Temperature Records
| Record | Value | Location | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Highest temperature | 56.7°C (134°F) | Death Valley, USA | July 1913 |
| Lowest temperature | -89.2°C (-128.6°F) | Vostok Station, Antarctica | July 1983 |
| Greatest 24h temp range | 56°C swing | Loma, Montana | Jan 1972 |
Rainfall Records
| Record | Value | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Most rain in 1 minute | 31.2mm | Unionville, Maryland |
| Most rain in 24 hours | 1,825mm | Foc-Foc, Réunion |
| Most rain in 1 year | 26,461mm | Mawsynram, India |
| Wettest place (average) | 11,873mm/year | Mawsynram, India |
Wind Records
| Record | Value | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Strongest non-tornado wind | 408 km/h | Barrow Island, Australia |
| Strongest tornado wind | 484 km/h (estimated) | Bridge Creek, Oklahoma |
| Longest-lasting tornado | 3.5 hours, 352 km path | Tri-State Tornado, 1925 |
Other Extremes
| Record | Value | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Most snow in 24 hours | 192 cm | Silver Lake, Colorado |
| Largest hailstone | 20 cm diameter | Vivian, South Dakota |
| Longest drought | 173 months (no rain) | Arica, Chile |
| Most lightning per km² | 233 flashes/km²/year | Lake Maracaibo, Venezuela |
Driest Places
- Atacama Desert, Chile: Some areas have never recorded rain in human history
- McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica: Have not seen rain for ~2 million years
- Arica, Chile: Average rainfall of 0.76mm per year
Perspective
These records remind us of the atmosphere's extraordinary range. The difference between the hottest and coldest temperatures ever recorded is nearly 146°C — all within the thin shell of air we call weather.
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