Sterling Weather Records (USC00198154)

Record envelope, standing records and threshold days for Sterling (USC00198154), Massachusetts, United States, with 90 years of record.

Key Facts for Sterling

Sterling (USC00198154) is a weather station in Massachusetts, United States at 42.45 latitude and -71.82 longitude, 146 m (480 ft) above sea level.
The station reports from 1896 to 1985, 90 years of record.
0 records set at Sterling still stand.
Records are tracked for prcp, snow: an element needs 30 years of data to be eligible.
Sterling set a daily record snowfall of 8.9 cm (3.5 in) on 17 November 1985.

About the Station

Location: Massachusetts, United States, 42.45 latitude, -71.82 longitude.
Elevation: 146 m (480 ft).
Period of record: 1896 to 1985, 90 years.
Eligible elements: prcp, snow.

Daily Record Envelope and 2026

0 days at or beyond a record

The band shows the record high and record low for each calendar day at Sterling. 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 Sterling, with 2026 drawn through them
Month	Highest record high	Lowest record low	2026 highest maximum	2026 lowest minimum
Jan	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
Feb	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
Mar	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
Apr	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
May	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
Jun	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
Jul	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
Aug	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
Sep	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
Oct	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
Nov	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
Dec	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a

Which Years Hold Standing Records

0 standing records

0 records at Sterling still stand.

All-Time Record Progression

1 new records

1 all-time records were set at Sterling between 21 September 1938 and 21 September 1938. Each dot is a new record.

Wettest Day of Each Month

Sep: 220.2 mm (8.7 in)

The wettest day on record for each calendar month at Sterling. The most was 220.2 mm (8.7 in) on 21 September 1938.

Record daily precipitation for each month at Sterling
Month	Record daily precipitation (mm)	Date
Jan	81.3 mm (3.2 in)	27 January 1978
Feb	84.1 mm (3.3 in)	13 February 1900
Mar	101.3 mm (4.0 in)	19 March 1936
Apr	102.9 mm (4.1 in)	25 April 1901
May	111.0 mm (4.4 in)	29 May 1906
Jun	116.1 mm (4.6 in)	25 June 1944
Jul	82.6 mm (3.3 in)	14 July 1897
Aug	96.8 mm (3.8 in)	7 August 1915
Sep	220.2 mm (8.7 in)	21 September 1938
Oct	151.9 mm (6.0 in)	20 October 1932
Nov	116.1 mm (4.6 in)	4 November 1927
Dec	82.8 mm (3.3 in)	15 December 1897

Latest Records

Latest records at Sterling
Date	Station	Record	Value	Beat old record by	Old record stood	Significance
17 November 1985	Sterling, US	daily snowfall	8.9 cm (3.5 in)	5.1 cm (2.0 in)	52 years	31 of 100 (Routine)
6 November 1985	Sterling, US	daily rain	62.7 mm (2.5 in)	45.4 mm (1.8 in)	0 years	34 of 100 (Routine)
26 September 1985	Sterling, US	daily rain	68.6 mm (2.7 in)	56.9 mm (2.2 in)	4 years	35 of 100 (Notable)
16 August 1985	Sterling, US	daily rain	63.5 mm (2.5 in)	32.0 mm (1.3 in)	80 years	55 of 100 (Notable)
1 August 1985	Sterling, US	daily rain	47.0 mm (1.9 in)	25.7 mm (1.0 in)	14 years	31 of 100 (Routine)
6 November 1984	Sterling, US	daily rain	17.3 mm (0.7 in)	6.4 mm (0.25 in)	79 years	20 of 100 (Routine)
2 October 1984	Sterling, US	daily rain	48.0 mm (1.9 in)	13.5 mm (0.5 in)	41 years	28 of 100 (Routine)
3 June 1984	Sterling, US	daily rain	32.0 mm (1.3 in)	3.0 mm (0.12 in)	25 years	16 of 100 (Routine)
30 May 1984	Sterling, US	daily rain	76.2 mm (3.0 in)	17.8 mm (0.7 in)	16 years	25 of 100 (Routine)
31 March 1984	Sterling, US	daily snowfall	25.4 cm (10.0 in)	20.8 cm (8.2 in)	84 years	63 of 100 (Major)
14 March 1984	Sterling, US	daily snowfall	26.7 cm (10.5 in)	17.8 cm (7.0 in)	34 years	44 of 100 (Notable)
29 February 1984	Sterling, US	daily rain	38.6 mm (1.5 in)	5.6 mm (0.22 in)	36 years	22 of 100 (Routine)
16 February 1984	Sterling, US	daily rain	39.9 mm (1.6 in)	7.9 mm (0.31 in)	74 years	35 of 100 (Notable)
5 December 1983	Sterling, US	daily snowfall	26.7 cm (10.5 in)	16.5 cm (6.5 in)	80 years	55 of 100 (Notable)
17 November 1983	Sterling, US	daily rain	66.0 mm (2.6 in)	13.7 mm (0.5 in)	62 years	33 of 100 (Routine)
11 April 1983	Sterling, US	daily rain	62.2 mm (2.4 in)	45.9 mm (1.8 in)	40 years	52 of 100 (Notable)
12 February 1983	Sterling, US	daily snowfall	43.2 cm (17.0 in)	20.3 cm (8.0 in)	72 years	52 of 100 (Notable)
12 February 1983	Sterling, US	daily rain	40.6 mm (1.6 in)	2.5 mm (0.10 in)	72 years	30 of 100 (Routine)
16 January 1983	Sterling, US	daily snowfall	35.6 cm (14.0 in)	20.4 cm (8.0 in)	56 years	50 of 100 (Notable)
11 January 1983	Sterling, US	daily rain	69.3 mm (2.7 in)	31.5 mm (1.2 in)	60 years	51 of 100 (Notable)

Extremes by Year

1896 to 1985

Yearly extremes at Sterling: the record and the median year
Measure	Record	Year of the record	Median year	Years with a value
Wettest day (Rx1day)	220.2 mm (8.7 in)	1938	69.3 mm (2.7 in)	90
Wettest five days (Rx5day)	220.2 mm (8.7 in)	1938	80.6 mm (3.2 in)	84
Longest dry spell (CDD)	45 days	1952	16 days	90

Wettest day (Rx1day)

The wettest day of the year at Sterling, 1896 to 1985. The record is 220.2 mm (8.7 in) in 1938, marked on the chart; the median year is 69.3 mm (2.7 in).

Wettest day (Rx1day) at Sterling by year
Year	Wettest day (Rx1day)
1896	81.3 mm (3.2 in)
1897	82.8 mm (3.3 in)
1898	80.0 mm (3.1 in)
1899	71.1 mm (2.8 in)
1900	84.1 mm (3.3 in)
1901	102.9 mm (4.1 in)
1902	64.0 mm (2.5 in)
1903	103.1 mm (4.1 in)
1904	98.8 mm (3.9 in)
1905	145.8 mm (5.7 in)
1906	111.0 mm (4.4 in)
1907	87.4 mm (3.4 in)
1908	57.4 mm (2.3 in)
1909	65.5 mm (2.6 in)
1910	67.3 mm (2.6 in)
1911	56.1 mm (2.2 in)
1912	53.8 mm (2.1 in)
1913	69.9 mm (2.8 in)
1914	43.2 mm (1.7 in)
1915	96.8 mm (3.8 in)
1916	71.1 mm (2.8 in)
1917	59.4 mm (2.3 in)
1918	59.7 mm (2.4 in)
1919	75.2 mm (3.0 in)
1920	122.2 mm (4.8 in)
1921	78.0 mm (3.1 in)
1922	101.9 mm (4.0 in)
1923	113.0 mm (4.4 in)
1924	62.0 mm (2.4 in)
1925	72.4 mm (2.9 in)
1926	52.6 mm (2.1 in)
1927	116.1 mm (4.6 in)
1928	75.9 mm (3.0 in)
1929	47.0 mm (1.9 in)
1930	60.7 mm (2.4 in)
1931	114.0 mm (4.5 in)
1932	151.9 mm (6.0 in)
1933	200.7 mm (7.9 in)
1934	85.9 mm (3.4 in)
1935	70.4 mm (2.8 in)
1936	101.3 mm (4.0 in)
1937	94.7 mm (3.7 in)
1938	220.2 mm (8.7 in)
1939	77.5 mm (3.1 in)
1940	83.3 mm (3.3 in)
1941	60.7 mm (2.4 in)
1942	79.8 mm (3.1 in)
1943	62.5 mm (2.5 in)
1944	118.6 mm (4.7 in)
1945	49.5 mm (1.9 in)
1946	103.1 mm (4.1 in)
1947	84.1 mm (3.3 in)
1948	71.4 mm (2.8 in)
1949	64.0 mm (2.5 in)
1950	82.0 mm (3.2 in)
1951	58.4 mm (2.3 in)
1952	67.6 mm (2.7 in)
1953	46.0 mm (1.8 in)
1954	53.3 mm (2.1 in)
1955	50.8 mm (2.0 in)
1956	40.9 mm (1.6 in)
1957	43.2 mm (1.7 in)
1958	48.0 mm (1.9 in)
1959	42.9 mm (1.7 in)
1960	56.6 mm (2.2 in)
1961	40.9 mm (1.6 in)
1962	53.3 mm (2.1 in)
1963	38.1 mm (1.5 in)
1964	33.3 mm (1.3 in)
1965	38.1 mm (1.5 in)
1966	48.3 mm (1.9 in)
1967	42.4 mm (1.7 in)
1968	58.4 mm (2.3 in)
1969	39.4 mm (1.6 in)
1970	49.3 mm (1.9 in)
1971	38.4 mm (1.5 in)
1972	85.3 mm (3.4 in)
1973	67.8 mm (2.7 in)
1974	69.9 mm (2.8 in)
1975	59.4 mm (2.3 in)
1976	53.8 mm (2.1 in)
1977	86.4 mm (3.4 in)
1978	81.3 mm (3.2 in)
1979	54.1 mm (2.1 in)
1980	67.8 mm (2.7 in)
1981	41.9 mm (1.6 in)
1982	82.0 mm (3.2 in)
1983	71.1 mm (2.8 in)
1984	76.2 mm (3.0 in)
1985	68.6 mm (2.7 in)

Wettest five days (Rx5day)

The wettest five days of the year at Sterling, 1896 to 1985. The record is 220.2 mm (8.7 in) in 1938, marked on the chart; the median year is 80.6 mm (3.2 in).

Wettest five days (Rx5day) at Sterling by year
Year	Wettest five days (Rx5day)
1896	103.1 mm (4.1 in)
1897	98.9 mm (3.9 in)
1898	84.8 mm (3.3 in)
1899	n/a
1900	n/a
1901	n/a
1902	57.7 mm (2.3 in)
1903	80.7 mm (3.2 in)
1904	n/a
1905	33.3 mm (1.3 in)
1906	27.9 mm (1.1 in)
1907	n/a
1908	n/a
1909	75.2 mm (3.0 in)
1910	67.3 mm (2.6 in)
1911	80.2 mm (3.2 in)
1912	75.1 mm (3.0 in)
1913	84.8 mm (3.3 in)
1914	57.2 mm (2.3 in)
1915	99.3 mm (3.9 in)
1916	72.4 mm (2.9 in)
1917	68.8 mm (2.7 in)
1918	71.6 mm (2.8 in)
1919	109.2 mm (4.3 in)
1920	142.0 mm (5.6 in)
1921	105.2 mm (4.1 in)
1922	128.1 mm (5.0 in)
1923	117.3 mm (4.6 in)
1924	64.0 mm (2.5 in)
1925	73.2 mm (2.9 in)
1926	71.4 mm (2.8 in)
1927	118.2 mm (4.7 in)
1928	90.9 mm (3.6 in)
1929	80.5 mm (3.2 in)
1930	47.7 mm (1.9 in)
1931	124.7 mm (4.9 in)
1932	151.9 mm (6.0 in)
1933	201.5 mm (7.9 in)
1934	85.9 mm (3.4 in)
1935	78.8 mm (3.1 in)
1936	128.8 mm (5.1 in)
1937	109.9 mm (4.3 in)
1938	220.2 mm (8.7 in)
1939	89.2 mm (3.5 in)
1940	79.8 mm (3.1 in)
1941	61.0 mm (2.4 in)
1942	79.8 mm (3.1 in)
1943	80.6 mm (3.2 in)
1944	182.6 mm (7.2 in)
1945	80.2 mm (3.2 in)
1946	103.9 mm (4.1 in)
1947	145.1 mm (5.7 in)
1948	89.4 mm (3.5 in)
1949	84.6 mm (3.3 in)
1950	84.6 mm (3.3 in)
1951	84.3 mm (3.3 in)
1952	69.3 mm (2.7 in)
1953	84.4 mm (3.3 in)
1954	53.3 mm (2.1 in)
1955	60.5 mm (2.4 in)
1956	53.1 mm (2.1 in)
1957	43.2 mm (1.7 in)
1958	63.2 mm (2.5 in)
1959	62.0 mm (2.4 in)
1960	67.3 mm (2.6 in)
1961	41.9 mm (1.6 in)
1962	53.3 mm (2.1 in)
1963	46.5 mm (1.8 in)
1964	36.9 mm (1.5 in)
1965	46.0 mm (1.8 in)
1966	52.6 mm (2.1 in)
1967	72.9 mm (2.9 in)
1968	83.3 mm (3.3 in)
1969	27.9 mm (1.1 in)
1970	49.3 mm (1.9 in)
1971	45.7 mm (1.8 in)
1972	85.3 mm (3.4 in)
1973	84.3 mm (3.3 in)
1974	102.9 mm (4.1 in)
1975	77.8 mm (3.1 in)
1976	62.7 mm (2.5 in)
1977	93.8 mm (3.7 in)
1978	111.0 mm (4.4 in)
1979	123.5 mm (4.9 in)
1980	74.2 mm (2.9 in)
1981	99.2 mm (3.9 in)
1982	187.4 mm (7.4 in)
1983	94.7 mm (3.7 in)
1984	200.7 mm (7.9 in)
1985	105.7 mm (4.2 in)

Longest dry spell (CDD)

The longest dry spell of the year at Sterling, 1896 to 1985. The record is 45 days in 1952, marked on the chart; the median year is 16 days.

Longest dry spell (CDD) at Sterling by year
Year	Longest dry spell (CDD)
1896	17 days
1897	16 days
1898	14 days
1899	1 day
1900	2 days
1901	1 day
1902	7 days
1903	8 days
1904	2 days
1905	10 days
1906	8 days
1907	1 day
1908	1 day
1909	11 days
1910	17 days
1911	28 days
1912	19 days
1913	17 days
1914	30 days
1915	24 days
1916	14 days
1917	20 days
1918	24 days
1919	15 days
1920	27 days
1921	19 days
1922	21 days
1923	16 days
1924	34 days
1925	15 days
1926	15 days
1927	16 days
1928	15 days
1929	17 days
1930	24 days
1931	15 days
1932	19 days
1933	12 days
1934	19 days
1935	20 days
1936	14 days
1937	13 days
1938	13 days
1939	27 days
1940	18 days
1941	21 days
1942	13 days
1943	19 days
1944	15 days
1945	15 days
1946	21 days
1947	38 days
1948	16 days
1949	17 days
1950	16 days
1951	16 days
1952	45 days
1953	18 days
1954	14 days
1955	24 days
1956	15 days
1957	16 days
1958	20 days
1959	14 days
1960	19 days
1961	18 days
1962	13 days
1963	23 days
1964	17 days
1965	15 days
1966	12 days
1967	12 days
1968	21 days
1969	14 days
1970	14 days
1971	14 days
1972	14 days
1973	15 days
1974	24 days
1975	20 days
1976	18 days
1977	14 days
1978	23 days
1979	14 days
1980	23 days
1981	12 days
1982	19 days
1983	16 days
1984	18 days
1985	14 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.

Rainfall Return Levels

46 years, 1896 to 1985

A day with at least 73.1 mm (2.9 in) of rain is expected about once in 2 years. A day with at least 194.4 mm (7.7 in) of rain is expected about once in 100 years.

Rainfall return levels at Sterling: the daily rain expected about once in a given number of years
Expected about once in	A day with at least	Note
2 years	73.1 mm (2.9 in)
5 years	98.6 mm (3.9 in)
10 years	118.1 mm (4.6 in)
25 years	145.8 mm (5.7 in)
50 years	169.0 mm (6.7 in)	Longer than the 46 years of record
100 years	194.4 mm (7.7 in)	Longer than the 46 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, 46 years of values from 1896 to 1985.

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: 220.2 mm (8.7 in) in 1938; 151.9 mm (6.0 in) in 1932; 122.2 mm (4.8 in) in 1920.

Download the Data

Data for Sterling standing records by year: CSV or JSON. Field meanings are on the data page.
Data for Sterling 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.

Data as of 2025-12-31. Last revised 31 December 2025 (2025-12-31).

Month	Highest record high	Lowest record low	2026 highest maximum	2026 lowest minimum
Jan	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
Feb	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
Mar	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
Apr	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
May	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
Jun	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
Jul	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
Aug	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
Sep	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
Oct	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
Nov	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
Dec	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a

Month	Highest record high	Lowest record low	2026 highest maximum	2026 lowest minimum
Jan	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
Feb	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
Mar	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
Apr	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
May	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
Jun	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
Jul	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
Aug	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
Sep	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
Oct	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
Nov	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
Dec	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a