Record envelope, standing records and threshold days for Benson (USC00460679), West Virginia, United States, with 42 years of record.
Key Facts for Benson
Benson (USC00460679) is a weather station in West Virginia, United States at 39.15 latitude and -80.55 longitude, 329 m (1,079 ft) above sea level.
The station reports from 1923 to 1964, 42 years of record.
1,464 records set at Benson still stand.
Records are tracked for tmax, tmin, prcp: an element needs 30 years of data to be eligible.
Benson set a daily record low maximum temperature of 13.9 C (57.0 F) on 28 September 1964.
About the Station
Location: West Virginia, United States, 39.15 latitude, -80.55 longitude.
Elevation: 329 m (1,079 ft).
Period of record: 1923 to 1964, 42 years.
Eligible elements: tmax, tmin, prcp.
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 Benson. 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 Benson, with 2026 drawn through them
Month
Highest record high
Lowest record low
2026 highest maximum
2026 lowest minimum
Jan
24.4 C (75.9 F)
-32.2 C (-26.0 F)
n/a
n/a
Feb
25.0 C (77.0 F)
-30.6 C (-23.1 F)
n/a
n/a
Mar
30.0 C (86.0 F)
-26.1 C (-15.0 F)
n/a
n/a
Apr
33.3 C (91.9 F)
-10.0 C (14.0 F)
n/a
n/a
May
35.0 C (95.0 F)
-6.1 C (21.0 F)
n/a
n/a
Jun
37.2 C (99.0 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
39.4 C (102.9 F)
1.7 C (35.1 F)
n/a
n/a
Sep
40.6 C (105.1 F)
-3.9 C (25.0 F)
n/a
n/a
Oct
33.9 C (93.0 F)
-11.7 C (10.9 F)
n/a
n/a
Nov
31.1 C (88.0 F)
-21.7 C (-7.1 F)
n/a
n/a
Dec
23.3 C (73.9 F)
-27.2 C (-17.0 F)
n/a
n/a
Which Years Hold Standing Records
1,464 standing records
Year with most
1,464 records at Benson still stand. 1930 holds the most, with 64.
Standing records at Benson by the year they were set
Year set
Standing records
1923
9
1924
28
1925
61
1926
27
1927
53
1928
18
1929
16
1930
64
1931
38
1932
52
1933
35
1934
33
1935
37
1936
44
1937
41
1938
33
1939
38
1940
46
1941
39
1942
43
1943
35
1944
22
1945
30
1946
40
1947
48
1948
25
1949
40
1950
32
1951
39
1952
32
1953
42
1954
28
1955
33
1956
34
1957
33
1958
24
1959
26
1960
31
1961
30
1962
32
1963
29
1964
24
All-Time Record Progression
1 new records
1 all-time records were set at Benson between 17 January 1957 and 17 January 1957. Each dot is a new record.
When Benson set new all-time records
Date
Kind
Detail
1957-01-17
Record low minimum temperature
Record low minimum temperature -32.2 C (-26.0 F)
Wettest Day of Each Month
Jun: 147.3 mm (5.8 in)
The wettest day on record for each calendar month at Benson. The most was 147.3 mm (5.8 in) on 25 June 1950.
Record daily precipitation for each month at Benson
Month
Record daily precipitation (mm)
Date
Jan
42.2 mm (1.7 in)
15 January 1960
Feb
53.3 mm (2.1 in)
1 February 1951
Mar
58.4 mm (2.3 in)
6 March 1963
Apr
58.4 mm (2.3 in)
12 April 1948
May
58.4 mm (2.3 in)
30 May 1940
Jun
147.3 mm (5.8 in)
25 June 1950
Jul
75.9 mm (3.0 in)
13 July 1944
Aug
103.6 mm (4.1 in)
24 August 1945
Sep
75.4 mm (3.0 in)
24 September 1955
Oct
68.3 mm (2.7 in)
17 October 1925
Nov
71.1 mm (2.8 in)
16 November 1926
Dec
61.0 mm (2.4 in)
15 December 1948
Period of Record Coverage
1923 to 1964
Complete yearUnder 90 percent of days
42 years of record at Benson, 1923 to 1964. 8 years have data for under 90 percent of days and are left out of rankings: 1923, 1928, 1929, 1934, 1936, 1944, 1958, 1964.
Cooler than the station meanWarmer than the station mean
One stripe for each of 32 complete years at Benson, 1924 to 1963. Blue stripes are years cooler than the station's own mean of 11.8 C (53.2 F); red stripes are warmer. The coolest year was 1963, at 10.4 C (50.7 F), and the warmest was 1949, at 13.2 C (55.8 F). The strongest colour marks a difference of 1.5 C (2.7 F).
Annual mean temperature at Benson as warming stripes, 1924 to 1963
Year
Annual mean temperature
Difference from the station mean
1924
10.6 C
-1.24 C
1925
11.8 C
-0.03 C
1926
11.1 C
-0.72 C
1927
12.1 C
+0.25 C
1930
11.5 C
-0.33 C
1931
12.4 C
+0.55 C
1932
11.9 C
+0.06 C
1933
12.1 C
+0.32 C
1937
11.0 C
-0.79 C
1938
12.1 C
+0.26 C
1939
12.0 C
+0.24 C
1940
10.6 C
-1.19 C
1941
12.2 C
+0.40 C
1942
12.1 C
+0.32 C
1943
11.6 C
-0.24 C
1945
12.0 C
+0.17 C
1946
12.8 C
+0.98 C
1947
11.8 C
+0.04 C
1949
13.2 C
+1.42 C
1950
11.9 C
+0.11 C
1951
12.1 C
+0.25 C
1952
12.6 C
+0.80 C
1953
13.0 C
+1.20 C
1954
12.4 C
+0.60 C
1955
12.1 C
+0.30 C
1956
11.6 C
-0.21 C
1957
11.7 C
-0.14 C
1959
11.6 C
-0.16 C
1960
10.7 C
-1.08 C
1961
11.6 C
-0.18 C
1962
11.2 C
-0.62 C
1963
10.4 C
-1.39 C
The fitted trend in annual mean temperature here over 1924 to 1963 is 0.02 C (-0.20 to 0.23) per decade. The interval includes zero, so the trend is not clearly different from zero. In Fahrenheit: 0.03 F (-0.35 to 0.41) per decade. The slope is a straight line fitted to 32 complete years; the brackets give its 95 percent interval.
Fitted temperature trends per decade at Benson
Measure
Per decade (C)
Per decade (F)
Period
Complete years
Reading
Annual mean temperature
0.02 C (-0.20 to 0.23) per decade
0.03 F (-0.35 to 0.41) per decade
1924 to 1963
32
Not clearly different from zero
Mean daily maximum
0.1 C (-0.2 to 0.3) per decade
0.1 F (-0.4 to 0.6) per decade
1924 to 1963
32
Not clearly different from zero
Mean daily minimum
-0.03 C (-0.23 to 0.18) per decade
-0.05 F (-0.42 to 0.32) per decade
1924 to 1963
32
Not clearly different from zero
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
1923 to 1964
Yearly extremes at Benson: 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)
1953
35.6 C (96.1 F)
42
Coldest night (TNn)
-32.2 C (-26.0 F)
1957
-21.4 C (-6.5 F)
42
Wettest day (Rx1day)
147.3 mm (5.8 in)
1950
55.3 mm (2.2 in)
42
Wettest five days (Rx5day)
149.8 mm (5.9 in)
1950
85.9 mm (3.4 in)
42
Longest dry spell (CDD)
35 days
1932
15 days
42
Hottest day (TXx)
The hottest day of the year at Benson, 1923 to 1964. The record is 40.6 C (105.1 F) in 1953, marked on the chart; the median year is 35.6 C (96.1 F).
Hottest day (TXx) at Benson by year
Year
Hottest day (TXx)
1923
30.0 C (86.0 F)
1924
34.4 C (93.9 F)
1925
36.7 C (98.1 F)
1926
36.7 C (98.1 F)
1927
34.4 C (93.9 F)
1928
31.7 C (89.1 F)
1929
33.3 C (91.9 F)
1930
38.3 C (100.9 F)
1931
37.8 C (100.0 F)
1932
36.1 C (97.0 F)
1933
36.1 C (97.0 F)
1934
38.3 C (100.9 F)
1935
34.4 C (93.9 F)
1936
37.8 C (100.0 F)
1937
35.0 C (95.0 F)
1938
34.4 C (93.9 F)
1939
36.7 C (98.1 F)
1940
36.1 C (97.0 F)
1941
37.2 C (99.0 F)
1942
35.6 C (96.1 F)
1943
36.1 C (97.0 F)
1944
36.7 C (98.1 F)
1945
34.4 C (93.9 F)
1946
35.0 C (95.0 F)
1947
35.6 C (96.1 F)
1948
38.3 C (100.9 F)
1949
36.7 C (98.1 F)
1950
33.3 C (91.9 F)
1951
35.0 C (95.0 F)
1952
36.7 C (98.1 F)
1953
40.6 C (105.1 F)
1954
37.2 C (99.0 F)
1955
39.4 C (102.9 F)
1956
35.0 C (95.0 F)
1957
34.4 C (93.9 F)
1958
33.3 C (91.9 F)
1959
34.4 C (93.9 F)
1960
32.8 C (91.0 F)
1961
35.6 C (96.1 F)
1962
35.0 C (95.0 F)
1963
35.6 C (96.1 F)
1964
36.7 C (98.1 F)
Coldest night (TNn)
The coldest night of the year at Benson, 1923 to 1964. The record is -32.2 C (-26.0 F) in 1957, marked on the chart; the median year is -21.4 C (-6.5 F).
Coldest night (TNn) at Benson by year
Year
Coldest night (TNn)
1923
-12.2 C (10.0 F)
1924
-20.0 C (-4.0 F)
1925
-30.0 C (-22.0 F)
1926
-29.4 C (-20.9 F)
1927
-18.9 C (-2.0 F)
1928
-21.1 C (-6.0 F)
1929
-20.0 C (-4.0 F)
1930
-28.3 C (-18.9 F)
1931
-20.0 C (-4.0 F)
1932
-23.3 C (-9.9 F)
1933
-24.4 C (-11.9 F)
1934
-30.6 C (-23.1 F)
1935
-26.1 C (-15.0 F)
1936
-28.9 C (-20.0 F)
1937
-22.8 C (-9.0 F)
1938
-21.7 C (-7.1 F)
1939
-19.4 C (-2.9 F)
1940
-31.1 C (-24.0 F)
1941
-16.7 C (1.9 F)
1942
-30.6 C (-23.1 F)
1943
-26.1 C (-15.0 F)
1944
-19.4 C (-2.9 F)
1945
-18.9 C (-2.0 F)
1946
-15.6 C (3.9 F)
1947
-20.6 C (-5.1 F)
1948
-25.6 C (-14.1 F)
1949
-13.9 C (7.0 F)
1950
-18.9 C (-2.0 F)
1951
-20.6 C (-5.1 F)
1952
-17.8 C (0.0 F)
1953
-19.4 C (-2.9 F)
1954
-18.9 C (-2.0 F)
1955
-22.2 C (-8.0 F)
1956
-17.8 C (0.0 F)
1957
-32.2 C (-26.0 F)
1958
-22.2 C (-8.0 F)
1959
-17.8 C (0.0 F)
1960
-20.6 C (-5.1 F)
1961
-29.4 C (-20.9 F)
1962
-24.4 C (-11.9 F)
1963
-31.7 C (-25.1 F)
1964
-25.6 C (-14.1 F)
Wettest day (Rx1day)
The wettest day of the year at Benson, 1923 to 1964. The record is 147.3 mm (5.8 in) in 1950, marked on the chart; the median year is 55.3 mm (2.2 in).
Wettest day (Rx1day) at Benson by year
Year
Wettest day (Rx1day)
1923
49.5 mm (1.9 in)
1924
51.8 mm (2.0 in)
1925
68.3 mm (2.7 in)
1926
71.1 mm (2.8 in)
1927
43.2 mm (1.7 in)
1928
64.8 mm (2.6 in)
1929
55.9 mm (2.2 in)
1930
28.4 mm (1.1 in)
1931
48.3 mm (1.9 in)
1932
54.4 mm (2.1 in)
1933
60.5 mm (2.4 in)
1934
65.0 mm (2.6 in)
1935
69.9 mm (2.8 in)
1936
43.2 mm (1.7 in)
1937
50.3 mm (2.0 in)
1938
50.8 mm (2.0 in)
1939
44.5 mm (1.8 in)
1940
88.9 mm (3.5 in)
1941
47.0 mm (1.9 in)
1942
66.0 mm (2.6 in)
1943
49.5 mm (1.9 in)
1944
75.9 mm (3.0 in)
1945
103.6 mm (4.1 in)
1946
46.7 mm (1.8 in)
1947
57.7 mm (2.3 in)
1948
61.0 mm (2.4 in)
1949
61.0 mm (2.4 in)
1950
147.3 mm (5.8 in)
1951
54.6 mm (2.1 in)
1952
38.9 mm (1.5 in)
1953
36.6 mm (1.4 in)
1954
50.0 mm (2.0 in)
1955
75.4 mm (3.0 in)
1956
59.7 mm (2.4 in)
1957
45.2 mm (1.8 in)
1958
50.8 mm (2.0 in)
1959
56.1 mm (2.2 in)
1960
103.4 mm (4.1 in)
1961
34.8 mm (1.4 in)
1962
41.1 mm (1.6 in)
1963
69.6 mm (2.7 in)
1964
67.3 mm (2.6 in)
Wettest five days (Rx5day)
The wettest five days of the year at Benson, 1923 to 1964. The record is 149.8 mm (5.9 in) in 1950, marked on the chart; the median year is 85.9 mm (3.4 in).
Wettest five days (Rx5day) at Benson by year
Year
Wettest five days (Rx5day)
1923
78.2 mm (3.1 in)
1924
87.3 mm (3.4 in)
1925
105.8 mm (4.2 in)
1926
140.8 mm (5.5 in)
1927
74.9 mm (2.9 in)
1928
86.9 mm (3.4 in)
1929
83.4 mm (3.3 in)
1930
41.9 mm (1.6 in)
1931
79.7 mm (3.1 in)
1932
72.1 mm (2.8 in)
1933
69.6 mm (2.7 in)
1934
69.9 mm (2.8 in)
1935
109.8 mm (4.3 in)
1936
82.6 mm (3.3 in)
1937
84.9 mm (3.3 in)
1938
75.0 mm (3.0 in)
1939
81.8 mm (3.2 in)
1940
99.6 mm (3.9 in)
1941
126.6 mm (5.0 in)
1942
93.7 mm (3.7 in)
1943
117.3 mm (4.6 in)
1944
94.8 mm (3.7 in)
1945
104.9 mm (4.1 in)
1946
75.9 mm (3.0 in)
1947
72.5 mm (2.9 in)
1948
130.2 mm (5.1 in)
1949
67.6 mm (2.7 in)
1950
149.8 mm (5.9 in)
1951
97.3 mm (3.8 in)
1952
69.4 mm (2.7 in)
1953
91.2 mm (3.6 in)
1954
82.3 mm (3.2 in)
1955
98.5 mm (3.9 in)
1956
92.8 mm (3.7 in)
1957
76.7 mm (3.0 in)
1958
94.5 mm (3.7 in)
1959
78.5 mm (3.1 in)
1960
118.4 mm (4.7 in)
1961
71.1 mm (2.8 in)
1962
63.7 mm (2.5 in)
1963
117.3 mm (4.6 in)
1964
93.5 mm (3.7 in)
Longest dry spell (CDD)
The longest dry spell of the year at Benson, 1923 to 1964. The record is 35 days in 1932, marked on the chart; the median year is 15 days.
Longest dry spell (CDD) at Benson by year
Year
Longest dry spell (CDD)
1923
27 days
1924
26 days
1925
16 days
1926
11 days
1927
12 days
1928
10 days
1929
12 days
1930
19 days
1931
11 days
1932
35 days
1933
13 days
1934
19 days
1935
12 days
1936
16 days
1937
11 days
1938
20 days
1939
10 days
1940
14 days
1941
19 days
1942
11 days
1943
19 days
1944
17 days
1945
13 days
1946
17 days
1947
8 days
1948
13 days
1949
16 days
1950
10 days
1951
15 days
1952
17 days
1953
22 days
1954
13 days
1955
21 days
1956
14 days
1957
15 days
1958
16 days
1959
20 days
1960
11 days
1961
12 days
1962
13 days
1963
27 days
1964
22 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
32 years with a frost
Across 32 years with a frost, the median last spring frost at Benson falls on 13 May and the median first autumn frost on 2 October, which leaves a median of 144 days between them.
Fitted over all years, the growing season changes by +0.6 days per decade at this station.
Frost dates and growing season at Benson
Measure
Median, all years
Earliest period
Recent period (1926 to 1963)
Recent against earliest
Fitted trend
Last spring frost
13 May
n/a
12 May
n/a
-2.7 days per decade
First autumn frost
2 October
n/a
1 October
n/a
-2.1 days per decade
Growing days
144 days
n/a
145 days
n/a
+0.6 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
38 years, 1924 to 1963
A day with at least 54.2 mm (2.1 in) of rain is expected about once in 2 years. A day with at least 144.6 mm (5.7 in) of rain is expected about once in 100 years.
Rainfall return levels at Benson: the daily rain expected about once in a given number of years
Expected about once in
A day with at least
Note
2 years
54.2 mm (2.1 in)
5 years
72.0 mm (2.8 in)
10 years
85.9 mm (3.4 in)
25 years
106.6 mm (4.2 in)
50 years
124.4 mm (4.9 in)
Longer than the 38 years of record
100 years
144.6 mm (5.7 in)
Longer than the 38 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, 38 years of values from 1924 to 1963.
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: 147.3 mm (5.8 in) in 1950; 103.6 mm (4.1 in) in 1945; 103.4 mm (4.1 in) in 1960.
Download the Data
Data for Benson standing records by year: CSV or JSON. Field meanings are on the data page.
Data for Benson 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 2026-10-13 (13 October 2026). Records are computed by this site and are not official.