Weather Records on 16 January 1997

1,016 weather records were set or tied worldwide on 16 January 1997. Highest significance: Kareepoort (Irr), ZA.

Key Facts for 16 January 1997

On 16 January 1997, 1,016 weather records were set or tied at long-record stations worldwide.
117 were record highs and 210 were record lows, counting maximum and minimum temperature.
By timescale, 15 were all-time records, 36 monthly and 965 daily.
Kareepoort (Irr) set an all-time record daily precipitation of 147.1 mm (5.8 in) on 16 January 1997.
Across 161 earlier years (1795 to 2026) the same calendar date averaged 497 records.

Record Map

1,016 stations

1,016 station records on 16 January 1997 are marked on the map, coloured by record type. Dot size shows the significance score. Made with Natural Earth.

Weather records on 16 January 1997: highest significance records shown on the map
Station	Country	Type	Value	Significance
Kareepoort (Irr)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	147.1 mm (5.8 in)	74 of 100 (Major)
Kalispell Glacier AP	United States	Record snow depth	106.7 cm (42.0 in)	73 of 100 (Major)
Rochester	United States	Record daily snowfall	20.3 cm (8.0 in)	64 of 100 (Major)
Schikfontein	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	106.5 mm (4.2 in)	56 of 100 (Notable)
Perkins	United States	Record daily snowfall	12.7 cm (5.0 in)	56 of 100 (Notable)
Kenton	United States	Record daily snowfall	24.1 cm (9.5 in)	55 of 100 (Notable)
Angola	United States	Record daily snowfall	14.0 cm (5.5 in)	54 of 100 (Notable)
Arkville 2 W	United States	Record daily precipitation	52.6 mm (2.1 in)	53 of 100 (Notable)
Belleview 2 E	United States	Record snow depth	17.8 cm (7.0 in)	52 of 100 (Notable)
Mansfield	United States	Record snow depth	12.7 cm (5.0 in)	52 of 100 (Notable)
Rolla Missouri S&T	United States	Record snow depth	22.9 cm (9.0 in)	52 of 100 (Notable)
Pecos Nm	United States	Record snow depth	33.0 cm (13.0 in)	51 of 100 (Notable)
Rest Lake	United States	Record snow depth	106.7 cm (42.0 in)	51 of 100 (Notable)
Beerlaagte	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	126.0 mm (5.0 in)	50 of 100 (Notable)
Sandfontein (Irr)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	71.0 mm (2.8 in)	50 of 100 (Notable)
Three Rivers	United States	Record daily snowfall	13.0 cm (5.1 in)	50 of 100 (Notable)
Litke	Russia	Record daily precipitation	29.0 mm (1.1 in)	49 of 100 (Notable)
Mojave	United States	Record daily snowfall	6.4 cm (2.5 in)	48 of 100 (Notable)
Enterprise	United States	Record snow depth	43.2 cm (17.0 in)	48 of 100 (Notable)
Ida Grove 5NW	United States	Record daily snowfall	5.1 cm (2.0 in)	47 of 100 (Notable)
Grayling	United States	Record daily snowfall	22.9 cm (9.0 in)	47 of 100 (Notable)
St Charles Elm Pt	United States	Record daily snowfall	11.7 cm (4.6 in)	47 of 100 (Notable)
Snowflake 15 W	United States	Record snow depth	33.0 cm (13.0 in)	46 of 100 (Notable)
Aurora Water	United States	Record daily snowfall	21.6 cm (8.5 in)	46 of 100 (Notable)
Crookston NW Exp STN	United States	Record snow depth	88.9 cm (35.0 in)	46 of 100 (Notable)
Caplinger Mills	United States	Record snow depth	17.8 cm (7.0 in)	46 of 100 (Notable)
Redwood Falls Muni AP	United States	Record snow depth	63.5 cm (25.0 in)	46 of 100 (Notable)
Coloso	Puerto Rico [United States]	Record low maximum temperature	23.3 C (73.9 F)	45 of 100 (Notable)
Geluk (Irr)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	121.0 mm (4.8 in)	45 of 100 (Notable)
Victor 4 N	United States	Record snow depth	101.6 cm (40.0 in)	45 of 100 (Notable)
Charlotte	United States	Record daily snowfall	15.2 cm (6.0 in)	44 of 100 (Notable)
Eagle Nest	United States	Record snow depth	50.8 cm (20.0 in)	44 of 100 (Notable)
Roscoe	United States	Record snow depth	88.9 cm (35.0 in)	44 of 100 (Notable)
Marysvale	United States	Record snow depth	25.4 cm (10.0 in)	44 of 100 (Notable)
Gillette 3SE	United States	Record snow depth	27.9 cm (11.0 in)	44 of 100 (Notable)
Vanderbilt 11ENE	United States	Record daily snowfall	14.0 cm (5.5 in)	43 of 100 (Notable)
Chaffee 5 NE	United States	Record snow depth	101.6 cm (40.0 in)	43 of 100 (Notable)
Albion	United States	Record daily precipitation	34.0 mm (1.3 in)	42 of 100 (Notable)
Gibson City	United States	Record daily snowfall	17.8 cm (7.0 in)	42 of 100 (Notable)
Mc Leod 3 E	United States	Record snow depth	119.4 cm (47.0 in)	42 of 100 (Notable)
Chilton	United States	Record daily snowfall	7.6 cm (3.0 in)	42 of 100 (Notable)
Pontiac	United States	Record daily snowfall	15.2 cm (6.0 in)	41 of 100 (Notable)
Bloomington Indiana UNIV	United States	Record daily snowfall	5.1 cm (2.0 in)	41 of 100 (Notable)
E Jordan	United States	Record daily snowfall	20.3 cm (8.0 in)	41 of 100 (Notable)
Leyden	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	36.0 mm (1.4 in)	40 of 100 (Notable)
Waycross 4 NE	United States	Record daily precipitation	36.8 mm (1.4 in)	40 of 100 (Notable)
Vandalia	United States	Record daily snowfall	11.4 cm (4.5 in)	40 of 100 (Notable)
Northwood	United States	Record daily snowfall	9.4 cm (3.7 in)	40 of 100 (Notable)
Allegan 5NE	United States	Record daily snowfall	20.3 cm (8.0 in)	40 of 100 (Notable)
Wellston Tippy Dam	United States	Record daily snowfall	25.4 cm (10.0 in)	40 of 100 (Notable)
Barnsdall	United States	Record snow depth	12.7 cm (5.0 in)	40 of 100 (Notable)
Huron Rgnl AP	United States	Record snow depth	53.3 cm (21.0 in)	40 of 100 (Notable)
Clarens (Pol)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	47.0 mm (1.9 in)	39 of 100 (Notable)
Khorog	Tajikistan	Record high maximum temperature	7.6 C (45.7 F)	39 of 100 (Notable)
Joliet Brandon Road Lock/Dam	United States	Record daily snowfall	17.8 cm (7.0 in)	39 of 100 (Notable)
Streator 2SE	United States	Record daily snowfall	8.9 cm (3.5 in)	39 of 100 (Notable)
Warsaw	United States	Record snow depth	17.8 cm (7.0 in)	39 of 100 (Notable)
New Salem 5NW	United States	Record snow depth	50.8 cm (20.0 in)	39 of 100 (Notable)
Rantoul	United States	Record snow depth	30.5 cm (12.0 in)	39 of 100 (Notable)
Whyalla (Tregalana)	Australia	Record daily precipitation	25.0 mm (1.0 in)	38 of 100 (Notable)

Counts by Type and Timescale

1,016 records

Records set or tied on 16 January 1997 by type: Highest daily maximum 66, Lowest daily maximum 71, Highest daily minimum 51, Lowest daily minimum 139, Heaviest daily rainfall 335, Heaviest daily snowfall 138, Deepest snow cover 216.

Records on 16 January 1997 by type
Record type	Records
Highest daily maximum	66
Lowest daily maximum	71
Highest daily minimum	51
Lowest daily minimum	139
Heaviest daily rainfall	335
Heaviest daily snowfall	138
Deepest snow cover	216

Records on 16 January 1997 by timescale: all-time 15, monthly 36, daily 965.

How Much Records Were Beaten By

815 broken records

Margins by which the 815 broken records beat the old ones, in degrees Celsius for temperature and millimetres for precipitation and snow; the largest margin was 610.0. Ties are not counted.

Top 20 by Significance

16 January 1997

Top 20 records on 16 January 1997 by significance
Date	Station	Record	Value	Beat old record by	Old record stood	Significance
16 January 1997	Kareepoort (Irr), ZA	all-time rain	147.1 mm (5.8 in)	40.9 mm (1.6 in)	48 years	74 of 100 (Major)
16 January 1997	Kalispell Glacier AP, US	daily snow depth	106.7 cm (42.0 in)	61.0 cm (24.0 in)	81 years	73 of 100 (Major)
16 January 1997	Rochester, US	daily snowfall	20.3 cm (8.0 in)	12.2 cm (4.8 in)	90 years	64 of 100 (Major)
16 January 1997	Schikfontein, ZA	monthly rain	106.5 mm (4.2 in)	21.4 mm (0.8 in)	74 years	56 of 100 (Notable)
16 January 1997	Perkins, US	daily snowfall	12.7 cm (5.0 in)	12.7 cm (5.0 in)	69 years	56 of 100 (Notable)
16 January 1997	Kenton, US	daily snowfall	24.1 cm (9.5 in)	16.5 cm (6.5 in)	42 years	55 of 100 (Notable)
16 January 1997	Angola, US	daily snowfall	14.0 cm (5.5 in)	8.9 cm (3.5 in)	73 years	54 of 100 (Notable)
16 January 1997	Arkville 2 W, US	daily rain	52.6 mm (2.1 in)	30.5 mm (1.2 in)	35 years	53 of 100 (Notable)
16 January 1997	Belleview 2 E, US	daily snow depth	17.8 cm (7.0 in)	17.8 cm (7.0 in)	47 years	52 of 100 (Notable)
16 January 1997	Mansfield, US	daily snow depth	12.7 cm (5.0 in)	12.7 cm (5.0 in)	48 years	52 of 100 (Notable)
16 January 1997	Rolla Missouri S&T, US	daily snow depth	22.9 cm (9.0 in)	7.7 cm (3.0 in)	92 years	52 of 100 (Notable)
16 January 1997	Pecos Nm, US	daily snow depth	33.0 cm (13.0 in)	15.2 cm (6.0 in)	81 years	51 of 100 (Notable)
16 January 1997	Rest Lake, US	daily snow depth	106.7 cm (42.0 in)	38.1 cm (15.0 in)	69 years	51 of 100 (Notable)
16 January 1997	Beerlaagte, ZA	all-time rain	126.0 mm (5.0 in)	4.1 mm (0.16 in)	60 years	50 of 100 (Notable)
16 January 1997	Sandfontein (Irr), ZA	daily rain	71.0 mm (2.8 in)	39.5 mm (1.6 in)	55 years	50 of 100 (Notable)
16 January 1997	Three Rivers, US	daily snowfall	13.0 cm (5.1 in)	7.9 cm (3.1 in)	67 years	50 of 100 (Notable)
16 January 1997	Litke, RU	daily rain	29.0 mm (1.1 in)	24.7 mm (1.0 in)	23 years	49 of 100 (Notable)
16 January 1997	Mojave, US	daily snowfall	6.4 cm (2.5 in)	6.4 cm (2.5 in)	90 years	48 of 100 (Notable)
16 January 1997	Enterprise, US	daily snow depth	43.2 cm (17.0 in)	20.3 cm (8.0 in)	81 years	48 of 100 (Notable)
16 January 1997	Ida Grove 5NW, US	daily snowfall	5.1 cm (2.0 in)	5.1 cm (2.0 in)	91 years	47 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 1997

Records set or tied on this calendar date in each year from 1795 to 1997. 1997 had 1,016 records.

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

Records on 01-16 in each year
Year	Records
1795	1
1799	1
1804	1
1818	1
1820	2
1826	2
1836	1
1838	1
1839	1
1845	3
1847	1
1849	2
1851	1
1852	2
1858	1
1864	1
1866	1
1867	1
1868	1
1869	1
1871	1
1873	2
1875	3
1877	1
1878	2
1881	4
1886	1
1890	2
1891	1
1892	1
1893	8
1895	5
1896	4
1897	2
1898	2
1899	17
1900	1
1901	1
1902	5
1904	6
1905	22
1906	26
1907	17
1908	14
1909	19
1910	21
1911	15
1912	38
1913	52
1914	16
1915	29
1916	28
1917	30
1918	89
1919	50
1920	249
1921	36
1922	29
1923	47
1924	277
1925	237
1926	69
1927	250
1928	327
1929	130
1930	680
1931	160
1932	605
1933	343
1934	99
1935	426
1936	349
1937	186
1938	549
1939	539
1940	284
1941	601
1942	585
1943	628
1944	252
1945	434
1946	430
1947	597
1948	299
1949	933
1950	855
1951	679
1952	614
1953	1,040
1954	882
1955	318
1956	519
1957	795
1958	459
1959	462
1960	349
1961	864
1962	387
1963	996
1964	577
1965	910
1966	464
1967	516
1968	536
1969	630
1970	729
1971	628
1972	1,724
1973	1,134
1974	1,957
1975	717
1976	593
1977	1,430
1978	1,399
1979	1,043
1980	965
1981	815
1982	1,121
1983	759
1984	1,376
1985	846
1986	785
1987	1,465
1988	597
1989	835
1990	1,692
1991	897
1992	1,150
1993	1,351
1994	2,003
1995	1,381
1996	995
1997	1,016
1998	884
1999	816
2000	1,073
2001	753
2002	605
2003	691
2004	1,446
2005	654
2006	746
2007	1,962
2008	777
2009	1,328
2010	739
2011	996
2012	569
2013	990
2014	534
2015	424
2016	453
2017	1,104
2018	1,045
2019	512
2020	1,098
2021	544
2022	576
2023	646
2024	2,401
2025	684
2026	506

Download the Data

Data for records on 1997-01-16: 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 100	737
100 to 200	50
200 to 300	15
300 to 400	8
400 to 500	2
500 to 600	2
600 to 700	1