Global Measured Extremes of Temperature and Precipitation
| Temperature Extremes shown in RED
|
Precipitation Extremes shown in ORANGE
|
|
|
 Highest Temperature Extremes
|
| Locator #
|
Continent
|
Highest
Temp.
(deg F)
|
Place
|
Elevation
(Feet)
|
Date
|
| 1
|
Africa
|
136
|
El Azizia, Libya
|
367
|
13 Sep 1922
|
| 2
|
North America
|
134
|
Death Valley, CA (Greenland Ranch)
|
-178
|
10 Jul 1913
|
| 3
|
Asia
|
129
|
Tirat Tsvi, Israel
|
-722
|
22 Jun 1942
|
| 4
|
Australia
|
128*
|
Cloncurry, Queensland
|
622
|
16 Jan 1889
|
| 5
|
Europe
|
122
|
Seville, Spain
|
26
|
4 Aug 1881
|
| 6
|
South America
|
120
|
Rivadavia, Argentina
|
676
|
11 Dec 1905
|
| 7
|
Oceania
|
108
|
Tuguegarao, Philippines
|
72
|
29 Apr 1912
|
| 8
|
Antarctica
|
59
|
Vanda Station, Scott Coast
|
49
|
5 Jan 1974
|
| *
Note: This temperature was measured using the techniques available at the time of recording, which are different to the standard techniques currently used in Australia. The most likely Australian high-temperature record using standard equipment is an observation of 50.7°C (123°F) recorded at Oodnadatta in 1960.
|
| Lowest Temperature Extremes
|
| Locator #
|
Continent
|
Lowest
Temp.
(deg F)
|
Place
|
Elevation
(Feet)
|
Date
|
| 9
|
Antarctica
|
-129
|
Vostok
|
11220
|
21 Jul 1983
|
| 10a
|
Asia
|
-90
|
Oimekon, Russia
|
2625
|
6 Feb 1933
|
| 10b
|
Asia
|
-90
|
Verkhoyansk, Russia
|
350
|
7 Feb 1892
|
| 11
|
Greenland
|
-87
|
Northice
|
7687
|
9 Jan 1954
|
| 12
|
North America
|
-81.4
|
Snag, Yukon, Canada
|
2120
|
3 Feb 1947
|
| 13
|
Europe
|
-67
|
Ust'Shchugor, Russia
|
279
|
January @
|
| 14
|
South Amercia
|
-27
|
Sarmiento, Argentina
|
879
|
1 Jun 1907
|
| 15
|
Africa
|
-11
|
Ifrane, Morocco
|
5364
|
11 Feb 1935
|
| 16
|
Australia
|
-9.4
|
Charlotte Pass, NSW
|
5758
|
29 Jun 1994
|
| 17
|
Oceania
|
12
|
Mauna Kea Observatory ,HI
|
13,773
|
17 May 1979
|
| @
Exact date unknown, lowest in 15-year period
|
| Highest Average Annual Precipitation Extremes
|
| Locator #
|
Continent
|
Highest
Avg.
(Inches)
|
Place
|
Elevation
(Feet)
|
Years
of
Record
|
| 18a
|
South America
|
523.6 ! ^
|
Lloro, Colombia
|
520 *
|
29
|
| 19
|
Asia
|
467.4 !
|
Mawsynram, India
|
4597
|
38
|
| 20
|
Oceania
|
460.0 !
|
Mt. Waialeale, Kauai, HI
|
5148
|
30
|
| 21
|
Africa
|
405.0
|
Debundscha, Cameroon
|
30
|
32
|
| 18b
|
South America
|
354.0 ^
|
Quibdo, Colombia
|
120
|
16
|
| 22
|
Australia
|
340.0
|
Bellenden Ker, Queensland
|
5102
|
9
|
| 23
|
North America
|
256.0
|
Henderson Lake, British Colombia
|
12
|
14
|
| 24
|
Europe
|
183.0
|
Crkvica, Bosnia-Hercegovina
|
3337
|
22
|
!
The value given is continent's highest and possibly the world's
depending on measurement practices, procedures and period of record
variations.
^
The official greatest average annual precipitation for South
America is 354 inches at Quibdo, Colombia. The 523.6 inches average at
Lloro, Colombia [14 miles SE and at a higher elevation than Quibdo] is
an estimated amount.
*
Approximate elevation
|
| Lowest Average Annual Precipitation Extremes
|
| Locator #
|
Continent
|
Lowest
Avg.
(Inches)
|
Place
|
Elevation
(Feet)
|
Years
of
Record
|
| 25
|
South America
|
0.03
|
Arica, Chile
|
95
|
59
|
| 26
|
Africa
|
<0.1
|
Wadi Halfa, Sudan
|
410
|
39
|
| 27
|
Antarctica
|
0.8 ~
|
Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station
|
9186
|
10
|
| 28
|
North America
|
1.2
|
Batagues, Mexico
|
16
|
14
|
| 29
|
Asia
|
1.8
|
Aden, Yemen
|
22
|
50
|
| 30
|
Australia
|
4.05
|
Mulka (Troudaninna), South Australia
|
160 *
|
42
|
| 31
|
Europe
|
6.4
|
Astrakhan, Russia
|
45
|
25
|
| 32
|
Oceania
|
8.93
|
Puako, Hawaii, HI
|
5
|
13
|
~
The value given is the average amount of solid snow accumulating
in one year as indicated by snow markers. The liquid content of the
snow is undetermined.
*
Approximate elevation
|
Notes & Additional Resources
Many of the extremes in this report came from two sources. The
first, "Climates of the World", is an NCDC publication that lists
global average temperature and precipitation information for particular
locations, with highlighted global extremes. The publication is
available for purchase as an offline product (see NCDC Contact Information).
The second publication is the updated "Weather and Climate Extremes"
(TEC-0099) published by the US Army Corp of Engineers. The report lists
global extremes for various climatological parameters and presents
global map inserts as well. The publication can be purchased from the National Technical Information Service.
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