Weather Records on 17 May 1998

1,080 weather records were set or tied worldwide on 17 May 1998. Highest significance: New Rvr McAf, US.

Key Facts for 17 May 1998

On 17 May 1998, 1,080 weather records were set or tied at long-record stations worldwide.
655 were record highs and 310 were record lows, counting maximum and minimum temperature.
By timescale, 3 were all-time records, 27 monthly and 1,050 daily.
New Rvr McAf set a daily record precipitation of 84.3 mm (3.3 in) on 17 May 1998.
Across 167 earlier years (1802 to 2026) the same calendar date averaged 430 records.

Record Map

1,080 stations

1,080 station records on 17 May 1998 are marked on the map, coloured by record type. Dot size shows the significance score. Made with Natural Earth.

Weather records on 17 May 1998: highest significance records shown on the map
Station	Country	Type	Value	Significance
New Rvr McAf	United States	Record daily precipitation	84.3 mm (3.3 in)	52 of 100 (Notable)
Narooma Rvcp	Australia	Record daily precipitation	47.2 mm (1.9 in)	51 of 100 (Notable)
Parkes (Macarthur Street)	Australia	Record daily precipitation	36.5 mm (1.4 in)	48 of 100 (Notable)
Owase	Japan	Record daily precipitation	208.0 mm (8.2 in)	44 of 100 (Notable)
Gosford (Narara Research Stati	Australia	Record daily precipitation	106.2 mm (4.2 in)	43 of 100 (Notable)
Biser	Russia	Record low minimum temperature	-6.3 C (20.7 F)	42 of 100 (Notable)
Cooperstown	United States	Record high minimum temperature	17.2 C (63.0 F)	42 of 100 (Notable)
Ft Bidwell	United States	Record low maximum temperature	10.0 C (50.0 F)	41 of 100 (Notable)
Plain Dealing	United States	Record high maximum temperature	34.4 C (93.9 F)	41 of 100 (Notable)
Charlevoix	United States	Record high minimum temperature	13.3 C (55.9 F)	41 of 100 (Notable)
Bolivar	United States	Record high maximum temperature	31.7 C (89.1 F)	41 of 100 (Notable)
Franklinville	United States	Record high maximum temperature	31.1 C (88.0 F)	41 of 100 (Notable)
Forest Grove	United States	Record low maximum temperature	11.1 C (52.0 F)	41 of 100 (Notable)
Newberry	United States	Record high minimum temperature	21.1 C (70.0 F)	41 of 100 (Notable)
Sulphur Springs	United States	Record high maximum temperature	34.4 C (93.9 F)	41 of 100 (Notable)
Cerralvo (Dge)	Mexico	Record low minimum temperature	8.9 C (48.0 F)	40 of 100 (Notable)
Flemington 5 NNW	United States	Record high maximum temperature	32.2 C (90.0 F)	39 of 100 (Notable)
Lake Yellowstone	United States	Record daily precipitation	25.4 mm (1.0 in)	39 of 100 (Notable)
Garah (Delvin)	Australia	Record daily precipitation	73.0 mm (2.9 in)	37 of 100 (Notable)
Santa Maria del Refugio	Mexico	Record high maximum temperature	42.8 C (109.0 F)	37 of 100 (Notable)
Chiang Mai	Thailand	Record daily precipitation	77.0 mm (3.0 in)	37 of 100 (Notable)
Colfax	United States	Record low minimum temperature	1.1 C (34.0 F)	37 of 100 (Notable)
Woodstock	United States	Record high minimum temperature	18.9 C (66.0 F)	37 of 100 (Notable)
Lake Mills Wwtp	United States	Record high maximum temperature	31.1 C (88.0 F)	37 of 100 (Notable)
McCloud	United States	Record low maximum temperature	8.3 C (46.9 F)	36 of 100 (Notable)
Idabel	United States	Record high maximum temperature	32.8 C (91.0 F)	36 of 100 (Notable)
Saran-Paul	Russia	Record low minimum temperature	-20.4 C (-4.7 F)	35 of 100 (Notable)
Enisejsk	Russia	Record low minimum temperature	-5.9 C (21.4 F)	35 of 100 (Notable)
Moro	United States	Record low maximum temperature	8.3 C (46.9 F)	35 of 100 (Notable)
Ocozocoautla	Mexico	Record daily precipitation	58.2 mm (2.3 in)	34 of 100 (Routine)
Willows 6 W	United States	Record low minimum temperature	4.4 C (39.9 F)	34 of 100 (Routine)
Tye Rvr 1 SE	United States	Record daily precipitation	54.6 mm (2.1 in)	34 of 100 (Routine)
Wyee (Wyee Farms Rd)	Australia	Record daily precipitation	63.8 mm (2.5 in)	33 of 100 (Routine)
Siwa	Egypt	Record high minimum temperature	24.5 C (76.1 F)	33 of 100 (Routine)
Lindsay	United States	Record low maximum temperature	20.0 C (68.0 F)	33 of 100 (Routine)
Motozintla (Smn)	Mexico	Record high maximum temperature	35.0 C (95.0 F)	32 of 100 (Routine)
Lovelock	United States	Record low maximum temperature	13.9 C (57.0 F)	32 of 100 (Routine)
Belhaven 1 SE	United States	Record daily precipitation	48.3 mm (1.9 in)	32 of 100 (Routine)
Tryon	United States	Record high minimum temperature	21.7 C (71.1 F)	32 of 100 (Routine)
Concord 4 SSW	United States	Record daily precipitation	53.3 mm (2.1 in)	32 of 100 (Routine)
Shionomisaki	Japan	Record high minimum temperature	22.9 C (73.2 F)	31 of 100 (Routine)
El Copital	Mexico	Record low minimum temperature	16.7 C (62.1 F)	31 of 100 (Routine)
Drobeta Turnu Severin	Romania	Record daily precipitation	27.8 mm (1.1 in)	31 of 100 (Routine)
Pechora	Russia	Record low minimum temperature	-19.1 C (-2.4 F)	31 of 100 (Routine)
Mukdahan	Thailand	Record daily precipitation	85.1 mm (3.4 in)	31 of 100 (Routine)
Newport	United States	Record low maximum temperature	7.8 C (46.0 F)	31 of 100 (Routine)
Katanning Comparison	Australia	Record high maximum temperature	25.7 C (78.3 F)	30 of 100 (Routine)
Manistique Wwtp	United States	Record high maximum temperature	27.8 C (82.0 F)	30 of 100 (Routine)
Whitefish Pt	United States	Record high minimum temperature	8.3 C (46.9 F)	30 of 100 (Routine)
Arlington	United States	Record low maximum temperature	13.9 C (57.0 F)	30 of 100 (Routine)
Conroe	United States	Record high maximum temperature	33.9 C (93.0 F)	30 of 100 (Routine)
Hatton 9 SE	United States	Record low maximum temperature	11.7 C (53.1 F)	30 of 100 (Routine)
Pomeroy	United States	Record low maximum temperature	7.8 C (46.0 F)	30 of 100 (Routine)
Lafayette Rgnl AP	United States	Record high maximum temperature	34.4 C (93.9 F)	30 of 100 (Routine)
Ourimbah (Dog Trap Road)	Australia	Record daily precipitation	73.6 mm (2.9 in)	29 of 100 (Routine)
Jimma	Ethiopia	Record daily precipitation	39.9 mm (1.6 in)	29 of 100 (Routine)
Becanchen	Mexico	Record low minimum temperature	15.6 C (60.1 F)	29 of 100 (Routine)
Mineral	United States	Record daily snowfall	15.2 cm (6.0 in)	29 of 100 (Routine)
Stony Gorge Rsvr	United States	Record low minimum temperature	2.2 C (36.0 F)	29 of 100 (Routine)
Bison 3NW	United States	Record high minimum temperature	19.4 C (66.9 F)	29 of 100 (Routine)

Counts by Type and Timescale

1,080 records

Records set or tied on 17 May 1998 by type: Highest daily maximum 365, Lowest daily maximum 133, Highest daily minimum 290, Lowest daily minimum 177, Heaviest daily rainfall 108, Heaviest daily snowfall 6, Deepest snow cover 1.

Records on 17 May 1998 by type
Record type	Records
Highest daily maximum	365
Lowest daily maximum	133
Highest daily minimum	290
Lowest daily minimum	177
Heaviest daily rainfall	108
Heaviest daily snowfall	6
Deepest snow cover	1

Records on 17 May 1998 by timescale: all-time 3, monthly 27, daily 1,050.

How Much Records Were Beaten By

793 broken records

Margins by which the 793 broken records beat the old ones, in degrees Celsius for temperature and millimetres for precipitation and snow; the largest margin was 121.0. Ties are not counted.

Top 20 by Significance

17 May 1998

Top 20 records on 17 May 1998 by significance
Date	Station	Record	Value	Beat old record by	Old record stood	Significance
17 May 1998	New Rvr McAf, US	daily rain	84.3 mm (3.3 in)	56.4 mm (2.2 in)	28 years	52 of 100 (Notable)
17 May 1998	Narooma Rvcp, AU	daily rain	47.2 mm (1.9 in)	26.9 mm (1.1 in)	84 years	51 of 100 (Notable)
17 May 1998	Parkes (Macarthur Street), AU	daily rain	36.5 mm (1.4 in)	8.3 mm (0.33 in)	97 years	48 of 100 (Notable)
17 May 1998	Owase, JP	daily rain	208.0 mm (8.2 in)	121.0 mm (4.8 in)	16 years	44 of 100 (Notable)
17 May 1998	Gosford (Narara Research Stati, AU	daily rain	106.2 mm (4.2 in)	42.2 mm (1.7 in)	55 years	43 of 100 (Notable)
17 May 1998	Biser, RU	daily low min	-6.3 C (20.7 F)	1.2 C (2.2 F)	102 years	42 of 100 (Notable)
17 May 1998	Cooperstown, US	daily high min	17.2 C (63.0 F)	2.8 C (5.0 F)	92 years	42 of 100 (Notable)
17 May 1998	Ft Bidwell, US	daily low max	10.0 C (50.0 F)	0.6 C (1.1 F)	118 years	41 of 100 (Notable)
17 May 1998	Plain Dealing, US	daily high max	34.4 C (93.9 F)	1.1 C (2.0 F)	96 years	41 of 100 (Notable)
17 May 1998	Charlevoix, US	daily high min	13.3 C (55.9 F)	0.5 C (0.9 F)	101 years	41 of 100 (Notable)
17 May 1998	Bolivar, US	daily high max	31.7 C (89.1 F)	1.7 C (3.1 F)	97 years	41 of 100 (Notable)
17 May 1998	Franklinville, US	daily high max	31.1 C (88.0 F)	1.7 C (3.1 F)	97 years	41 of 100 (Notable)
17 May 1998	Forest Grove, US	daily low max	11.1 C (52.0 F)	0.6 C (1.1 F)	101 years	41 of 100 (Notable)
17 May 1998	Newberry, US	daily high min	21.1 C (70.0 F)	0.5 C (0.9 F)	101 years	41 of 100 (Notable)
17 May 1998	Sulphur Springs, US	daily high max	34.4 C (93.9 F)	0.5 C (0.9 F)	103 years	41 of 100 (Notable)
17 May 1998	Cerralvo (Dge), MX	daily low min	8.9 C (48.0 F)	6.1 C (11.0 F)	45 years	40 of 100 (Notable)
17 May 1998	Flemington 5 NNW, US	daily high max	32.2 C (90.0 F)	1.1 C (2.0 F)	92 years	39 of 100 (Notable)
17 May 1998	Lake Yellowstone, US	daily rain	25.4 mm (1.0 in)	9.7 mm (0.38 in)	39 years	39 of 100 (Notable)
17 May 1998	Garah (Delvin), AU	monthly rain	73.0 mm (2.9 in)	22.6 mm (0.9 in)	2 years	37 of 100 (Notable)
17 May 1998	Santa Maria del Refugio, MX	daily high max	42.8 C (109.0 F)	8.9 C (16.0 F)	32 years	37 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

1802 to 1998

Records set or tied on this calendar date in each year from 1802 to 1998. 1998 had 1,080 records.

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

Records on 05-17 in each year
Year	Records
1802	2
1803	1
1808	1
1816	1
1834	1
1837	1
1839	1
1847	2
1848	1
1851	1
1853	1
1855	1
1858	1
1859	1
1861	2
1862	2
1863	2
1864	1
1871	2
1872	2
1873	2
1874	4
1877	1
1878	1
1879	2
1880	1
1881	1
1882	2
1883	3
1885	1
1887	1
1888	2
1889	3
1891	8
1892	4
1893	3
1895	8
1896	2
1897	3
1898	6
1899	7
1900	12
1901	2
1902	3
1903	9
1904	12
1905	10
1906	22
1907	10
1908	5
1909	33
1910	16
1911	30
1912	16
1913	24
1914	24
1915	53
1916	49
1917	18
1918	56
1919	35
1920	46
1921	50
1922	30
1923	95
1924	80
1925	326
1926	133
1927	264
1928	127
1929	168
1930	421
1931	201
1932	288
1933	365
1934	373
1935	341
1936	270
1937	183
1938	340
1939	285
1940	338
1941	408
1942	589
1943	855
1944	521
1945	799
1946	586
1947	249
1948	412
1949	544
1950	371
1951	373
1952	777
1953	441
1954	298
1955	570
1956	1,166
1957	469
1958	331
1959	488
1960	402
1961	291
1962	1,325
1963	368
1964	417
1965	462
1966	489
1967	644
1968	564
1969	638
1970	711
1971	723
1972	610
1973	1,016
1974	1,302
1975	365
1976	426
1977	1,078
1978	872
1979	459
1980	768
1981	940
1982	476
1983	1,326
1984	925
1985	561
1986	921
1987	1,054
1988	1,096
1989	1,307
1990	1,135
1991	1,237
1992	1,025
1993	495
1994	858
1995	1,734
1996	1,706
1997	1,619
1998	1,080
1999	795
2000	825
2001	960
2002	964
2003	1,127
2004	769
2005	784
2006	1,522
2007	742
2008	1,309
2009	1,050
2010	880
2011	1,483
2012	711
2013	739
2014	1,062
2015	824
2016	741
2017	1,302
2018	726
2019	686
2020	496
2021	443
2022	479
2023	385
2024	566
2025	928
2026	745

Download the Data

Data for records on 1998-05-17: 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	771
20 to 40	13
40 to 60	5
60 to 80	2
80 to 100	0
100 to 120	1
120 to 140	1