum	907
Highest daily minimum	405
Lowest daily minimum	856
Heaviest daily rainfall	299
Heaviest daily snowfall	69
Deepest snow cover	196

Records on 21 December 1989 by timescale: all-time 38, monthly 311, daily 2,854.

How Much Records Were Beaten By

2,767 broken records

Margins by which the 2,767 broken records beat the old ones, in degrees Celsius for temperature and millimetres for precipitation and snow; the largest margin was 343.0. Ties are not counted.

Top 20 by Significance

21 December 1989

Top 20 records on 21 December 1989 by significance
Date	Station	Record	Value	Beat old record by	Old record stood	Significance
21 December 1989	Big Timber, US	monthly snowfall	45.7 cm (18.0 in)	15.2 cm (6.0 in)	65 years	70 of 100 (Major)
21 December 1989	Ljungby, SE	daily rain	27.8 mm (1.1 in)	11.8 mm (0.5 in)	70 years	58 of 100 (Notable)
21 December 1989	Howard, US	all-time low max	-28.9 C (-20.0 F)	0.6 C (1.1 F)	90 years	56 of 100 (Notable)
21 December 1989	Erie Intl AP, US	all-time snow depth	99.1 cm (39.0 in)	20.4 cm (8.0 in)	44 years	56 of 100 (Notable)
21 December 1989	Lovell, US	daily snowfall	10.2 cm (4.0 in)	5.1 cm (2.0 in)	91 years	53 of 100 (Notable)
21 December 1989	Fredonia, US	daily snowfall	30.5 cm (12.0 in)	17.8 cm (7.0 in)	50 years	52 of 100 (Notable)
21 December 1989	Brodhead Wwtp, US	all-time low max	-24.4 C (-11.9 F)	0.5 C (0.9 F)	77 years	52 of 100 (Notable)
21 December 1989	Huron Rgnl AP, US	monthly low max	-27.2 C (-17.0 F)	1.6 C (2.9 F)	104 years	52 of 100 (Notable)
21 December 1989	Tower 2S, US	daily low max	-29.4 C (-20.9 F)	11.6 C (20.9 F)	86 years	51 of 100 (Notable)
21 December 1989	Juazeiro (Pcd), BR	daily rain	72.2 mm (2.8 in)	45.2 mm (1.8 in)	40 years	49 of 100 (Notable)
21 December 1989	Hamburg Fuhlsbuettel, DE	monthly high min	11.1 C (52.0 F)	0.7 C (1.3 F)	98 years	49 of 100 (Notable)
21 December 1989	Stephan 2 NW, US	all-time low max	-29.4 C (-20.9 F)	0.5 C (0.9 F)	72 years	49 of 100 (Notable)
21 December 1989	Mitchell 5E, US	all-time low min	-40.6 C (-41.1 F)	2.3 C (4.1 F)	59 years	48 of 100 (Notable)
21 December 1989	Ironwood, US	monthly low max	-25.6 C (-14.1 F)	1.7 C (3.1 F)	88 years	46 of 100 (Notable)
21 December 1989	Chinook, US	all-time low min	-47.2 C (-53.0 F)	1.1 C (2.0 F)	53 years	46 of 100 (Notable)
21 December 1989	Skara 1, SE	daily rain	21.4 mm (0.8 in)	13.1 mm (0.5 in)	31 years	20 of 100 (Routine)
21 December 1989	Vorkuta, RU	daily rain	20.0 mm (0.8 in)	7.4 mm (0.29 in)	30 years	20 of 100 (Routine)
21 December 1989	Vaexjoe, SE	daily rain	20.3 mm (0.8 in)	3.0 mm (0.12 in)	119 years	20 of 100 (Routine)
21 December 1989	Lushi, CN	daily rain	16.6 mm (0.7 in)	12.8 mm (0.5 in)	12 years	20 of 100 (Routine)
21 December 1989	Karaganda, KZ	daily rain	11.1 mm (0.4 in)	7.0 mm (0.28 in)	20 years	20 of 100 (Routine)

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 1989

Records set or tied on this calendar date in each year from 1793 to 1989. 1989 had 3,203 records.

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

Records on 12-21 in each year
Year	Records
1793	1
1794	1
1799	1
1801	2
1808	3
1825	1
1828	1
1839	1
1846	1
1850	1
1855	7
1859	1
1860	1
1868	1
1870	1
1871	2
1874	2
1875	3
1876	1
1877	1
1878	1
1879	1
1880	1
1884	1
1886	3
1889	1
1890	4
1893	4
1894	1
1895	5
1896	3
1897	3
1898	1
1900	8
1901	15
1902	5
1903	25
1904	3
1905	15
1906	15
1907	17
1908	19
1909	20
1910	29
1911	36
1912	23
1913	11
1914	107
1915	43
1916	40
1917	18
1918	41
1919	57
1920	30
1921	104
1922	34
1923	323
1924	377
1925	120
1926	178
1927	147
1928	70
1929	156
1930	66
1931	556
1932	150
1933	581
1934	230
1935	398
1936	323
1937	189
1938	145
1939	140
1940	622
1941	651
1942	968
1943	148
1944	762
1945	396
1946	495
1947	700
1948	297
1949	1,281
1950	504
1951	1,061
1952	197
1953	256
1954	444
1955	888
1956	672
1957	846
1958	516
1959	272
1960	585
1961	254
1962	563
1963	1,137
1964	613
1965	247
1966	400
1967	1,923
1968	818
1969	828
1970	547
1971	680
1972	651
1973	1,292
1974	374
1975	548
1976	446
1977	470
1978	517
1979	558
1980	726
1981	1,476
1982	702
1983	3,324
1984	1,012
1985	979
1986	404
1987	775
1988	717
1989	3,203
1990	2,701
1991	1,125
1992	751
1993	967
1994	793
1995	878
1996	1,114
1997	810
1998	1,142
1999	851
2000	944
2001	650
2002	579
2003	1,103
2004	675
2005	606
2006	1,443
2007	946
2008	1,062
2009	1,097
2010	2,039
2011	653
2012	759
2013	1,029
2014	878
2015	1,173
2016	543
2017	459
2018	742
2019	755
2020	965
2021	323
2022	528
2023	1,170
2024	778
2025	1,099

Download the Data

Data for records on 1989-12-21: 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	2,677
50 to 100	61
100 to 150	16
150 to 200	9
200 to 250	1
250 to 300	2
300 to 350	1