Salem 5 SW Weather Records (USC00397457)

Record envelope, standing records and threshold days for Salem 5 SW (USC00397457), South Dakota, United States, with 61 years of record.

Key Facts for Salem 5 SW

Salem 5 SW (USC00397457) is a weather station in South Dakota, United States at 43.66 latitude and -97.45 longitude, 445 m (1,460 ft) above sea level.
The station reports from 1941 to 2001, 61 years of record.
1,102 records set at Salem 5 SW still stand.
Records are tracked for prcp, snow, snwd: an element needs 30 years of data to be eligible.
Salem 5 SW set a daily record precipitation of 46.5 mm (1.8 in) on 7 May 2001.

About the Station

Location: South Dakota, United States, 43.66 latitude, -97.45 longitude.
Elevation: 445 m (1,460 ft).
Period of record: 1941 to 2001, 61 years.
Eligible elements: prcp, snow, snwd.

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 Salem 5 SW. 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 Salem 5 SW, with 2026 drawn through them
Month	Highest record high	Lowest record low	2026 highest maximum	2026 lowest minimum
Jan	n/a	-28.9 C (-20.0 F)	n/a	n/a
Feb	n/a	-28.9 C (-20.0 F)	n/a	n/a
Mar	n/a	-17.8 C (0.0 F)	n/a	n/a
Apr	n/a	-1.7 C (28.9 F)	n/a	n/a
May	33.3 C (91.9 F)	-1.7 C (28.9 F)	n/a	n/a
Jun	37.2 C (99.0 F)	4.4 C (39.9 F)	n/a	n/a
Jul	40.6 C (105.1 F)	4.4 C (39.9 F)	n/a	n/a
Aug	38.3 C (100.9 F)	6.7 C (44.1 F)	n/a	n/a
Sep	32.8 C (91.0 F)	0.0 C (32.0 F)	n/a	n/a
Oct	27.2 C (81.0 F)	-12.2 C (10.0 F)	n/a	n/a
Nov	15.6 C (60.1 F)	-17.8 C (0.0 F)	n/a	n/a
Dec	15.6 C (60.1 F)	-30.0 C (-22.0 F)	n/a	n/a

Which Years Hold Standing Records

1,102 standing records

1,102 records at Salem 5 SW still stand. 1972 holds the most, with 725.

All-Time Record Progression

1 new records

1 all-time records were set at Salem 5 SW between 4 September 1999 and 4 September 1999. Each dot is a new record.

Wettest Day of Each Month

Sep: 121.2 mm (4.8 in)

The wettest day on record for each calendar month at Salem 5 SW. The most was 121.2 mm (4.8 in) on 4 September 1999.

Record daily precipitation for each month at Salem 5 SW
Month	Record daily precipitation (mm)	Date
Jan	33.0 mm (1.3 in)	27 January 1944
Feb	31.8 mm (1.3 in)	4 February 1997
Mar	53.3 mm (2.1 in)	20 March 1970
Apr	54.6 mm (2.1 in)	18 April 1955
May	63.5 mm (2.5 in)	1 May 1972
Jun	84.3 mm (3.3 in)	17 June 1948
Jul	92.7 mm (3.6 in)	10 July 1944
Aug	92.5 mm (3.6 in)	31 August 1942
Sep	121.2 mm (4.8 in)	4 September 1999
Oct	50.8 mm (2.0 in)	5 October 1969
Nov	34.0 mm (1.3 in)	3 November 1972
Dec	19.1 mm (0.8 in)	7 December 1996

Period of Record Coverage

1969 to 1972

2 years of record at Salem 5 SW, 1969 to 1972. 2 years have data for under 90 percent of days and are left out of rankings: 1969, 1972.

Latest Records

Latest records at Salem 5 SW
Date	Station	Record	Value	Beat old record by	Old record stood	Significance
7 May 2001	Salem 5 SW, US	daily rain	46.5 mm (1.8 in)	25.7 mm (1.0 in)	4 years	31 of 100 (Routine)
23 April 2001	Salem 5 SW, US	daily rain	42.7 mm (1.7 in)	3.8 mm (0.15 in)	56 years	26 of 100 (Routine)
22 April 2001	Salem 5 SW, US	daily rain	50.8 mm (2.0 in)	19.0 mm (0.7 in)	32 years	33 of 100 (Routine)
12 April 2001	Salem 5 SW, US	daily rain	31.8 mm (1.3 in)	6.4 mm (0.25 in)	31 years	21 of 100 (Routine)
7 April 2001	Salem 5 SW, US	daily rain	18.8 mm (0.7 in)	4.1 mm (0.16 in)	54 years	20 of 100 (Routine)
25 February 2001	Salem 5 SW, US	daily rain	22.9 mm (0.9 in)	16.0 mm (0.6 in)	51 years	20 of 100 (Routine)
31 January 2001	Salem 5 SW, US	daily rain	3.6 mm (0.14 in)	3.6 mm (0.14 in)	59 years	20 of 100 (Routine)
30 January 2001	Salem 5 SW, US	daily rain	32.8 mm (1.3 in)	21.4 mm (0.8 in)	5 years	42 of 100 (Notable)
5 August 2000	Salem 5 SW, US	daily rain	66.3 mm (2.6 in)	33.5 mm (1.3 in)	5 years	32 of 100 (Routine)
15 July 2000	Salem 5 SW, US	daily rain	19.3 mm (0.8 in)	2.8 mm (0.11 in)	8 years	10 of 100 (Routine)
18 May 2000	Salem 5 SW, US	monthly rain (Tie)	63.5 mm (2.5 in)	tie	28 years	6 of 100 (Routine)
24 February 2000	Salem 5 SW, US	daily rain	24.9 mm (1.0 in)	14.0 mm (0.6 in)	8 years	20 of 100 (Routine)
20 January 2000	Salem 5 SW, US	daily rain (Tie)	2.5 mm (0.10 in)	tie	4 years	1 of 100 (Routine)
19 January 2000	Salem 5 SW, US	daily rain	7.6 mm (0.30 in)	6.3 mm (0.25 in)	37 years	20 of 100 (Routine)
4 September 1999	Salem 5 SW, US	all-time rain	121.2 mm (4.8 in)	16.3 mm (0.6 in)	48 years	52 of 100 (Notable)
30 August 1999	Salem 5 SW, US	daily rain	52.1 mm (2.1 in)	34.3 mm (1.4 in)	28 years	38 of 100 (Notable)
18 July 1999	Salem 5 SW, US	daily rain	17.0 mm (0.7 in)	7.3 mm (0.29 in)	36 years	20 of 100 (Routine)
3 July 1999	Salem 5 SW, US	daily rain	29.0 mm (1.1 in)	3.6 mm (0.14 in)	5 years	8 of 100 (Routine)
8 June 1999	Salem 5 SW, US	daily rain	35.3 mm (1.4 in)	15.0 mm (0.6 in)	45 years	29 of 100 (Routine)
15 April 1999	Salem 5 SW, US	daily rain	19.1 mm (0.8 in)	1.8 mm (0.07 in)	54 years	20 of 100 (Routine)

Extremes by Year

1941 to 2001

Yearly extremes at Salem 5 SW: the record and the median year
Measure	Record	Year of the record	Median year	Years with a value
Hottest day (TXx)	40.6 C (105.1 F)	1969	39.5 C (103.0 F)	2
Coldest night (TNn)	-30.0 C (-22.0 F)	1972	-28.9 C (-20.0 F)	4
Wettest day (Rx1day)	121.2 mm (4.8 in)	1999	50.8 mm (2.0 in)	46
Wettest five days (Rx5day)	144.2 mm (5.7 in)	1948	82.3 mm (3.2 in)	46
Longest dry spell (CDD)	73 days	1999	33 days	46

Hottest day (TXx)

The hottest day of the year at Salem 5 SW, 1941 to 2001. The record is 40.6 C (105.1 F) in 1969, marked on the chart; the median year is 39.5 C (103.0 F).

Hottest day (TXx) at Salem 5 SW by year
Year	Hottest day (TXx)
1941	n/a
1942	n/a
1943	n/a
1944	n/a
1945	n/a
1946	n/a
1947	n/a
1948	n/a
1949	n/a
1950	n/a
1951	n/a
1952	n/a
1953	n/a
1954	n/a
1955	n/a
1956	n/a
1957	n/a
1958	n/a
1959	n/a
1960	n/a
1961	n/a
1962	n/a
1963	n/a
1964	n/a
1965	n/a
1966	n/a
1967	n/a
1968	n/a
1969	40.6 C (105.1 F)
1970	n/a
1971	n/a
1972	38.3 C (100.9 F)
1973	n/a
1989	n/a
1990	n/a
1991	n/a
1992	n/a
1993	n/a
1994	n/a
1995	n/a
1996	n/a
1997	n/a
1998	n/a
1999	n/a
2000	n/a
2001	n/a

Coldest night (TNn)

The coldest night of the year at Salem 5 SW, 1941 to 2001. The record is -30.0 C (-22.0 F) in 1972, marked on the chart; the median year is -28.9 C (-20.0 F).

Coldest night (TNn) at Salem 5 SW by year
Year	Coldest night (TNn)
1941	n/a
1942	n/a
1943	n/a
1944	n/a
1945	n/a
1946	n/a
1947	n/a
1948	n/a
1949	n/a
1950	n/a
1951	n/a
1952	n/a
1953	n/a
1954	n/a
1955	n/a
1956	n/a
1957	n/a
1958	n/a
1959	n/a
1960	n/a
1961	n/a
1962	n/a
1963	n/a
1964	n/a
1965	n/a
1966	n/a
1967	n/a
1968	n/a
1969	-1.7 C (28.9 F)
1970	-28.9 C (-20.0 F)
1971	-28.9 C (-20.0 F)
1972	-30.0 C (-22.0 F)
1973	n/a
1989	n/a
1990	n/a
1991	n/a
1992	n/a
1993	n/a
1994	n/a
1995	n/a
1996	n/a
1997	n/a
1998	n/a
1999	n/a
2000	n/a
2001	n/a

Wettest day (Rx1day)

The wettest day of the year at Salem 5 SW, 1941 to 2001. The record is 121.2 mm (4.8 in) in 1999, marked on the chart; the median year is 50.8 mm (2.0 in).

Wettest day (Rx1day) at Salem 5 SW by year
Year	Wettest day (Rx1day)
1941	29.7 mm (1.2 in)
1942	92.5 mm (3.6 in)
1943	42.4 mm (1.7 in)
1944	92.7 mm (3.6 in)
1945	40.6 mm (1.6 in)
1946	64.0 mm (2.5 in)
1947	33.3 mm (1.3 in)
1948	84.3 mm (3.3 in)
1949	51.8 mm (2.0 in)
1950	104.9 mm (4.1 in)
1951	46.0 mm (1.8 in)
1952	40.6 mm (1.6 in)
1953	77.2 mm (3.0 in)
1954	59.2 mm (2.3 in)
1955	54.6 mm (2.1 in)
1956	44.5 mm (1.8 in)
1957	80.0 mm (3.1 in)
1958	41.9 mm (1.6 in)
1959	62.2 mm (2.4 in)
1960	45.7 mm (1.8 in)
1961	66.0 mm (2.6 in)
1962	80.0 mm (3.1 in)
1963	58.4 mm (2.3 in)
1964	38.1 mm (1.5 in)
1965	36.8 mm (1.4 in)
1966	38.1 mm (1.5 in)
1967	39.4 mm (1.6 in)
1968	77.5 mm (3.1 in)
1969	68.6 mm (2.7 in)
1970	53.3 mm (2.1 in)
1971	48.3 mm (1.9 in)
1972	63.5 mm (2.5 in)
1973	18.5 mm (0.7 in)
1989	3.3 mm (0.13 in)
1990	48.3 mm (1.9 in)
1991	61.7 mm (2.4 in)
1992	49.0 mm (1.9 in)
1993	56.9 mm (2.2 in)
1994	48.8 mm (1.9 in)
1995	50.8 mm (2.0 in)
1996	49.5 mm (1.9 in)
1997	33.5 mm (1.3 in)
1998	50.8 mm (2.0 in)
1999	121.2 mm (4.8 in)
2000	66.3 mm (2.6 in)
2001	50.8 mm (2.0 in)

Wettest five days (Rx5day)

The wettest five days of the year at Salem 5 SW, 1941 to 2001. The record is 144.2 mm (5.7 in) in 1948, marked on the chart; the median year is 82.3 mm (3.2 in).

Wettest five days (Rx5day) at Salem 5 SW by year
Year	Wettest five days (Rx5day)
1941	50.3 mm (2.0 in)
1942	130.6 mm (5.1 in)
1943	83.1 mm (3.3 in)
1944	142.0 mm (5.6 in)
1945	40.6 mm (1.6 in)
1946	126.2 mm (5.0 in)
1947	59.2 mm (2.3 in)
1948	144.2 mm (5.7 in)
1949	60.7 mm (2.4 in)
1950	107.4 mm (4.2 in)
1951	102.8 mm (4.0 in)
1952	58.4 mm (2.3 in)
1953	82.6 mm (3.3 in)
1954	85.7 mm (3.4 in)
1955	54.6 mm (2.1 in)
1956	71.2 mm (2.8 in)
1957	89.2 mm (3.5 in)
1958	51.0 mm (2.0 in)
1959	63.2 mm (2.5 in)
1960	87.4 mm (3.4 in)
1961	85.5 mm (3.4 in)
1962	143.5 mm (5.6 in)
1963	110.5 mm (4.4 in)
1964	47.0 mm (1.9 in)
1965	67.4 mm (2.7 in)
1966	53.3 mm (2.1 in)
1967	64.0 mm (2.5 in)
1968	120.7 mm (4.8 in)
1969	99.1 mm (3.9 in)
1970	90.1 mm (3.5 in)
1971	86.3 mm (3.4 in)
1972	74.6 mm (2.9 in)
1973	45.7 mm (1.8 in)
1989	5.6 mm (0.22 in)
1990	61.5 mm (2.4 in)
1991	63.5 mm (2.5 in)
1992	61.9 mm (2.4 in)
1993	92.6 mm (3.6 in)
1994	59.5 mm (2.3 in)
1995	82.0 mm (3.2 in)
1996	85.3 mm (3.4 in)
1997	44.6 mm (1.8 in)
1998	93.7 mm (3.7 in)
1999	121.2 mm (4.8 in)
2000	75.9 mm (3.0 in)
2001	106.2 mm (4.2 in)

Longest dry spell (CDD)

The longest dry spell of the year at Salem 5 SW, 1941 to 2001. The record is 73 days in 1999, marked on the chart; the median year is 33 days.

Longest dry spell (CDD) at Salem 5 SW by year
Year	Longest dry spell (CDD)
1941	35 days
1942	39 days
1943	53 days
1944	36 days
1945	41 days
1946	35 days
1947	41 days
1948	42 days
1949	41 days
1950	39 days
1951	30 days
1952	56 days
1953	25 days
1954	49 days
1955	37 days
1956	25 days
1957	31 days
1958	44 days
1959	30 days
1960	32 days
1961	36 days
1962	33 days
1963	27 days
1964	39 days
1965	23 days
1966	28 days
1967	35 days
1968	39 days
1969	18 days
1970	22 days
1971	28 days
1972	23 days
1973	13 days
1989	21 days
1990	45 days
1991	29 days
1992	26 days
1993	28 days
1994	26 days
1995	22 days
1996	26 days
1997	31 days
1998	49 days
1999	73 days
2000	34 days
2001	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

40 years, 1942 to 2000

A day with at least 53.8 mm (2.1 in) of rain is expected about once in 2 years. A day with at least 136.2 mm (5.4 in) of rain is expected about once in 100 years.

Rainfall return levels at Salem 5 SW: the daily rain expected about once in a given number of years
Expected about once in	A day with at least	Note
2 years	53.8 mm (2.1 in)
5 years	71.6 mm (2.8 in)
10 years	85.0 mm (3.3 in)
25 years	103.8 mm (4.1 in)
50 years	119.3 mm (4.7 in)	Longer than the 40 years of record
100 years	136.2 mm (5.4 in)	Longer than the 40 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, 40 years of values from 1942 to 2000.

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: 121.2 mm (4.8 in) in 1999; 104.9 mm (4.1 in) in 1950; 92.7 mm (3.6 in) in 1944.

Download the Data

Data for Salem 5 SW standing records by year: CSV or JSON. Field meanings are on the data page.
Data for Salem 5 SW 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 2026-10-17 (17 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).

Year	Days with data	Share of year	Complete
1969	1	0%	No
1972	226	62%	No