Weather Records on 18 December 1996

1,833 weather records were set or tied worldwide on 18 December 1996. Highest significance: Onaka, US.

Key Facts for 18 December 1996

On 18 December 1996, 1,833 weather records were set or tied at long-record stations worldwide.
384 were record highs and 784 were record lows, counting maximum and minimum temperature.
By timescale, 8 were all-time records, 63 monthly and 1,762 daily.
Onaka set a daily record precipitation of 27.4 mm (1.1 in) on 18 December 1996.
Across 156 earlier years (1793 to 2025) the same calendar date averaged 471 records.

Record Map

1,833 stations

1,833 station records on 18 December 1996 are marked on the map, coloured by record type. Dot size shows the significance score. Made with Natural Earth.

Weather records on 18 December 1996: highest significance records shown on the map
Station	Country	Type	Value	Significance
Onaka	United States	Record daily precipitation	27.4 mm (1.1 in)	68 of 100 (Major)
Tower 2S	United States	Record daily snowfall	20.3 cm (8.0 in)	63 of 100 (Major)
Coolatai (Willunga)	Australia	Record daily precipitation	68.6 mm (2.7 in)	61 of 100 (Major)
Evergreen	United States	Record daily snowfall	5.1 cm (2.0 in)	60 of 100 (Major)
Halls Creek Airport	Australia	Record daily precipitation	103.0 mm (4.1 in)	59 of 100 (Notable)
Kurilsk	Russia	Record daily precipitation	51.8 mm (2.0 in)	57 of 100 (Notable)
Ouray	United States	Record low maximum temperature	-15.0 C (5.0 F)	57 of 100 (Notable)
Kalispell Glacier AP	United States	Record snow depth	66.0 cm (26.0 in)	57 of 100 (Notable)
Nemuro	Japan	Record daily precipitation	66.0 mm (2.6 in)	55 of 100 (Notable)
Aurland	Norway	Record snow depth	27.0 cm (10.6 in)	53 of 100 (Notable)
Marshall	United States	Record snow depth	53.3 cm (21.0 in)	53 of 100 (Notable)
Climax	United States	Record low minimum temperature	-33.9 C (-29.0 F)	52 of 100 (Notable)
Weabonga (Stoneleigh)	Australia	Record daily precipitation	58.0 mm (2.3 in)	51 of 100 (Notable)
Niangala (Ingalba)	Australia	Record daily precipitation	60.2 mm (2.4 in)	50 of 100 (Notable)
Horcones	Mexico	Record daily precipitation	58.7 mm (2.3 in)	50 of 100 (Notable)
Ouray	United States	Record low minimum temperature	-24.4 C (-11.9 F)	50 of 100 (Notable)
Covington	United States	Record daily snowfall	5.1 cm (2.0 in)	50 of 100 (Notable)
Grand Forks UNIV (NWS)	United States	Record daily snowfall	17.3 cm (6.8 in)	50 of 100 (Notable)
Weabonga (Monomeeth)	Australia	Record daily precipitation	36.6 mm (1.4 in)	49 of 100 (Notable)
Chama	United States	Record low minimum temperature	-31.7 C (-25.1 F)	49 of 100 (Notable)
Una (Agr)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	86.0 mm (3.4 in)	48 of 100 (Notable)
Mys Alevina	Russia	Record daily precipitation	33.0 mm (1.3 in)	47 of 100 (Notable)
Urup	Russia	Record daily precipitation	39.1 mm (1.5 in)	47 of 100 (Notable)
Monroeville 1 NW	United States	Record snow depth	10.2 cm (4.0 in)	47 of 100 (Notable)
Villa de Arriaga (Dge)	Mexico	Record high maximum temperature	36.7 C (98.1 F)	46 of 100 (Notable)
Silverton	United States	Record low maximum temperature	-16.1 C (3.0 F)	45 of 100 (Notable)
Rico	United States	Record low maximum temperature	-11.7 C (10.9 F)	44 of 100 (Notable)
Gunnedah Pool	Australia	Record low maximum temperature	22.2 C (72.0 F)	43 of 100 (Notable)
Bay Minette	United States	Record daily snowfall	5.6 cm (2.2 in)	43 of 100 (Notable)
Jamestown Muni AP	United States	Record daily snowfall	14.5 cm (5.7 in)	43 of 100 (Notable)
Ft Bayard 4W	United States	Record low minimum temperature	-15.0 C (5.0 F)	42 of 100 (Notable)
Hillsboro	United States	Record low minimum temperature	-13.9 C (7.0 F)	42 of 100 (Notable)
Crosby	United States	Record snow depth	30.5 cm (12.0 in)	42 of 100 (Notable)
Blunt	United States	Record snow depth	50.8 cm (20.0 in)	42 of 100 (Notable)
Rest Lake	United States	Record daily snowfall	25.4 cm (10.0 in)	42 of 100 (Notable)
Newark Liberty Intl AP	United States	Record high minimum temperature	7.8 C (46.0 F)	42 of 100 (Notable)
Yarrowitch (Benditi)	Australia	Record daily precipitation	52.4 mm (2.1 in)	41 of 100 (Notable)
Juzhno-Kurilsk	Russia	Record daily precipitation	42.1 mm (1.7 in)	41 of 100 (Notable)
Gunnison 3SW	United States	Record low minimum temperature	-38.3 C (-36.9 F)	41 of 100 (Notable)
Kenton	United States	Record daily snowfall	20.3 cm (8.0 in)	41 of 100 (Notable)
Two Harbors	United States	Record daily snowfall	10.7 cm (4.2 in)	41 of 100 (Notable)
San Simon	United States	Record low maximum temperature	6.1 C (43.0 F)	40 of 100 (Notable)
Port Jervis	United States	Record high minimum temperature	5.6 C (42.1 F)	40 of 100 (Notable)
Oakes	United States	Record daily snowfall	10.2 cm (4.0 in)	40 of 100 (Notable)
New Braunfels	United States	Record low minimum temperature	-8.9 C (16.0 F)	40 of 100 (Notable)
Tia (Rambrah)	Australia	Record daily precipitation	53.4 mm (2.1 in)	39 of 100 (Notable)
Glenwood Spgs #2	United States	Record low maximum temperature	-10.0 C (14.0 F)	39 of 100 (Notable)
Lake City	United States	Record low minimum temperature	-34.4 C (-29.9 F)	39 of 100 (Notable)
Salida	United States	Record low maximum temperature	-11.1 C (12.0 F)	39 of 100 (Notable)
Los Alamos	United States	Record low minimum temperature	-23.9 C (-11.0 F)	39 of 100 (Notable)
Old Forge	United States	Record high maximum temperature	9.4 C (48.9 F)	39 of 100 (Notable)
Pollock	United States	Record daily snowfall	5.1 cm (2.0 in)	39 of 100 (Notable)
Rhinelander	United States	Record daily snowfall	6.4 cm (2.5 in)	39 of 100 (Notable)
Ny City Cntrl Park	United States	Record high minimum temperature	8.3 C (46.9 F)	39 of 100 (Notable)
Wollar (Maree)	Australia	Record daily precipitation	36.4 mm (1.4 in)	38 of 100 (Notable)
Pagosa Springs 1SE	United States	Record low maximum temperature	-7.2 C (19.0 F)	38 of 100 (Notable)
Ada	United States	Record daily snowfall	6.4 cm (2.5 in)	38 of 100 (Notable)
Grafton	United States	Record high minimum temperature	-1.1 C (30.0 F)	38 of 100 (Notable)
Elephant Butte Dam	United States	Record low minimum temperature	-10.0 C (14.0 F)	38 of 100 (Notable)
Portales	United States	Record low maximum temperature	-4.4 C (24.1 F)	38 of 100 (Notable)

Counts by Type and Timescale

1,833 records

Records set or tied on 18 December 1996 by type: Highest daily maximum 94, Lowest daily maximum 418, Highest daily minimum 290, Lowest daily minimum 366, Heaviest daily rainfall 408, Heaviest daily snowfall 124, Deepest snow cover 133.

Records on 18 December 1996 by type
Record type	Records
Highest daily maximum	94
Lowest daily maximum	418
Highest daily minimum	290
Lowest daily minimum	366
Heaviest daily rainfall	408
Heaviest daily snowfall	124
Deepest snow cover	133

Records on 18 December 1996 by timescale: all-time 8, monthly 63, daily 1,762.

How Much Records Were Beaten By

1,479 broken records

Margins by which the 1,479 broken records beat the old ones, in degrees Celsius for temperature and millimetres for precipitation and snow; the largest margin was 330.0. Ties are not counted.

Top 20 by Significance

18 December 1996

Top 20 records on 18 December 1996 by significance
Date	Station	Record	Value	Beat old record by	Old record stood	Significance
18 December 1996	Onaka, US	daily rain	27.4 mm (1.1 in)	24.9 mm (1.0 in)	67 years	68 of 100 (Major)
18 December 1996	Tower 2S, US	daily snowfall	20.3 cm (8.0 in)	10.1 cm (4.0 in)	98 years	63 of 100 (Major)
18 December 1996	Coolatai (Willunga), AU	daily rain	68.6 mm (2.7 in)	51.3 mm (2.0 in)	56 years	61 of 100 (Major)
18 December 1996	Evergreen, US	monthly snowfall	5.1 cm (2.0 in)	5.1 cm (2.0 in)	102 years	60 of 100 (Major)
18 December 1996	Halls Creek Airport, AU	daily rain	103.0 mm (4.1 in)	83.7 mm (3.3 in)	47 years	59 of 100 (Notable)
18 December 1996	Kurilsk, RU	daily rain	51.8 mm (2.0 in)	26.7 mm (1.1 in)	46 years	57 of 100 (Notable)
18 December 1996	Ouray, US	daily low max	-15.0 C (5.0 F)	8.9 C (16.0 F)	100 years	57 of 100 (Notable)
18 December 1996	Kalispell Glacier AP, US	daily snow depth	66.0 cm (26.0 in)	27.9 cm (11.0 in)	67 years	57 of 100 (Notable)
18 December 1996	Nemuro, JP	daily rain	66.0 mm (2.6 in)	52.0 mm (2.0 in)	39 years	55 of 100 (Notable)
18 December 1996	Aurland, NO	daily snow depth	27.0 cm (10.6 in)	17.0 cm (6.7 in)	31 years	53 of 100 (Notable)
18 December 1996	Marshall, US	daily snow depth	53.3 cm (21.0 in)	33.0 cm (13.0 in)	41 years	53 of 100 (Notable)
18 December 1996	Climax, US	daily low min	-33.9 C (-29.0 F)	6.7 C (12.1 F)	100 years	52 of 100 (Notable)
18 December 1996	Weabonga (Stoneleigh), AU	daily rain	58.0 mm (2.3 in)	33.9 mm (1.3 in)	53 years	51 of 100 (Notable)
18 December 1996	Niangala (Ingalba), AU	daily rain	60.2 mm (2.4 in)	40.9 mm (1.6 in)	37 years	50 of 100 (Notable)
18 December 1996	Horcones, MX	daily rain	58.7 mm (2.3 in)	55.4 mm (2.2 in)	25 years	50 of 100 (Notable)
18 December 1996	Ouray, US	daily low min	-24.4 C (-11.9 F)	5.0 C (9.0 F)	100 years	50 of 100 (Notable)
18 December 1996	Covington, US	daily snowfall	5.1 cm (2.0 in)	5.1 cm (2.0 in)	101 years	50 of 100 (Notable)
18 December 1996	Grand Forks UNIV (NWS), US	daily snowfall	17.3 cm (6.8 in)	8.9 cm (3.5 in)	38 years	50 of 100 (Notable)
18 December 1996	Weabonga (Monomeeth), AU	daily rain	36.6 mm (1.4 in)	15.5 mm (0.6 in)	94 years	49 of 100 (Notable)
18 December 1996	Chama, US	daily low min	-31.7 C (-25.1 F)	5.6 C (10.1 F)	100 years	49 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 1996

Records set or tied on this calendar date in each year from 1793 to 1996. 1996 had 1,833 records.

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

Records on 12-18 in each year
Year	Records
1793	1
1796	1
1805	1
1814	1
1825	1
1846	1
1849	1
1852	2
1858	1
1859	4
1862	2
1864	1
1868	1
1873	1
1875	1
1876	2
1878	1
1881	2
1882	1
1884	2
1886	1
1887	1
1888	1
1889	4
1890	5
1892	4
1894	8
1895	1
1897	4
1898	9
1899	3
1900	2
1901	6
1902	33
1903	11
1904	25
1905	3
1906	21
1907	15
1908	16
1909	18
1910	19
1911	9
1912	33
1913	38
1914	20
1915	28
1916	57
1917	62
1918	21
1919	117
1920	77
1921	123
1922	108
1923	378
1924	480
1925	74
1926	173
1927	151
1928	165
1929	366
1930	230
1931	360
1932	353
1933	506
1934	209
1935	138
1936	466
1937	459
1938	185
1939	900
1940	242
1941	213
1942	281
1943	419
1944	191
1945	598
1946	199
1947	266
1948	354
1949	561
1950	289
1951	867
1952	450
1953	373
1954	507
1955	611
1956	333
1957	901
1958	524
1959	477
1960	477
1961	885
1962	759
1963	571
1964	840
1965	402
1966	644
1967	1,105
1968	488
1969	376
1970	502
1971	387
1972	375
1973	1,008
1974	229
1975	625
1976	459
1977	992
1978	946
1979	1,087
1980	772
1981	1,362
1982	537
1983	2,014
1984	1,439
1985	1,384
1986	875
1987	1,505
1988	1,061
1989	1,818
1990	1,367
1991	756
1992	1,045
1993	697
1994	643
1995	1,065
1996	1,833
1997	1,195
1998	863
1999	923
2000	1,572
2001	906
2002	1,437
2003	987
2004	506
2005	987
2006	1,167
2007	746
2008	1,014
2009	1,253
2010	1,322
2011	697
2012	729
2013	513
2014	556
2015	1,254
2016	1,821
2017	516
2018	464
2019	679
2020	326
2021	762
2022	536
2023	1,293
2024	780
2025	994

Download the Data

Data for records on 1996-12-18: 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	1,382
50 to 100	67
100 to 150	20
150 to 200	6
200 to 250	2
250 to 300	1
300 to 350	1