Weather Records on 18 December 1997

1,195 weather records were set or tied worldwide on 18 December 1997. Highest significance: Port Wakefield, AU.

Key Facts for 18 December 1997

On 18 December 1997, 1,195 weather records were set or tied at long-record stations worldwide.
440 were record highs and 329 were record lows, counting maximum and minimum temperature.
By timescale, 3 were all-time records, 44 monthly and 1,148 daily.
Port Wakefield set a daily record precipitation of 29.4 mm (1.2 in) on 18 December 1997.
Across 156 earlier years (1793 to 2025) the same calendar date averaged 475 records.

Record Map

1,195 stations

1,195 station records on 18 December 1997 are marked on the map, coloured by record type. Dot size shows the significance score. Made with Natural Earth.

Weather records on 18 December 1997: highest significance records shown on the map
Station	Country	Type	Value	Significance
Port Wakefield	Australia	Record daily precipitation	29.4 mm (1.2 in)	80 of 100 (Exceptional)
Moonta	Australia	Record daily precipitation	29.8 mm (1.2 in)	78 of 100 (Major)
Port Broughton	Australia	Record daily precipitation	34.6 mm (1.4 in)	77 of 100 (Major)
Mallala	Australia	Record daily precipitation	32.0 mm (1.3 in)	76 of 100 (Major)
Spalding	Australia	Record daily precipitation	39.0 mm (1.5 in)	75 of 100 (Major)
Snowtown	Australia	Record daily precipitation	37.2 mm (1.5 in)	74 of 100 (Major)
Port Germein	Australia	Record daily precipitation	36.0 mm (1.4 in)	73 of 100 (Major)
Booleroo Centre (Willowie)	Australia	Record daily precipitation	49.0 mm (1.9 in)	72 of 100 (Major)
Clare (Hill River)	Australia	Record daily precipitation	43.0 mm (1.7 in)	70 of 100 (Major)
Whyalla (Nonowie)	Australia	Record daily precipitation	35.6 mm (1.4 in)	66 of 100 (Major)
El Fasher	Sudan	Record daily precipitation	59.9 mm (2.4 in)	66 of 100 (Major)
Whyalla (Tregalana)	Australia	Record daily precipitation	46.0 mm (1.8 in)	65 of 100 (Major)
Georgetown	Australia	Record daily precipitation	42.0 mm (1.7 in)	65 of 100 (Major)
Kadina	Australia	Record daily precipitation	33.2 mm (1.3 in)	65 of 100 (Major)
Ayutla (Cfe)	Mexico	Record daily precipitation	81.3 mm (3.2 in)	64 of 100 (Major)
Mount Bryan	Australia	Record daily precipitation	49.0 mm (1.9 in)	63 of 100 (Major)
Melrose (Para Gums)	Australia	Record daily precipitation	30.2 mm (1.2 in)	62 of 100 (Major)
Maitland	Australia	Record daily precipitation	35.4 mm (1.4 in)	62 of 100 (Major)
Blyth	Australia	Record daily precipitation	42.6 mm (1.7 in)	61 of 100 (Major)
Crystal Brook	Australia	Record daily precipitation	36.0 mm (1.4 in)	61 of 100 (Major)
Hoyleton	Australia	Record daily precipitation	37.2 mm (1.5 in)	61 of 100 (Major)
Lochiel Saltworks	Australia	Record daily precipitation	37.4 mm (1.5 in)	61 of 100 (Major)
Paskeville	Australia	Record daily precipitation	30.4 mm (1.2 in)	61 of 100 (Major)
Wallaroo	Australia	Record daily precipitation	33.6 mm (1.3 in)	61 of 100 (Major)
Port Clinton (Yararoo)	Australia	Record daily precipitation	29.6 mm (1.2 in)	61 of 100 (Major)
Greenock	Australia	Record daily precipitation	27.0 mm (1.1 in)	61 of 100 (Major)
Auburn	Australia	Record daily precipitation	41.2 mm (1.6 in)	60 of 100 (Major)
Owen	Australia	Record daily precipitation	29.0 mm (1.1 in)	60 of 100 (Major)
Manoora	Australia	Record daily precipitation	37.0 mm (1.5 in)	60 of 100 (Major)
Hallett (Lorraine)	Australia	Record daily precipitation	41.0 mm (1.6 in)	59 of 100 (Notable)
Smithfield	Australia	Record daily precipitation	26.6 mm (1.0 in)	59 of 100 (Notable)
Yacka	Australia	Record daily precipitation	50.8 mm (2.0 in)	58 of 100 (Notable)
Bower	Australia	Record daily precipitation	35.6 mm (1.4 in)	58 of 100 (Notable)
Eudunda	Australia	Record daily precipitation	38.0 mm (1.5 in)	58 of 100 (Notable)
Clare (Calcannia)	Australia	Record daily precipitation	42.0 mm (1.7 in)	56 of 100 (Notable)
Tarcowie	Australia	Record daily precipitation	34.0 mm (1.3 in)	54 of 100 (Notable)
Brinkworth	Australia	Record daily precipitation	39.2 mm (1.5 in)	54 of 100 (Notable)
Port Germein (Baroota Reservoi	Australia	Record daily precipitation	34.6 mm (1.4 in)	53 of 100 (Notable)
Gulnare	Australia	Record daily precipitation	47.8 mm (1.9 in)	53 of 100 (Notable)
Sutherlands	Australia	Record daily precipitation	32.2 mm (1.3 in)	53 of 100 (Notable)
Wilmington	Australia	Record daily precipitation	40.0 mm (1.6 in)	52 of 100 (Notable)
Mintaro	Australia	Record daily precipitation	39.0 mm (1.5 in)	52 of 100 (Notable)
Watervale	Australia	Record daily precipitation	39.2 mm (1.5 in)	52 of 100 (Notable)
Mundoora (Barunga North)	Australia	Record daily precipitation	37.0 mm (1.5 in)	52 of 100 (Notable)
Hamilton	Australia	Record daily precipitation	30.8 mm (1.2 in)	52 of 100 (Notable)
Saddleworth	Australia	Record daily precipitation	38.8 mm (1.5 in)	51 of 100 (Notable)
Mascote	Brazil	Record daily precipitation	69.7 mm (2.7 in)	51 of 100 (Notable)
Nonning	Australia	Record daily precipitation	54.4 mm (2.1 in)	50 of 100 (Notable)
Orroroo	Australia	Record daily precipitation	28.0 mm (1.1 in)	50 of 100 (Notable)
Angaston	Australia	Record daily precipitation	26.8 mm (1.1 in)	50 of 100 (Notable)
Booleroo (Wimont)	Australia	Record daily precipitation	36.0 mm (1.4 in)	49 of 100 (Notable)
Andrews (Geralka)	Australia	Record daily precipitation	43.8 mm (1.7 in)	49 of 100 (Notable)
Rhynie (Salters Springs)	Australia	Record daily precipitation	30.8 mm (1.2 in)	49 of 100 (Notable)
Booborowie	Australia	Record daily precipitation	47.0 mm (1.9 in)	48 of 100 (Notable)
Spalding (Bundaleer Reservoir)	Australia	Record daily precipitation	44.8 mm (1.8 in)	48 of 100 (Notable)
Mundoora	Australia	Record daily precipitation	34.4 mm (1.4 in)	48 of 100 (Notable)
Roseworthy	Australia	Record daily precipitation	26.0 mm (1.0 in)	47 of 100 (Notable)
Wattisham	United Kingdom	Record daily precipitation	28.0 mm (1.1 in)	47 of 100 (Notable)
Wirrabara	Australia	Record daily precipitation	32.6 mm (1.3 in)	46 of 100 (Notable)
Price	Australia	Record daily precipitation	32.3 mm (1.3 in)	46 of 100 (Notable)

Counts by Type and Timescale

1,195 records

Records set or tied on 18 December 1997 by type: Highest daily maximum 238, Lowest daily maximum 164, Highest daily minimum 202, Lowest daily minimum 165, Heaviest daily rainfall 405, Heaviest daily snowfall 12, Deepest snow cover 9.

Records on 18 December 1997 by type
Record type	Records
Highest daily maximum	238
Lowest daily maximum	164
Highest daily minimum	202
Lowest daily minimum	165
Heaviest daily rainfall	405
Heaviest daily snowfall	12
Deepest snow cover	9

Records on 18 December 1997 by timescale: all-time 3, monthly 44, daily 1,148.

How Much Records Were Beaten By

983 broken records

Margins by which the 983 broken records beat the old ones, in degrees Celsius for temperature and millimetres for precipitation and snow; the largest margin was 178.0. Ties are not counted.

Top 20 by Significance

18 December 1997

Top 20 records on 18 December 1997 by significance
Date	Station	Record	Value	Beat old record by	Old record stood	Significance
18 December 1997	Port Wakefield, AU	daily rain	29.4 mm (1.2 in)	24.3 mm (1.0 in)	110 years	80 of 100 (Exceptional)
18 December 1997	Moonta, AU	daily rain	29.8 mm (1.2 in)	24.2 mm (1.0 in)	95 years	78 of 100 (Major)
18 December 1997	Port Broughton, AU	daily rain	34.6 mm (1.4 in)	25.2 mm (1.0 in)	91 years	77 of 100 (Major)
18 December 1997	Mallala, AU	daily rain	32.0 mm (1.3 in)	22.9 mm (0.9 in)	95 years	76 of 100 (Major)
18 December 1997	Spalding, AU	daily rain	39.0 mm (1.5 in)	30.6 mm (1.2 in)	91 years	75 of 100 (Major)
18 December 1997	Snowtown, AU	daily rain	37.2 mm (1.5 in)	27.3 mm (1.1 in)	80 years	74 of 100 (Major)
18 December 1997	Port Germein, AU	daily rain	36.0 mm (1.4 in)	28.1 mm (1.1 in)	91 years	73 of 100 (Major)
18 December 1997	Booleroo Centre (Willowie), AU	daily rain	49.0 mm (1.9 in)	36.3 mm (1.4 in)	74 years	72 of 100 (Major)
18 December 1997	Clare (Hill River), AU	daily rain	43.0 mm (1.7 in)	27.8 mm (1.1 in)	95 years	70 of 100 (Major)
18 December 1997	Whyalla (Nonowie), AU	daily rain	35.6 mm (1.4 in)	33.6 mm (1.3 in)	75 years	66 of 100 (Major)
18 December 1997	El Fasher, SD	monthly rain	59.9 mm (2.4 in)	59.9 mm (2.4 in)	40 years	66 of 100 (Major)
18 December 1997	Whyalla (Tregalana), AU	daily rain	46.0 mm (1.8 in)	46.0 mm (1.8 in)	66 years	65 of 100 (Major)
18 December 1997	Georgetown, AU	daily rain	42.0 mm (1.7 in)	25.5 mm (1.0 in)	74 years	65 of 100 (Major)
18 December 1997	Kadina, AU	daily rain	33.2 mm (1.3 in)	16.2 mm (0.6 in)	95 years	65 of 100 (Major)
18 December 1997	Ayutla (Cfe), MX	monthly rain	81.3 mm (3.2 in)	38.9 mm (1.5 in)	36 years	64 of 100 (Major)
18 December 1997	Mount Bryan, AU	daily rain	49.0 mm (1.9 in)	26.1 mm (1.0 in)	74 years	63 of 100 (Major)
18 December 1997	Melrose (Para Gums), AU	daily rain	30.2 mm (1.2 in)	17.8 mm (0.7 in)	99 years	62 of 100 (Major)
18 December 1997	Maitland, AU	daily rain	35.4 mm (1.4 in)	16.3 mm (0.6 in)	95 years	62 of 100 (Major)
18 December 1997	Blyth, AU	daily rain	42.6 mm (1.7 in)	22.5 mm (0.9 in)	74 years	61 of 100 (Major)
18 December 1997	Crystal Brook, AU	daily rain	36.0 mm (1.4 in)	16.9 mm (0.7 in)	95 years	61 of 100 (Major)

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 1997

Records set or tied on this calendar date in each year from 1793 to 1997. 1997 had 1,195 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 1997-12-18: 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 25	936
25 to 50	39
50 to 75	6
75 to 100	0
100 to 125	0
125 to 150	1
150 to 175	0
175 to 200	1