Record envelope, standing records and threshold days for Watauga Dam (USC00409455), Tennessee, United States, with 34 years of record.
Key Facts for Watauga Dam
Watauga Dam (USC00409455) is a weather station in Tennessee, United States at 36.33 latitude and -82.12 longitude, 522 m (1,713 ft) above sea level.
The station reports from 1949 to 1982, 34 years of record.
1,464 records set at Watauga Dam still stand.
Records are tracked for tmax, tmin, prcp, snow, snwd: an element needs 30 years of data to be eligible.
Watauga Dam tied a daily record high minimum temperature of 10.6 C (51.1 F) on 21 March 1982.
About the Station
Location: Tennessee, United States, 36.33 latitude, -82.12 longitude.
Elevation: 522 m (1,713 ft).
Period of record: 1949 to 1982, 34 years.
Eligible elements: tmax, tmin, prcp, snow, snwd.
Daily Record Envelope and 2026
0 days at or beyond a record
Record highRecord low2026 daily maximum2026 daily minimum
The band shows the record high and record low for each calendar day at Watauga Dam. 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 Watauga Dam, with 2026 drawn through them
Month
Highest record high
Lowest record low
2026 highest maximum
2026 lowest minimum
Jan
25.0 C (77.0 F)
-25.0 C (-13.0 F)
n/a
n/a
Feb
27.2 C (81.0 F)
-21.1 C (-6.0 F)
n/a
n/a
Mar
31.7 C (89.1 F)
-20.0 C (-4.0 F)
n/a
n/a
Apr
31.1 C (88.0 F)
-8.9 C (16.0 F)
n/a
n/a
May
33.3 C (91.9 F)
-2.2 C (28.0 F)
n/a
n/a
Jun
36.1 C (97.0 F)
2.2 C (36.0 F)
n/a
n/a
Jul
37.8 C (100.0 F)
7.8 C (46.0 F)
n/a
n/a
Aug
35.6 C (96.1 F)
8.3 C (46.9 F)
n/a
n/a
Sep
37.2 C (99.0 F)
-1.1 C (30.0 F)
n/a
n/a
Oct
32.2 C (90.0 F)
-6.7 C (19.9 F)
n/a
n/a
Nov
27.8 C (82.0 F)
-16.1 C (3.0 F)
n/a
n/a
Dec
26.7 C (80.1 F)
-21.7 C (-7.1 F)
n/a
n/a
Which Years Hold Standing Records
1,464 standing records
Year with most
1,464 records at Watauga Dam still stand. 1950 holds the most, with 77.
Standing records at Watauga Dam by the year they were set
Year set
Standing records
1949
51
1950
77
1951
43
1952
65
1953
56
1954
63
1955
37
1956
35
1957
56
1958
36
1959
35
1960
40
1961
45
1962
47
1963
43
1964
49
1965
34
1966
33
1967
72
1968
52
1969
36
1970
40
1971
31
1972
33
1973
36
1974
41
1975
32
1976
45
1977
49
1978
30
1979
38
1980
32
1981
42
1982
10
All-Time Record Progression
2 new records
2 all-time records were set at Watauga Dam between 11 January 1982 and 18 January 1982. Each dot is a new record.
When Watauga Dam set new all-time records
Date
Kind
Detail
1982-01-11
Record low maximum temperature
Record low maximum temperature -15.6 C (3.9 F)
1982-01-18
Record low minimum temperature
Record low minimum temperature -25.0 C (-13.0 F)
Wettest Day of Each Month
Aug: 98.6 mm (3.9 in)
The wettest day on record for each calendar month at Watauga Dam. The most was 98.6 mm (3.9 in) on 17 August 1958.
Record daily precipitation for each month at Watauga Dam
Month
Record daily precipitation (mm)
Date
Jan
61.0 mm (2.4 in)
16 January 1954
Feb
53.8 mm (2.1 in)
3 February 1974
Mar
70.4 mm (2.8 in)
12 March 1963
Apr
69.3 mm (2.7 in)
5 April 1957
May
55.6 mm (2.2 in)
29 May 1977
Jun
72.1 mm (2.8 in)
21 June 1963
Jul
64.5 mm (2.5 in)
16 July 1966
Aug
98.6 mm (3.9 in)
17 August 1958
Sep
68.1 mm (2.7 in)
30 September 1964
Oct
64.0 mm (2.5 in)
17 October 1964
Nov
65.5 mm (2.6 in)
6 November 1977
Dec
43.9 mm (1.7 in)
28 December 1974
Period of Record Coverage
1949 to 1982
Complete yearUnder 90 percent of days
34 years of record at Watauga Dam, 1949 to 1982. 5 years have data for under 90 percent of days and are left out of rankings: 1949, 1953, 1954, 1957, 1982.
Cooler than the station meanWarmer than the station mean
One stripe for each of 24 complete years at Watauga Dam, 1950 to 1980. Blue stripes are years cooler than the station's own mean of 12.7 C (54.9 F); red stripes are warmer. The coolest year was 1963, at 11.1 C (52.0 F), and the warmest was 1973, at 14.0 C (57.2 F). The strongest colour marks a difference of 1.6 C (2.9 F).
Annual mean temperature at Watauga Dam as warming stripes, 1950 to 1980
Year
Annual mean temperature
Difference from the station mean
1950
13.2 C
+0.49 C
1951
13.2 C
+0.46 C
1955
13.0 C
+0.28 C
1956
12.8 C
+0.13 C
1960
11.8 C
-0.95 C
1961
13.1 C
+0.37 C
1962
12.7 C
+0.01 C
1963
11.1 C
-1.58 C
1964
12.7 C
+0.00 C
1965
13.2 C
+0.46 C
1966
12.2 C
-0.51 C
1967
11.8 C
-0.92 C
1968
12.6 C
-0.11 C
1969
12.6 C
-0.12 C
1971
13.1 C
+0.42 C
1972
13.1 C
+0.41 C
1973
14.0 C
+1.28 C
1974
13.6 C
+0.88 C
1975
14.0 C
+1.26 C
1976
12.0 C
-0.73 C
1977
12.3 C
-0.41 C
1978
12.4 C
-0.32 C
1979
12.1 C
-0.58 C
1980
12.5 C
-0.24 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
1949 to 1982
Yearly extremes at Watauga Dam: the record and the median year
Measure
Record
Year of the record
Median year
Years with a value
Hottest day (TXx)
37.8 C (100.0 F)
1952
33.6 C (92.5 F)
34
Coldest night (TNn)
-25.0 C (-13.0 F)
1982
-16.7 C (1.9 F)
34
Wettest day (Rx1day)
98.6 mm (3.9 in)
1958
54.5 mm (2.1 in)
34
Wettest five days (Rx5day)
160.6 mm (6.3 in)
1957
94.3 mm (3.7 in)
34
Longest dry spell (CDD)
28 days
1963
15 days
34
Hottest day (TXx)
The hottest day of the year at Watauga Dam, 1949 to 1982. The record is 37.8 C (100.0 F) in 1952, marked on the chart; the median year is 33.6 C (92.5 F).
Hottest day (TXx) at Watauga Dam by year
Year
Hottest day (TXx)
1949
33.9 C (93.0 F)
1950
33.3 C (91.9 F)
1951
35.0 C (95.0 F)
1952
37.8 C (100.0 F)
1953
35.6 C (96.1 F)
1954
37.2 C (99.0 F)
1955
35.6 C (96.1 F)
1956
33.3 C (91.9 F)
1957
33.3 C (91.9 F)
1958
33.3 C (91.9 F)
1959
36.1 C (97.0 F)
1960
32.8 C (91.0 F)
1961
32.2 C (90.0 F)
1962
33.3 C (91.9 F)
1963
31.1 C (88.0 F)
1964
34.4 C (93.9 F)
1965
34.4 C (93.9 F)
1966
34.4 C (93.9 F)
1967
33.3 C (91.9 F)
1968
35.6 C (96.1 F)
1969
34.4 C (93.9 F)
1970
33.3 C (91.9 F)
1971
32.8 C (91.0 F)
1972
33.3 C (91.9 F)
1973
35.0 C (95.0 F)
1974
31.7 C (89.1 F)
1975
34.4 C (93.9 F)
1976
32.8 C (91.0 F)
1977
34.4 C (93.9 F)
1978
33.9 C (93.0 F)
1979
32.8 C (91.0 F)
1980
35.6 C (96.1 F)
1981
30.6 C (87.1 F)
1982
25.6 C (78.1 F)
Coldest night (TNn)
The coldest night of the year at Watauga Dam, 1949 to 1982. The record is -25.0 C (-13.0 F) in 1982, marked on the chart; the median year is -16.7 C (1.9 F).
Coldest night (TNn) at Watauga Dam by year
Year
Coldest night (TNn)
1949
-10.0 C (14.0 F)
1950
-16.1 C (3.0 F)
1951
-16.1 C (3.0 F)
1952
-10.6 C (12.9 F)
1953
-15.6 C (3.9 F)
1954
-15.6 C (3.9 F)
1955
-18.3 C (-0.9 F)
1956
-10.6 C (12.9 F)
1957
-16.7 C (1.9 F)
1958
-20.0 C (-4.0 F)
1959
-16.1 C (3.0 F)
1960
-18.3 C (-0.9 F)
1961
-16.7 C (1.9 F)
1962
-21.7 C (-7.1 F)
1963
-23.9 C (-11.0 F)
1964
-15.0 C (5.0 F)
1965
-17.2 C (1.0 F)
1966
-22.8 C (-9.0 F)
1967
-19.4 C (-2.9 F)
1968
-16.1 C (3.0 F)
1969
-16.1 C (3.0 F)
1970
-17.8 C (0.0 F)
1971
-16.7 C (1.9 F)
1972
-21.7 C (-7.1 F)
1973
-12.2 C (10.0 F)
1974
-8.9 C (16.0 F)
1975
-13.3 C (8.1 F)
1976
-13.9 C (7.0 F)
1977
-22.8 C (-9.0 F)
1978
-21.1 C (-6.0 F)
1979
-17.2 C (1.0 F)
1980
-20.0 C (-4.0 F)
1981
-18.9 C (-2.0 F)
1982
-25.0 C (-13.0 F)
Wettest day (Rx1day)
The wettest day of the year at Watauga Dam, 1949 to 1982. The record is 98.6 mm (3.9 in) in 1958, marked on the chart; the median year is 54.5 mm (2.1 in).
Wettest day (Rx1day) at Watauga Dam by year
Year
Wettest day (Rx1day)
1949
54.1 mm (2.1 in)
1950
43.9 mm (1.7 in)
1951
57.2 mm (2.3 in)
1952
54.4 mm (2.1 in)
1953
50.3 mm (2.0 in)
1954
73.2 mm (2.9 in)
1955
41.9 mm (1.6 in)
1956
55.1 mm (2.2 in)
1957
69.3 mm (2.7 in)
1958
98.6 mm (3.9 in)
1959
55.4 mm (2.2 in)
1960
34.0 mm (1.3 in)
1961
55.6 mm (2.2 in)
1962
42.9 mm (1.7 in)
1963
72.1 mm (2.8 in)
1964
68.1 mm (2.7 in)
1965
54.6 mm (2.1 in)
1966
64.5 mm (2.5 in)
1967
47.0 mm (1.9 in)
1968
60.7 mm (2.4 in)
1969
42.9 mm (1.7 in)
1970
40.6 mm (1.6 in)
1971
55.6 mm (2.2 in)
1972
64.8 mm (2.6 in)
1973
63.5 mm (2.5 in)
1974
53.8 mm (2.1 in)
1975
66.5 mm (2.6 in)
1976
53.3 mm (2.1 in)
1977
65.5 mm (2.6 in)
1978
46.7 mm (1.8 in)
1979
49.5 mm (1.9 in)
1980
47.5 mm (1.9 in)
1981
51.6 mm (2.0 in)
1982
44.5 mm (1.8 in)
Wettest five days (Rx5day)
The wettest five days of the year at Watauga Dam, 1949 to 1982. The record is 160.6 mm (6.3 in) in 1957, marked on the chart; the median year is 94.3 mm (3.7 in).
Wettest five days (Rx5day) at Watauga Dam by year
Year
Wettest five days (Rx5day)
1949
109.2 mm (4.3 in)
1950
95.0 mm (3.7 in)
1951
94.1 mm (3.7 in)
1952
96.1 mm (3.8 in)
1953
77.2 mm (3.0 in)
1954
89.2 mm (3.5 in)
1955
110.8 mm (4.4 in)
1956
116.0 mm (4.6 in)
1957
160.6 mm (6.3 in)
1958
109.1 mm (4.3 in)
1959
73.4 mm (2.9 in)
1960
65.0 mm (2.6 in)
1961
100.1 mm (3.9 in)
1962
99.8 mm (3.9 in)
1963
109.7 mm (4.3 in)
1964
96.6 mm (3.8 in)
1965
94.5 mm (3.7 in)
1966
111.2 mm (4.4 in)
1967
91.3 mm (3.6 in)
1968
73.1 mm (2.9 in)
1969
96.3 mm (3.8 in)
1970
74.7 mm (2.9 in)
1971
112.5 mm (4.4 in)
1972
115.8 mm (4.6 in)
1973
108.2 mm (4.3 in)
1974
82.5 mm (3.2 in)
1975
81.3 mm (3.2 in)
1976
85.7 mm (3.4 in)
1977
92.1 mm (3.6 in)
1978
83.9 mm (3.3 in)
1979
72.2 mm (2.8 in)
1980
65.1 mm (2.6 in)
1981
83.9 mm (3.3 in)
1982
55.1 mm (2.2 in)
Longest dry spell (CDD)
The longest dry spell of the year at Watauga Dam, 1949 to 1982. The record is 28 days in 1963, marked on the chart; the median year is 15 days.
Longest dry spell (CDD) at Watauga Dam by year
Year
Longest dry spell (CDD)
1949
9 days
1950
11 days
1951
16 days
1952
25 days
1953
22 days
1954
15 days
1955
24 days
1956
12 days
1957
14 days
1958
14 days
1959
21 days
1960
11 days
1961
19 days
1962
20 days
1963
28 days
1964
17 days
1965
14 days
1966
12 days
1967
12 days
1968
14 days
1969
16 days
1970
20 days
1971
14 days
1972
14 days
1973
19 days
1974
16 days
1975
15 days
1976
11 days
1977
14 days
1978
14 days
1979
12 days
1980
15 days
1981
15 days
1982
7 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
24 years with a frost
Across 24 years with a frost, the median last spring frost at Watauga Dam falls on 21 April and the median first autumn frost on 24 October, which leaves a median of 188 days between them.
Frost dates and growing season at Watauga Dam
Measure
Median, all years
Earliest period
Recent period (1950 to 1980)
Recent against earliest
Fitted trend
Last spring frost
21 April
n/a
21 April
n/a
n/a
First autumn frost
24 October
n/a
24 October
n/a
n/a
Growing days
188 days
n/a
188 days
n/a
n/a
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
32 years, 1949 to 1981
A day with at least 54.0 mm (2.1 in) of rain is expected about once in 2 years. A day with at least 92.5 mm (3.6 in) of rain is expected about once in 100 years.
Rainfall return levels at Watauga Dam: the daily rain expected about once in a given number of years
Expected about once in
A day with at least
Note
2 years
54.0 mm (2.1 in)
5 years
64.8 mm (2.6 in)
10 years
71.7 mm (2.8 in)
25 years
80.3 mm (3.2 in)
50 years
86.5 mm (3.4 in)
Longer than the 32 years of record
100 years
92.5 mm (3.6 in)
Longer than the 32 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, 32 years of values from 1949 to 1981.
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: 98.6 mm (3.9 in) in 1958; 73.2 mm (2.9 in) in 1954; 72.1 mm (2.8 in) in 1963.
Download the Data
Data for Watauga Dam standing records by year: CSV or JSON. Field meanings are on the data page.
Data for Watauga Dam 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 2026-10-14 (14 October 2026). Records are computed by this site and are not official.