Weather Records on 20 August 1997

1,214 weather records were set or tied worldwide on 20 August 1997. Highest significance: Atlantic City Intl AP, US.

Key Facts for 20 August 1997

On 20 August 1997, 1,214 weather records were set or tied at long-record stations worldwide.
609 were record highs and 282 were record lows, counting maximum and minimum temperature.
By timescale, 9 were all-time records, 46 monthly and 1,159 daily.
Atlantic City Intl AP set an all-time record daily precipitation of 281.9 mm (11.1 in) on 20 August 1997.
Across 163 earlier years (1797 to 2026) the same calendar date averaged 450 records.

Record Map

1,214 stations

1,214 station records on 20 August 1997 are marked on the map, coloured by record type. Dot size shows the significance score. Made with Natural Earth.

Weather records on 20 August 1997: highest significance records shown on the map
Station	Country	Type	Value	Significance
Atlantic City Intl AP	United States	Record daily precipitation	281.9 mm (11.1 in)	75 of 100 (Major)
Petaluma AP	United States	Record daily precipitation	25.4 mm (1.0 in)	68 of 100 (Major)
Upper San Leandro Filters	United States	Record daily precipitation	31.2 mm (1.2 in)	61 of 100 (Major)
Millville Muni AP	United States	Record daily precipitation	230.1 mm (9.1 in)	60 of 100 (Major)
Huimin	China	Record daily precipitation	124.8 mm (4.9 in)	55 of 100 (Notable)
Stornoway Airport	United Kingdom	Record high minimum temperature	16.9 C (62.4 F)	55 of 100 (Notable)
Cecilville	United States	Record daily precipitation	38.1 mm (1.5 in)	55 of 100 (Notable)
Graton	United States	Record daily precipitation	35.6 mm (1.4 in)	55 of 100 (Notable)
Martinsville Fltr Plt	United States	Record daily precipitation	107.7 mm (4.2 in)	54 of 100 (Notable)
Chaska	United States	Record daily precipitation	77.7 mm (3.1 in)	53 of 100 (Notable)
Weifang	China	Record daily precipitation	106.1 mm (4.2 in)	52 of 100 (Notable)
Kjusjur	Russia	Record daily precipitation	25.8 mm (1.0 in)	51 of 100 (Notable)
Dalian	China	Record daily precipitation	172.8 mm (6.8 in)	50 of 100 (Notable)
Tell City	United States	Record daily precipitation	83.1 mm (3.3 in)	50 of 100 (Notable)
Covington 3 SW	United States	Record daily precipitation	97.8 mm (3.9 in)	48 of 100 (Notable)
Sullivan	United States	Record daily precipitation	88.9 mm (3.5 in)	47 of 100 (Notable)
Tecolutla	Mexico	Record high maximum temperature	41.7 C (107.1 F)	46 of 100 (Notable)
Ft Ross	United States	Record daily precipitation	35.1 mm (1.4 in)	45 of 100 (Notable)
Mayfield Radio Wlle	United States	Record daily precipitation	61.0 mm (2.4 in)	45 of 100 (Notable)
Farmerville	United States	Record high minimum temperature	25.6 C (78.1 F)	44 of 100 (Notable)
Hart 3 WSW	United States	Record low maximum temperature	16.7 C (62.1 F)	44 of 100 (Notable)
Jackson Exp STN	United States	Record daily precipitation	71.9 mm (2.8 in)	44 of 100 (Notable)
Reading Wb City	United States	Record daily precipitation	50.3 mm (2.0 in)	43 of 100 (Notable)
Malvern	United States	Record high minimum temperature	25.0 C (77.0 F)	42 of 100 (Notable)
Prineville	United States	Record high minimum temperature	14.4 C (57.9 F)	42 of 100 (Notable)
Sparta 1 W	United States	Record low maximum temperature	22.2 C (72.0 F)	41 of 100 (Notable)
Derry 4 SW	United States	Record low maximum temperature	18.3 C (64.9 F)	41 of 100 (Notable)
Greensburg 5 SW	United States	Record daily precipitation	88.4 mm (3.5 in)	40 of 100 (Notable)
Owatonna	United States	Record daily precipitation	56.4 mm (2.2 in)	40 of 100 (Notable)
Ocozocoautla	Mexico	Record low minimum temperature	12.8 C (55.0 F)	39 of 100 (Notable)
Blytheville	United States	Record daily precipitation	38.4 mm (1.5 in)	39 of 100 (Notable)
De Sabla	United States	Record daily precipitation	31.0 mm (1.2 in)	39 of 100 (Notable)
Rushville	United States	Record low maximum temperature	17.8 C (64.0 F)	39 of 100 (Notable)
Jinzhou	China	Record daily precipitation	97.7 mm (3.8 in)	38 of 100 (Notable)
Jinan	China	Record daily precipitation	114.8 mm (4.5 in)	38 of 100 (Notable)
Armagh	United Kingdom	Record high minimum temperature	17.8 C (64.0 F)	38 of 100 (Notable)
Big Sur STN	United States	Record daily precipitation	34.8 mm (1.4 in)	38 of 100 (Notable)
Carlinville	United States	Record low maximum temperature	18.3 C (64.9 F)	38 of 100 (Notable)
Grinnell 3 SW	United States	Record low maximum temperature	20.0 C (68.0 F)	38 of 100 (Notable)
Hopkinsville	United States	Record daily precipitation	57.9 mm (2.3 in)	38 of 100 (Notable)
Buffalo 2NE	United States	Record daily precipitation	68.1 mm (2.7 in)	38 of 100 (Notable)
Charleston	United States	Record daily precipitation	62.7 mm (2.5 in)	38 of 100 (Notable)
Mina	United States	Record high minimum temperature	21.7 C (71.1 F)	38 of 100 (Notable)
Shokan Brown Station	United States	Record daily precipitation	51.3 mm (2.0 in)	38 of 100 (Notable)
Middletown Harrisburg Intl AP	United States	Record daily precipitation	45.2 mm (1.8 in)	38 of 100 (Notable)
Boqueirao	Brazil	Record daily precipitation	55.9 mm (2.2 in)	37 of 100 (Notable)
Altotonga	Mexico	Record low maximum temperature	12.8 C (55.0 F)	37 of 100 (Notable)
University	United States	Record daily precipitation	43.7 mm (1.7 in)	37 of 100 (Notable)
Elkins- Randolph Co AP	United States	Record daily precipitation	39.1 mm (1.5 in)	37 of 100 (Notable)
Baltimore-Washington Intl AP	United States	Record daily precipitation	69.9 mm (2.8 in)	37 of 100 (Notable)
Newton Rigg	United Kingdom	Record high minimum temperature	17.0 C (62.6 F)	36 of 100 (Notable)
Aledo	United States	Record low maximum temperature	19.4 C (66.9 F)	36 of 100 (Notable)
Pana	United States	Record low maximum temperature	20.0 C (68.0 F)	36 of 100 (Notable)
Mt Vernon	United States	Record daily precipitation	83.3 mm (3.3 in)	36 of 100 (Notable)
Leitchfield 2 N	United States	Record low maximum temperature	21.7 C (71.1 F)	36 of 100 (Notable)
Milan Exp STN	United States	Record daily precipitation	47.0 mm (1.9 in)	36 of 100 (Notable)
Cerro de Ortega	Mexico	Record low minimum temperature	18.9 C (66.0 F)	35 of 100 (Notable)
Keiser	United States	Record daily precipitation	63.5 mm (2.5 in)	35 of 100 (Notable)
Richmond	United States	Record daily precipitation	25.4 mm (1.0 in)	35 of 100 (Notable)
Yreka	United States	Record daily precipitation	25.9 mm (1.0 in)	35 of 100 (Notable)

Counts by Type and Timescale

1,214 records

Records set or tied on 20 August 1997 by type: Highest daily maximum 253, Lowest daily maximum 196, Highest daily minimum 356, Lowest daily minimum 86, Heaviest daily rainfall 323.

Records on 20 August 1997 by type
Record type	Records
Highest daily maximum	253
Lowest daily maximum	196
Highest daily minimum	356
Lowest daily minimum	86
Heaviest daily rainfall	323
Heaviest daily snowfall	0
Deepest snow cover	0

Records on 20 August 1997 by timescale: all-time 9, monthly 46, daily 1,159.

How Much Records Were Beaten By

896 broken records

Margins by which the 896 broken records beat the old ones, in degrees Celsius for temperature and millimetres for precipitation and snow; the largest margin was 139.6. Ties are not counted.

Top 20 by Significance

20 August 1997

Top 20 records on 20 August 1997 by significance
Date	Station	Record	Value	Beat old record by	Old record stood	Significance
20 August 1997	Atlantic City Intl AP, US	all-time rain	281.9 mm (11.1 in)	117.8 mm (4.6 in)	38 years	75 of 100 (Major)
20 August 1997	Petaluma AP, US	monthly rain	25.4 mm (1.0 in)	13.0 mm (0.5 in)	28 years	68 of 100 (Major)
20 August 1997	Upper San Leandro Filters, US	monthly rain	31.2 mm (1.2 in)	17.5 mm (0.7 in)	21 years	61 of 100 (Major)
20 August 1997	Millville Muni AP, US	all-time rain	230.1 mm (9.1 in)	47.0 mm (1.9 in)	30 years	60 of 100 (Major)
20 August 1997	Huimin, CN	daily rain	124.8 mm (4.9 in)	80.2 mm (3.2 in)	44 years	55 of 100 (Notable)
20 August 1997	Stornoway Airport, GB	daily high min	16.9 C (62.4 F)	3.6 C (6.5 F)	116 years	55 of 100 (Notable)
20 August 1997	Cecilville, US	daily rain	38.1 mm (1.5 in)	34.0 mm (1.3 in)	39 years	55 of 100 (Notable)
20 August 1997	Graton, US	daily rain	35.6 mm (1.4 in)	31.3 mm (1.2 in)	28 years	55 of 100 (Notable)
20 August 1997	Martinsville Fltr Plt, US	daily rain	107.7 mm (4.2 in)	75.2 mm (3.0 in)	28 years	54 of 100 (Notable)
20 August 1997	Chaska, US	daily rain	77.7 mm (3.1 in)	39.3 mm (1.5 in)	58 years	53 of 100 (Notable)
20 August 1997	Weifang, CN	daily rain	106.1 mm (4.2 in)	72.1 mm (2.8 in)	34 years	52 of 100 (Notable)
20 August 1997	Kjusjur, RU	daily rain	25.8 mm (1.0 in)	9.1 mm (0.36 in)	88 years	51 of 100 (Notable)
20 August 1997	Dalian, CN	daily rain	172.8 mm (6.8 in)	139.6 mm (5.5 in)	20 years	50 of 100 (Notable)
20 August 1997	Tell City, US	daily rain	83.1 mm (3.3 in)	59.0 mm (2.3 in)	28 years	50 of 100 (Notable)
20 August 1997	Covington 3 SW, US	daily rain	97.8 mm (3.9 in)	22.9 mm (0.9 in)	82 years	48 of 100 (Notable)
20 August 1997	Sullivan, US	daily rain	88.9 mm (3.5 in)	65.5 mm (2.6 in)	24 years	47 of 100 (Notable)
20 August 1997	Tecolutla, MX	daily high max	41.7 C (107.1 F)	6.1 C (11.0 F)	46 years	46 of 100 (Notable)
20 August 1997	Ft Ross, US	monthly rain	35.1 mm (1.4 in)	7.2 mm (0.28 in)	42 years	45 of 100 (Notable)
20 August 1997	Mayfield Radio Wlle, US	daily rain	61.0 mm (2.4 in)	50.1 mm (2.0 in)	28 years	45 of 100 (Notable)
20 August 1997	Farmerville, US	daily high min	25.6 C (78.1 F)	1.2 C (2.2 F)	97 years	44 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

1797 to 1997

Records set or tied on this calendar date in each year from 1797 to 1997. 1997 had 1,214 records.

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

Records on 08-20 in each year
Year	Records
1797	1
1807	1
1809	2
1816	1
1830	1
1832	1
1838	1
1840	1
1842	1
1846	1
1849	1
1850	1
1852	1
1858	3
1863	5
1867	4
1870	3
1871	1
1873	1
1875	2
1877	1
1883	2
1884	2
1885	6
1886	1
1888	1
1889	2
1890	2
1891	2
1892	6
1893	1
1894	1
1895	1
1896	5
1897	6
1898	1
1899	5
1900	7
1901	12
1902	3
1903	7
1904	30
1905	7
1906	26
1907	15
1908	21
1909	69
1910	7
1911	18
1912	25
1913	23
1914	15
1915	14
1916	74
1917	51
1918	69
1919	25
1920	47
1921	23
1922	52
1923	83
1924	132
1925	193
1926	187
1927	338
1928	101
1929	213
1930	318
1931	214
1932	299
1933	324
1934	376
1935	339
1936	543
1937	537
1938	250
1939	448
1940	695
1941	230
1942	429
1943	436
1944	355
1945	398
1946	349
1947	988
1948	403
1949	431
1950	1,341
1951	824
1952	425
1953	441
1954	476
1955	848
1956	678
1957	342
1958	281
1959	764
1960	465
1961	520
1962	684
1963	577
1964	629
1965	470
1966	1,094
1967	657
1968	862
1969	608
1970	414
1971	585
1972	522
1973	490
1974	565
1975	411
1976	894
1977	860
1978	563
1979	1,009
1980	991
1981	856
1982	620
1983	1,465
1984	696
1985	666
1986	819
1987	564
1988	991
1989	603
1990	1,262
1991	804
1992	1,168
1993	759
1994	719
1995	1,113
1996	900
1997	1,214
1998	802
1999	810
2000	989
2001	909
2002	1,208
2003	1,031
2004	1,333
2005	1,112
2006	851
2007	1,955
2008	1,170
2009	1,414
2010	1,028
2011	987
2012	1,086
2013	545
2014	582
2015	1,075
2016	872
2017	324
2018	657
2019	698
2020	1,051
2021	1,028
2022	1,038
2023	1,479
2024	589
2025	1,134
2026	985

Download the Data

Data for records on 1997-08-20: 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 20	835
20 to 40	46
40 to 60	9
60 to 80	3
80 to 100	1
100 to 120	1
120 to 140	1