World Weather Records
5 official world weather extremes recognised by the World Meteorological Organization, in our own words, each cited and linked to the WMO archive. We do not republish its table.
Data as of . Last revised (2026-10-13).
Official Extremes
- Highest air temperature: 56.7 C (134.1 F) at Furnace Creek, Death Valley, United States, on 10 July 1913.
- Lowest air temperature: -89.2 C (-128.6 F) at Vostok Station, Antarctica, on 21 July 1983.
- Greatest 24 hour rainfall: 1,825.0 mm (71.9 in) at Foc-Foc, La Reunion, France, on 8 January 1966.
- Highest surface wind gust: 408 km/h (254 mph) at Barrow Island, Australia, on 10 April 1996.
- Lowest sea level pressure: 870 hPa at Typhoon Tip, western North Pacific, Open ocean, on 12 October 1979.
Each Extreme, Cited
| Extreme | Value | Place | Date | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Highest air temperature | 56.7 C (134.1 F) | Furnace Creek, Death Valley, United States | 10 July 1913 | WMO World Weather and Climate Extremes Archive |
| Lowest air temperature | -89.2 C (-128.6 F) | Vostok Station, Antarctica | 21 July 1983 | WMO World Weather and Climate Extremes Archive |
| Greatest 24 hour rainfall | 1,825.0 mm (71.9 in) | Foc-Foc, La Reunion, France | 8 January 1966 | WMO World Weather and Climate Extremes Archive |
| Highest surface wind gust | 408 km/h (254 mph) | Barrow Island, Australia | 10 April 1996 | WMO World Weather and Climate Extremes Archive |
| Lowest sea level pressure | 870 hPa | Typhoon Tip, western North Pacific, Open ocean | 12 October 1979 | WMO World Weather and Climate Extremes Archive |
Official Records and Ours
These extremes are certified by the World Meteorological Organization after an expert committee reviews the measurement. The records elsewhere on this site are different: they are computed by us from station observations, and can be a new record for one station without being anywhere near a world extreme. Read the full and current list, with the evidence for each, at the WMO World Weather and Climate Extremes Archive.
Source: WMO World Weather and Climate Extremes Archive. Short excerpts in our own wording with a link; the WMO table is not republished. (WMO copyright terms (cite and link only)) Data as of 2026-10-13. Values are summarised in our own words and should be checked against the archive.