Weather Records on 20 December 1998

1,110 weather records were set or tied worldwide on 20 December 1998. Highest significance: Viroqua, US.

Key Facts for 20 December 1998

On 20 December 1998, 1,110 weather records were set or tied at long-record stations worldwide.
437 were record highs and 301 were record lows, counting maximum and minimum temperature.
By timescale, 5 were all-time records, 19 monthly and 1,086 daily.
Viroqua set a daily record precipitation of 53.3 mm (2.1 in) on 20 December 1998.
Across 163 earlier years (1793 to 2025) the same calendar date averaged 463 records.

Record Map

1,110 stations

1,110 station records on 20 December 1998 are marked on the map, coloured by record type. Dot size shows the significance score. Made with Natural Earth.

Weather records on 20 December 1998: highest significance records shown on the map
Station	Country	Type	Value	Significance
Viroqua	United States	Record daily precipitation	53.3 mm (2.1 in)	78 of 100 (Major)
Green Mt Dam	United States	Record daily snowfall	27.9 cm (11.0 in)	60 of 100 (Major)
Pyramid	United States	Record daily snowfall	48.3 cm (19.0 in)	59 of 100 (Notable)
Grand Junction Walker Fld	United States	Record daily snowfall	16.0 cm (6.3 in)	59 of 100 (Notable)
Atlanta 5 WNW	United States	Record daily precipitation	25.4 mm (1.0 in)	56 of 100 (Notable)
Green Mt Dam	United States	Record daily precipitation	26.7 mm (1.1 in)	55 of 100 (Notable)
Atwood	United States	Record daily snowfall	15.2 cm (6.0 in)	54 of 100 (Notable)
Roseburg Rgnl AP	United States	Record low minimum temperature	-11.1 C (12.0 F)	52 of 100 (Notable)
Tribune 1W	United States	Record daily snowfall	12.7 cm (5.0 in)	50 of 100 (Notable)
Shimojishima	Japan	Record daily precipitation	110.0 mm (4.3 in)	49 of 100 (Notable)
Meeker	United States	Record daily snowfall	17.8 cm (7.0 in)	49 of 100 (Notable)
Wamsutter	United States	Record low maximum temperature	-18.3 C (-0.9 F)	49 of 100 (Notable)
Big Bar 4 E	United States	Record daily snowfall	14.0 cm (5.5 in)	48 of 100 (Notable)
Valley Falls	United States	Record low maximum temperature	-13.3 C (8.1 F)	46 of 100 (Notable)
Evanston 1 E	United States	Record low maximum temperature	-17.2 C (1.0 F)	46 of 100 (Notable)
Papunya	Australia	Record daily precipitation	31.6 mm (1.2 in)	45 of 100 (Notable)
Cherry Creek Dam	United States	Record daily precipitation	25.4 mm (1.0 in)	45 of 100 (Notable)
Shoshone	United States	Record daily snowfall	22.9 cm (9.0 in)	45 of 100 (Notable)
Richfield Radio Ksvc	United States	Record daily snowfall	26.9 cm (10.6 in)	45 of 100 (Notable)
Laramie AP	United States	Record daily snowfall	19.6 cm (7.7 in)	45 of 100 (Notable)
Williams 1 NW	United States	Record daily snowfall	7.6 cm (3.0 in)	44 of 100 (Notable)
Lillingstone	Australia	Record daily precipitation	70.0 mm (2.8 in)	43 of 100 (Notable)
Standish Hickey Sp	United States	Record daily snowfall	12.7 cm (5.0 in)	43 of 100 (Notable)
Mingo 6E	United States	Record daily snowfall	10.2 cm (4.0 in)	43 of 100 (Notable)
Eureka	United States	Record low maximum temperature	-10.0 C (14.0 F)	43 of 100 (Notable)
Chama	United States	Record high minimum temperature	-1.1 C (30.0 F)	42 of 100 (Notable)
Cheesman	United States	Record low maximum temperature	-7.8 C (18.0 F)	41 of 100 (Notable)
Jerome 2 S	United States	Record snow depth	12.7 cm (5.0 in)	41 of 100 (Notable)
South Pass City	United States	Record low maximum temperature	-21.1 C (-6.0 F)	41 of 100 (Notable)
New Crown	Australia	Record daily precipitation	51.2 mm (2.0 in)	40 of 100 (Notable)
Coober Pedy (Ingomar)	Australia	Record daily precipitation	30.0 mm (1.2 in)	40 of 100 (Notable)
Sharon Springs	United States	Record daily snowfall	10.2 cm (4.0 in)	40 of 100 (Notable)
Benkelman 1N	United States	Record daily snowfall	6.4 cm (2.5 in)	40 of 100 (Notable)
Austin #2	United States	Record low minimum temperature	-22.2 C (-8.0 F)	40 of 100 (Notable)
Orlando Executive AP	United States	Record high minimum temperature	18.9 C (66.0 F)	40 of 100 (Notable)
Kimberley Downs	Australia	Record daily precipitation	54.0 mm (2.1 in)	39 of 100 (Notable)
Coulta	Australia	Record daily precipitation	26.8 mm (1.1 in)	39 of 100 (Notable)
Roxboro 7 ESE	United States	Record daily precipitation	31.2 mm (1.2 in)	39 of 100 (Notable)
Gove 4W	United States	Record daily snowfall	7.6 cm (3.0 in)	38 of 100 (Notable)
Green Rvr	United States	Record low maximum temperature	-16.1 C (3.0 F)	38 of 100 (Notable)
Medicine Bow	United States	Record daily snowfall	10.2 cm (4.0 in)	38 of 100 (Notable)
Francistown	Botswana	Record daily precipitation	49.0 mm (1.9 in)	37 of 100 (Notable)
Blanca 4 NW	United States	Record high minimum temperature	-2.8 C (27.0 F)	37 of 100 (Notable)
Imlay	United States	Record low minimum temperature	-27.2 C (-17.0 F)	37 of 100 (Notable)
Elk Mtn	United States	Record low maximum temperature	-21.1 C (-6.0 F)	37 of 100 (Notable)
Longmont 2 ESE	United States	Record low maximum temperature	-12.8 C (9.0 F)	36 of 100 (Notable)
Chemult	United States	Record low maximum temperature	-15.0 C (5.0 F)	36 of 100 (Notable)
Richfield Radio Ksvc	United States	Record snow depth	27.9 cm (11.0 in)	36 of 100 (Notable)
Douglas 1 SE	United States	Record low maximum temperature	-20.6 C (-5.1 F)	36 of 100 (Notable)
Elk Mtn	United States	Record daily snowfall	17.8 cm (7.0 in)	36 of 100 (Notable)
Oakley 4W	United States	Record daily snowfall	15.2 cm (6.0 in)	35 of 100 (Notable)
Saint Regis 1 NE	United States	Record low maximum temperature	-15.6 C (3.9 F)	35 of 100 (Notable)
Buncom 1 NNE	United States	Record daily snowfall	7.6 cm (3.0 in)	35 of 100 (Notable)
Riddle	United States	Record daily snowfall	7.6 cm (3.0 in)	35 of 100 (Notable)
Kadoka	United States	Record low maximum temperature	-14.4 C (6.1 F)	35 of 100 (Notable)
Angleton 2 W	United States	Record high minimum temperature	20.6 C (69.1 F)	35 of 100 (Notable)
Winslow AP	United States	Record high minimum temperature	5.6 C (42.1 F)	35 of 100 (Notable)
Warburton Airfield	Australia	Record daily precipitation	32.0 mm (1.3 in)	34 of 100 (Routine)
Saint Johns	United States	Record high minimum temperature	4.4 C (39.9 F)	34 of 100 (Routine)
Leoti	United States	Record daily snowfall	15.5 cm (6.1 in)	34 of 100 (Routine)

Counts by Type and Timescale

1,110 records

Records set or tied on 20 December 1998 by type: Highest daily maximum 200, Lowest daily maximum 161, Highest daily minimum 237, Lowest daily minimum 140, Heaviest daily rainfall 213, Heaviest daily snowfall 110, Deepest snow cover 49.

Records on 20 December 1998 by type
Record type	Records
Highest daily maximum	200
Lowest daily maximum	161
Highest daily minimum	237
Lowest daily minimum	140
Heaviest daily rainfall	213
Heaviest daily snowfall	110
Deepest snow cover	49

Records on 20 December 1998 by timescale: all-time 5, monthly 19, daily 1,086.

How Much Records Were Beaten By

890 broken records

Margins by which the 890 broken records beat the old ones, in degrees Celsius for temperature and millimetres for precipitation and snow; the largest margin was 280.0. Ties are not counted.

Top 20 by Significance

20 December 1998

Top 20 records on 20 December 1998 by significance
Date	Station	Record	Value	Beat old record by	Old record stood	Significance
20 December 1998	Viroqua, US	daily rain	53.3 mm (2.1 in)	37.6 mm (1.5 in)	96 years	78 of 100 (Major)
20 December 1998	Green Mt Dam, US	daily snowfall	27.9 cm (11.0 in)	24.1 cm (9.5 in)	47 years	60 of 100 (Major)
20 December 1998	Pyramid, US	daily snowfall	48.3 cm (19.0 in)	28.0 cm (11.0 in)	44 years	59 of 100 (Notable)
20 December 1998	Grand Junction Walker Fld, US	daily snowfall	16.0 cm (6.3 in)	9.4 cm (3.7 in)	65 years	59 of 100 (Notable)
20 December 1998	Atlanta 5 WNW, US	daily rain	25.4 mm (1.0 in)	17.0 mm (0.7 in)	47 years	56 of 100 (Notable)
20 December 1998	Green Mt Dam, US	daily rain	26.7 mm (1.1 in)	22.6 mm (0.9 in)	31 years	55 of 100 (Notable)
20 December 1998	Atwood, US	daily snowfall	15.2 cm (6.0 in)	13.2 cm (5.2 in)	72 years	54 of 100 (Notable)
20 December 1998	Roseburg Rgnl AP, US	daily low min	-11.1 C (12.0 F)	9.4 C (16.9 F)	63 years	52 of 100 (Notable)
20 December 1998	Tribune 1W, US	daily snowfall	12.7 cm (5.0 in)	7.6 cm (3.0 in)	84 years	50 of 100 (Notable)
20 December 1998	Shimojishima, JP	daily rain	110.0 mm (4.3 in)	75.0 mm (3.0 in)	20 years	49 of 100 (Notable)
20 December 1998	Meeker, US	daily snowfall	17.8 cm (7.0 in)	5.1 cm (2.0 in)	99 years	49 of 100 (Notable)
20 December 1998	Wamsutter, US	daily low max	-18.3 C (-0.9 F)	6.1 C (11.0 F)	98 years	49 of 100 (Notable)
20 December 1998	Big Bar 4 E, US	daily snowfall	14.0 cm (5.5 in)	14.0 cm (5.5 in)	52 years	48 of 100 (Notable)
20 December 1998	Valley Falls, US	daily low max	-13.3 C (8.1 F)	6.6 C (11.9 F)	84 years	46 of 100 (Notable)
20 December 1998	Evanston 1 E, US	daily low max	-17.2 C (1.0 F)	3.9 C (7.0 F)	98 years	46 of 100 (Notable)
20 December 1998	Papunya, AU	daily rain	31.6 mm (1.2 in)	30.8 mm (1.2 in)	28 years	45 of 100 (Notable)
20 December 1998	Cherry Creek Dam, US	daily rain	25.4 mm (1.0 in)	23.1 mm (0.9 in)	4 years	45 of 100 (Notable)
20 December 1998	Shoshone, US	daily snowfall	22.9 cm (9.0 in)	7.7 cm (3.0 in)	77 years	45 of 100 (Notable)
20 December 1998	Richfield Radio Ksvc, US	monthly snowfall	26.9 cm (10.6 in)	1.5 cm (0.6 in)	76 years	45 of 100 (Notable)
20 December 1998	Laramie AP, US	daily snowfall	19.6 cm (7.7 in)	16.0 cm (6.3 in)	31 years	45 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 1998

Records set or tied on this calendar date in each year from 1793 to 1998. 1998 had 1,110 records.

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

Records on 12-20 in each year
Year	Records
1793	1
1795	1
1804	1
1805	2
1808	1
1815	1
1828	1
1837	1
1846	1
1855	8
1858	1
1860	1
1866	1
1867	1
1868	1
1869	1
1871	2
1874	3
1875	1
1877	2
1878	1
1879	1
1880	1
1881	1
1882	1
1884	4
1885	1
1886	4
1889	4
1890	2
1891	2
1892	1
1894	2
1895	8
1896	1
1897	4
1898	2
1899	1
1900	7
1901	8
1902	14
1903	17
1904	9
1905	5
1906	5
1907	11
1908	5
1909	22
1910	17
1911	24
1912	27
1913	7
1914	43
1915	18
1916	45
1917	33
1918	18
1919	25
1920	22
1921	101
1922	88
1923	215
1924	332
1925	96
1926	163
1927	200
1928	93
1929	256
1930	67
1931	536
1932	170
1933	492
1934	265
1935	152
1936	416
1937	181
1938	240
1939	308
1940	965
1941	633
1942	817
1943	193
1944	340
1945	430
1946	327
1947	385
1948	345
1949	1,141
1950	758
1951	926
1952	394
1953	385
1954	416
1955	726
1956	471
1957	1,354
1958	382
1959	142
1960	354
1961	369
1962	475
1963	875
1964	499
1965	353
1966	555
1967	1,370
1968	482
1969	514
1970	518
1971	441
1972	448
1973	1,184
1974	328
1975	610
1976	382
1977	484
1978	910
1979	600
1980	667
1981	1,681
1982	712
1983	2,995
1984	1,411
1985	1,035
1986	321
1987	1,179
1988	760
1989	1,812
1990	1,885
1991	1,172
1992	1,134
1993	1,266
1994	813
1995	1,128
1996	1,448
1997	651
1998	1,110
1999	938
2000	1,150
2001	523
2002	943
2003	1,315
2004	836
2005	515
2006	1,387
2007	986
2008	1,356
2009	1,502
2010	2,055
2011	846
2012	1,131
2013	584
2014	524
2015	1,238
2016	603
2017	688
2018	592
2019	731
2020	554
2021	442
2022	567
2023	1,242
2024	897
2025	1,166

Download the Data

Data for records on 1998-12-20: 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 50	849
50 to 100	29
100 to 150	9
150 to 200	1
200 to 250	1
250 to 300	1