Record highRecord low2026 daily maximum2026 daily minimum
The band shows the record high and record low for each calendar day at Preston. The lines show the 2026 daily maximum and minimum. 0 days in 2026 matched or passed a record. Temperatures are in degrees Celsius.
Daily record high and record low at Preston, with 2026 drawn through them
Month
Highest record high
Lowest record low
2026 highest maximum
2026 lowest minimum
Jan
12.8 C (55.0 F)
-31.7 C (-25.1 F)
n/a
n/a
Feb
12.8 C (55.0 F)
-31.5 C (-24.7 F)
n/a
n/a
Mar
21.7 C (71.1 F)
-26.0 C (-14.8 F)
n/a
n/a
Apr
28.3 C (82.9 F)
-16.1 C (3.0 F)
n/a
n/a
May
31.7 C (89.1 F)
-5.0 C (23.0 F)
n/a
n/a
Jun
33.9 C (93.0 F)
-0.6 C (30.9 F)
n/a
n/a
Jul
38.3 C (100.9 F)
3.3 C (37.9 F)
n/a
n/a
Aug
38.3 C (100.9 F)
0.0 C (32.0 F)
n/a
n/a
Sep
36.1 C (97.0 F)
-3.3 C (26.1 F)
n/a
n/a
Oct
29.4 C (84.9 F)
-8.9 C (16.0 F)
n/a
n/a
Nov
23.3 C (73.9 F)
-18.3 C (-0.9 F)
n/a
n/a
Dec
19.0 C (66.2 F)
-28.9 C (-20.0 F)
n/a
n/a
Which Years Hold Standing Records
1,464 standing records
Year with most
1,464 records at Preston still stand. 1955 holds the most, with 70.
Standing records at Preston by the year they were set
Year set
Standing records
1953
31
1954
50
1955
70
1956
53
1957
57
1958
41
1959
60
1960
44
1961
40
1962
38
1963
61
1964
57
1965
65
1966
53
1967
65
1968
44
1969
34
1970
32
1971
38
1972
44
1973
52
1974
40
1975
44
1976
45
1977
50
1978
47
1979
56
1980
29
1981
46
1982
37
1983
41
Wettest Day of Each Month
Aug: 108.0 mm (4.3 in)
The wettest day on record for each calendar month at Preston. The most was 108.0 mm (4.3 in) on 5 August 1968.
Record daily precipitation for each month at Preston
Month
Record daily precipitation (mm)
Date
Jan
34.3 mm (1.4 in)
14 January 1968
Feb
37.1 mm (1.5 in)
1 February 1968
Mar
39.9 mm (1.6 in)
6 March 1956
Apr
42.7 mm (1.7 in)
22 April 1977
May
49.8 mm (2.0 in)
16 May 1974
Jun
86.9 mm (3.4 in)
23 June 1960
Jul
64.3 mm (2.5 in)
26 July 1971
Aug
108.0 mm (4.3 in)
5 August 1968
Sep
81.3 mm (3.2 in)
17 September 1976
Oct
74.7 mm (2.9 in)
15 October 1954
Nov
48.3 mm (1.9 in)
9 November 1966
Dec
34.0 mm (1.3 in)
21 December 1967
Period of Record Coverage
1953 to 1983
Complete yearUnder 90 percent of days
31 years of record at Preston, 1953 to 1983. 1 years have data for under 90 percent of days and are left out of rankings: 1953.
Cooler than the station meanWarmer than the station mean
One stripe for each of 29 complete years at Preston, 1954 to 1983. Blue stripes are years cooler than the station's own mean of 6.9 C (44.3 F); red stripes are warmer. The coolest year was 1978, at 5.5 C (41.8 F), and the warmest was 1973, at 7.9 C (46.3 F). The strongest colour marks a difference of 1.4 C (2.5 F).
Annual mean temperature at Preston as warming stripes, 1954 to 1983
Year
Annual mean temperature
Difference from the station mean
1954
7.2 C
+0.38 C
1955
7.9 C
+1.00 C
1956
6.6 C
-0.24 C
1957
7.2 C
+0.37 C
1958
6.4 C
-0.46 C
1959
7.1 C
+0.24 C
1960
6.4 C
-0.42 C
1961
7.2 C
+0.36 C
1962
6.6 C
-0.26 C
1963
6.5 C
-0.41 C
1964
7.3 C
+0.42 C
1965
6.6 C
-0.23 C
1966
7.0 C
+0.10 C
1967
6.4 C
-0.46 C
1968
6.9 C
+0.05 C
1969
7.0 C
+0.15 C
1970
6.9 C
-0.01 C
1971
7.2 C
+0.31 C
1972
6.1 C
-0.75 C
1973
7.9 C
+1.08 C
1974
6.9 C
+0.00 C
1975
7.7 C
+0.80 C
1976
6.3 C
-0.57 C
1977
6.7 C
-0.21 C
1978
5.5 C
-1.39 C
1979
6.5 C
-0.38 C
1980
6.4 C
-0.48 C
1981
6.9 C
+0.08 C
1983
7.7 C
+0.80 C
This station does not have enough complete years (30 are needed) to fit a temperature trend.
A year is complete when all 12 months have at least 20 days of both daily maximum and daily minimum readings. The annual mean is the mean of the monthly means. The trend describes this one station over this period; it does not say what caused the change.
Extremes by Year
1953 to 1983
Yearly extremes at Preston: the record and the median year
Measure
Record
Year of the record
Median year
Years with a value
Hottest day (TXx)
38.3 C (100.9 F)
1955
32.8 C (91.0 F)
31
Coldest night (TNn)
-31.7 C (-25.1 F)
1976
-26.1 C (-15.0 F)
31
Wettest day (Rx1day)
108.0 mm (4.3 in)
1968
48.3 mm (1.9 in)
31
Wettest five days (Rx5day)
147.3 mm (5.8 in)
1954
72.4 mm (2.9 in)
31
Longest dry spell (CDD)
29 days
1969
17 days
31
Hottest day (TXx)
The hottest day of the year at Preston, 1953 to 1983. The record is 38.3 C (100.9 F) in 1955, marked on the chart; the median year is 32.8 C (91.0 F).
Hottest day (TXx) at Preston by year
Year
Hottest day (TXx)
1953
36.1 C (97.0 F)
1954
32.8 C (91.0 F)
1955
38.3 C (100.9 F)
1956
31.7 C (89.1 F)
1957
32.8 C (91.0 F)
1958
33.3 C (91.9 F)
1959
34.4 C (93.9 F)
1960
32.2 C (90.0 F)
1961
31.7 C (89.1 F)
1962
32.2 C (90.0 F)
1963
32.8 C (91.0 F)
1964
33.3 C (91.9 F)
1965
32.8 C (91.0 F)
1966
35.6 C (96.1 F)
1967
31.1 C (88.0 F)
1968
33.3 C (91.9 F)
1969
32.2 C (90.0 F)
1970
30.6 C (87.1 F)
1971
33.9 C (93.0 F)
1972
31.7 C (89.1 F)
1973
34.4 C (93.9 F)
1974
32.8 C (91.0 F)
1975
35.0 C (95.0 F)
1976
31.1 C (88.0 F)
1977
33.0 C (91.4 F)
1978
34.0 C (93.2 F)
1979
31.0 C (87.8 F)
1980
32.0 C (89.6 F)
1981
33.0 C (91.4 F)
1982
30.0 C (86.0 F)
1983
35.0 C (95.0 F)
Coldest night (TNn)
The coldest night of the year at Preston, 1953 to 1983. The record is -31.7 C (-25.1 F) in 1976, marked on the chart; the median year is -26.1 C (-15.0 F).
Coldest night (TNn) at Preston by year
Year
Coldest night (TNn)
1953
-20.0 C (-4.0 F)
1954
-25.6 C (-14.1 F)
1955
-26.1 C (-15.0 F)
1956
-22.8 C (-9.0 F)
1957
-26.1 C (-15.0 F)
1958
-28.9 C (-20.0 F)
1959
-28.9 C (-20.0 F)
1960
-27.2 C (-17.0 F)
1961
-27.2 C (-17.0 F)
1962
-25.6 C (-14.1 F)
1963
-25.6 C (-14.1 F)
1964
-24.4 C (-11.9 F)
1965
-23.9 C (-11.0 F)
1966
-25.6 C (-14.1 F)
1967
-26.7 C (-16.1 F)
1968
-27.2 C (-17.0 F)
1969
-21.7 C (-7.1 F)
1970
-28.9 C (-20.0 F)
1971
-22.8 C (-9.0 F)
1972
-23.3 C (-9.9 F)
1973
-23.3 C (-9.9 F)
1974
-23.3 C (-9.9 F)
1975
-23.3 C (-9.9 F)
1976
-31.7 C (-25.1 F)
1977
-31.1 C (-24.0 F)
1978
-31.0 C (-23.8 F)
1979
-31.5 C (-24.7 F)
1980
-28.0 C (-18.4 F)
1981
-30.0 C (-22.0 F)
1982
-26.5 C (-15.7 F)
1983
-21.0 C (-5.8 F)
Wettest day (Rx1day)
The wettest day of the year at Preston, 1953 to 1983. The record is 108.0 mm (4.3 in) in 1968, marked on the chart; the median year is 48.3 mm (1.9 in).
Wettest day (Rx1day) at Preston by year
Year
Wettest day (Rx1day)
1953
49.5 mm (1.9 in)
1954
74.7 mm (2.9 in)
1955
41.7 mm (1.6 in)
1956
58.4 mm (2.3 in)
1957
42.9 mm (1.7 in)
1958
49.0 mm (1.9 in)
1959
36.6 mm (1.4 in)
1960
86.9 mm (3.4 in)
1961
34.5 mm (1.4 in)
1962
54.6 mm (2.1 in)
1963
43.7 mm (1.7 in)
1964
66.0 mm (2.6 in)
1965
43.4 mm (1.7 in)
1966
48.3 mm (1.9 in)
1967
59.4 mm (2.3 in)
1968
108.0 mm (4.3 in)
1969
40.1 mm (1.6 in)
1970
28.4 mm (1.1 in)
1971
64.3 mm (2.5 in)
1972
41.9 mm (1.6 in)
1973
35.6 mm (1.4 in)
1974
49.8 mm (2.0 in)
1975
79.5 mm (3.1 in)
1976
81.3 mm (3.2 in)
1977
42.7 mm (1.7 in)
1978
54.4 mm (2.1 in)
1979
48.0 mm (1.9 in)
1980
38.2 mm (1.5 in)
1981
41.0 mm (1.6 in)
1982
59.0 mm (2.3 in)
1983
34.6 mm (1.4 in)
Wettest five days (Rx5day)
The wettest five days of the year at Preston, 1953 to 1983. The record is 147.3 mm (5.8 in) in 1954, marked on the chart; the median year is 72.4 mm (2.9 in).
Wettest five days (Rx5day) at Preston by year
Year
Wettest five days (Rx5day)
1953
60.5 mm (2.4 in)
1954
147.3 mm (5.8 in)
1955
64.4 mm (2.5 in)
1956
120.2 mm (4.7 in)
1957
91.6 mm (3.6 in)
1958
65.2 mm (2.6 in)
1959
65.8 mm (2.6 in)
1960
87.2 mm (3.4 in)
1961
38.3 mm (1.5 in)
1962
96.0 mm (3.8 in)
1963
72.4 mm (2.9 in)
1964
92.3 mm (3.6 in)
1965
63.7 mm (2.5 in)
1966
80.0 mm (3.1 in)
1967
130.5 mm (5.1 in)
1968
119.6 mm (4.7 in)
1969
51.8 mm (2.0 in)
1970
63.8 mm (2.5 in)
1971
74.3 mm (2.9 in)
1972
73.7 mm (2.9 in)
1973
66.5 mm (2.6 in)
1974
66.8 mm (2.6 in)
1975
115.6 mm (4.6 in)
1976
86.4 mm (3.4 in)
1977
69.5 mm (2.7 in)
1978
101.4 mm (4.0 in)
1979
73.2 mm (2.9 in)
1980
52.8 mm (2.1 in)
1981
66.8 mm (2.6 in)
1982
66.2 mm (2.6 in)
1983
63.5 mm (2.5 in)
Longest dry spell (CDD)
The longest dry spell of the year at Preston, 1953 to 1983. The record is 29 days in 1969, marked on the chart; the median year is 17 days.
Longest dry spell (CDD) at Preston by year
Year
Longest dry spell (CDD)
1953
16 days
1954
14 days
1955
18 days
1956
19 days
1957
22 days
1958
15 days
1959
22 days
1960
14 days
1961
18 days
1962
19 days
1963
27 days
1964
11 days
1965
15 days
1966
19 days
1967
23 days
1968
11 days
1969
29 days
1970
15 days
1971
17 days
1972
13 days
1973
27 days
1974
14 days
1975
20 days
1976
14 days
1977
19 days
1978
18 days
1979
16 days
1980
11 days
1981
12 days
1982
16 days
1983
23 days
Each chart shows one value per year; the dot marks the record year. TXx is the hottest daily maximum, TNn the coldest daily minimum, Rx1day and Rx5day the largest one-day and five-day rain totals, and CDD the longest run of days with less than 1 mm of rain. A year with missing days can understate an extreme.
Frost Dates and Growing Season
29 years with a frost
Across 29 years with a frost, the median last spring frost at Preston falls on 18 May and the median first autumn frost on 26 September, which leaves a median of 126 days between them.
Fitted over all years, the growing season changes by +9.2 days per decade at this station.
Frost dates and growing season at Preston
Measure
Median, all years
Earliest period
Recent period (1954 to 1983)
Recent against earliest
Fitted trend
Last spring frost
18 May
n/a
18 May
n/a
-4.3 days per decade
First autumn frost
26 September
n/a
26 September
n/a
+5.0 days per decade
Growing days
126 days
n/a
126 days
n/a
+9.2 days per decade
A frost day is a day with a daily minimum at or below 0 C (32 F). The last spring frost and the first autumn frost are the last and first such days of the cold season, and growing days are the days between them. A negative trend for the last spring frost means it comes earlier.
Rainfall Return Levels
30 years, 1954 to 1983
A day with at least 48.2 mm (1.9 in) of rain is expected about once in 2 years. A day with at least 126.3 mm (5.0 in) of rain is expected about once in 100 years.
Rainfall return levels at Preston: the daily rain expected about once in a given number of years
Expected about once in
A day with at least
Note
2 years
48.2 mm (1.9 in)
5 years
63.9 mm (2.5 in)
10 years
76.1 mm (3.0 in)
25 years
94.0 mm (3.7 in)
50 years
109.2 mm (4.3 in)
Longer than the 30 years of record
100 years
126.3 mm (5.0 in)
Longer than the 30 years of record
The levels come from a generalised extreme value (GEV) distribution fitted by L-moments to the wettest-day total of each year, 30 years of values from 1954 to 1983.
A return level is an estimate. It is least reliable for the long periods, 50 and 100 years, and for any period longer than the record behind the fit, where the fit has to reach past the largest day actually observed. It is not a forecast.
The largest wettest-day totals in the fit: 108.0 mm (4.3 in) in 1968; 86.9 mm (3.4 in) in 1960; 81.3 mm (3.2 in) in 1976.
Download the Data
Data for Preston standing records by year: CSV or JSON. Field meanings are on the data page.
Data for Preston threshold days by year: CSV or JSON. Field meanings are on the data page.
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)) Data as of 2026-10-15 (15 October 2026). Records are computed by this site and are not official.