Built 2026-10-19 (19 October 2026)

Cold outbreak in China and 8 other countries, 22 December 2020 to 14 January 2021

Cold outbreak in China and 8 other countries, 22 December 2020 to 14 January 2021: 690 records at 305 stations, peak on 8 January 2021. Closed.

Data as of . Last revised (2026-10-17).

Key Facts

  • Cold outbreak in China and 8 other countries, 22 December 2020 to 14 January 2021 set or tied 690 station records at 305 stations.
  • It ran from 22 December 2020 to 14 January 2021 (24 days) and its peak day was 8 January 2021.
  • Status: closed.
  • Huailai set an all-time record low minimum temperature of -24.3 C (-11.7 F) on 6 January 2021.
  • The busiest day was 8 January 2021 with 164 records.
  • The oldest broken record in the ranked list had stood for 104 years.

Footprint

22 December 2020 to 14 January 2021
Footprint of Cold outbreak in China and 8 other countries, 22 December 2020 to 14 January 2021 The area covered by Cold outbreak in China and 8 other countries, 22 December 2020 to 14 January 2021 is outlined, with 17 of the stations that set records marked, coloured by record type.
The area covered by Cold outbreak in China and 8 other countries, 22 December 2020 to 14 January 2021 is outlined, with 17 of the stations that set records marked, coloured by record type. Made with Natural Earth.
Footprint of Cold outbreak in China and 8 other countries, 22 December 2020 to 14 January 2021: stations that set records in the event
StationTypeValueDate
HuailaiRecord low minimum temperature-24.3 C (-11.7 F)2021-01-06
Abag QiRecord low maximum temperature-29.3 C (-20.7 F)2021-01-07
MokpoRecord low minimum temperature-12.8 C (9.0 F)2021-01-08
DatongRecord low minimum temperature-29.2 C (-20.6 F)2021-01-06
JinanRecord low minimum temperature-17.8 C (0.0 F)2021-01-06
VladivostokRecord low maximum temperature-20.6 C (-5.1 F)2021-01-08
SagaRecord low maximum temperature1.3 C (34.3 F)2021-01-08
ShimizuRecord low maximum temperature3.1 C (37.6 F)2021-01-08
BogotolRecord low minimum temperature-44.1 C (-47.4 F)2020-12-27
ChifengRecord low minimum temperature-29.5 C (-21.1 F)2021-01-07
MakurazakiRecord low maximum temperature3.1 C (37.6 F)2021-01-08
AkuneRecord low maximum temperature2.8 C (37.0 F)2021-01-08
UshibukaRecord low maximum temperature2.0 C (35.6 F)2021-01-08
IncheonRecord low minimum temperature-17.5 C (0.5 F)2021-01-08
PosetRecord low maximum temperature-16.0 C (3.2 F)2021-01-08
SanyaRecord low minimum temperature10.6 C (51.1 F)2021-01-09
HuadeRecord low minimum temperature-34.1 C (-29.4 F)2021-01-06

Records per Day

Peak day 164
Records per day during Cold outbreak in China and 8 other countries, 22 December 2020 to 14 January 2021 Records set or tied each day from 22 December 2020 to 14 January 2021. The most in one day was 164 on 8 January 2021. 0 50 100 150 200 12-2212-2512-2812-3101-0301-0601-0901-12
Records set or tied each day from 22 December 2020 to 14 January 2021. The most in one day was 164 on 8 January 2021.
Records per day during Cold outbreak in China and 8 other countries, 22 December 2020 to 14 January 2021
DateRecords
2020-12-221
2020-12-233
2020-12-247
2020-12-2511
2020-12-2635
2020-12-2753
2020-12-2849
2020-12-2945
2020-12-3031
2020-12-3120
2021-01-018
2021-01-024
2021-01-037
2021-01-042
2021-01-051
2021-01-0644
2021-01-0769
2021-01-08164
2021-01-0977
2021-01-1025
2021-01-117
2021-01-1213
2021-01-1311
2021-01-143

Top Records by Margin

Margin over the record replaced
Top records of Cold outbreak in China and 8 other countries, 22 December 2020 to 14 January 2021 ranked by margin
Bogotol, 12-278.6 C (15.5 F)
Jinan, 01-065.5 C (9.9 F)
Chifeng, 01-074.9 C (8.8 F)
Ushibuka, 01-084.9 C (8.8 F)
Chifeng, 01-074.6 C (8.3 F)
Makurazaki, 01-084.5 C (8.1 F)
Jinan, 01-074.3 C (7.7 F)
Incheon, 01-084.2 C (7.6 F)
Mokpo, 01-084.0 C (7.2 F)
Huade, 01-063.9 C (7.0 F)
Saga, 01-083.8 C (6.8 F)
Shimizu, 01-083.8 C (6.8 F)
Akune, 01-083.4 C (6.1 F)
Sanya, 01-093.3 C (5.9 F)
Poset, 01-081.4 C (2.5 F)

Margin is how far the new value is beyond the record it replaced. Ties are not shown.

Margin Against Age of the Broken Record

Margin against age of the broken record in Cold outbreak in China and 8 other countries, 22 December 2020 to 14 January 2021 500 records plotted by how far they beat the old record (across) and how many years the old record had stood (up). Long standing records beaten by a wide margin sit in the top right. 0 30 60 90 120 0.03.06.09.012.0 Margin (C) Years the old record stood
500 records plotted by how far they beat the old record (across) and how many years the old record had stood (up). Long standing records beaten by a wide margin sit in the top right.
Margin against age of the broken record in Cold outbreak in China and 8 other countries, 22 December 2020 to 14 January 2021
Margin (C)Years the old record stood
1.066
0.364
4.083
0.153
5.566
0.1104
3.868
3.869
4.966
4.365
4.562
0.269
4.670
3.468
4.954
8.665
3.358
4.265
1.482
3.965
3.666
2.965
2.965
3.558
1.658
2.365
4.254
3.062
3.558
2.570
4.854
2.666
3.465
2.866
3.954
0.482
0.185
1.970
2.265
1.862
4.351
2.765
2.165
2.665
1.569
3.853
2.365
0.918
2.975
2.771
3.466
3.164
2.266
2.366
2.865
2.266
2.365
2.658
2.266
0.153
0.344
2.065
1.365
2.553
2.658
3.253
1.765
1.468
4.637
7.850
6.354
1.070
4.153
1.90
1.968
2.565
0.211
1.665
1.665
1.360
3.154
1.766
1.165
1.165
1.465
1.665
2.358
4.635
5.641
1.571
4.362
4.665
3.765
2.765
1.271
6.038
1.466
1.765
1.466
1.566
1.566
0.765
1.166
3.052
2.555
1.465
1.365
1.065
1.658
1.665
0.965
1.366
1.165
1.065
2.462
1.962
0.171
3.765
1.565
2.862
3.251
0.566
1.966
1.066
1.666
1.566
1.266
0.668
1.066
1.560
0.54
2.555
1.858
0.665
0.865
1.753
0.965
1.065
1.855
0.665
0.665
0.865
1.658
6.421
3.054
1.165
2.558
4.944
0.562
2.762
2.162
0.662
2.865
3.065
3.962
2.365
2.166
0.665
1.254
2.352
1.266
0.665
3.541
2.552
0.662
0.365
0.665
0.365
0.269
0.766
0.565
1.065
1.454
0.566
1.554
0.238
0.565
0.564
1.554
0.665
0.565
2.751
2.158
0.665
1.165
2.065
1.866
0.465
2.052
0.666
0.666
0.665
0.762
0.665
2.544
0.266
0.166
0.365
0.165
0.266

Compared With Other Events

Station records per event
Station records in Cold outbreak in China and 8 other countries, 22 December 2020 to 14 January 2021 compared with similar events
Cold outbreak in United States and Mexico, 6 February to 5 March 202112,118 records
Cold outbreak in United States and Mexico, 13 October to 5 November 20209,841 records
Cold outbreak in United States and Mexico, 23 December 2017 to 8 January 20188,263 records
Cold outbreak in United States and Mexico, 3 to 23 January 20247,675 records
Cold outbreak in United States, 15 January to 10 February 20265,568 records
Cold outbreak in China and 8 other countries, 22 December 2020 to 14 January 2021 (this event)690 records

Every Record Set

20 of 690
Every record set or tied during Cold outbreak in China and 8 other countries, 22 December 2020 to 14 January 2021, in date order
DateStationRecordValueMarginYears stoodSignificance
2020-12-27BogotolRecord low minimum temperature-44.1 C (-47.4 F)0.2 C (0.4 F)6937 of 100 (Notable)
2020-12-27BogotolRecord low maximum temperature-37.5 C (-35.5 F)8.6 C (15.5 F)6536 of 100 (Notable)
2021-01-06HuailaiRecord low minimum temperature-24.3 C (-11.7 F)1.0 C (1.8 F)6647 of 100 (Notable)
2021-01-06DatongRecord low minimum temperature-29.2 C (-20.6 F)0.1 C (0.2 F)5342 of 100 (Notable)
2021-01-06JinanRecord low minimum temperature-17.8 C (0.0 F)5.5 C (9.9 F)6640 of 100 (Notable)
2021-01-06HuadeRecord low minimum temperature-34.1 C (-29.4 F)3.9 C (7.0 F)6534 of 100 (Routine)
2021-01-07Abag QiRecord low maximum temperature-29.3 C (-20.7 F)0.3 C (0.5 F)6446 of 100 (Notable)
2021-01-07ChifengRecord low minimum temperature-29.5 C (-21.1 F)4.9 C (8.8 F)6637 of 100 (Notable)
2021-01-07JinanRecord low minimum temperature-18.3 C (-0.9 F)4.3 C (7.7 F)6537 of 100 (Notable)
2021-01-07ChifengRecord low maximum temperature-17.8 C (0.0 F)4.6 C (8.3 F)7036 of 100 (Notable)
2021-01-08MokpoRecord low minimum temperature-12.8 C (9.0 F)4.0 C (7.2 F)8344 of 100 (Notable)
2021-01-08VladivostokRecord low maximum temperature-20.6 C (-5.1 F)0.1 C (0.2 F)10440 of 100 (Notable)
2021-01-08SagaRecord low maximum temperature1.3 C (34.3 F)3.8 C (6.8 F)6838 of 100 (Notable)
2021-01-08ShimizuRecord low maximum temperature3.1 C (37.6 F)3.8 C (6.8 F)6938 of 100 (Notable)
2021-01-08MakurazakiRecord low maximum temperature3.1 C (37.6 F)4.5 C (8.1 F)6237 of 100 (Notable)
2021-01-08AkuneRecord low maximum temperature2.8 C (37.0 F)3.4 C (6.1 F)6836 of 100 (Notable)
2021-01-08UshibukaRecord low maximum temperature2.0 C (35.6 F)4.9 C (8.8 F)5436 of 100 (Notable)
2021-01-08IncheonRecord low minimum temperature-17.5 C (0.5 F)4.2 C (7.6 F)6535 of 100 (Notable)
2021-01-08PosetRecord low maximum temperature-16.0 C (3.2 F)1.4 C (2.5 F)8235 of 100 (Notable)
2021-01-09SanyaRecord low minimum temperature10.6 C (51.1 F)3.3 C (5.9 F)5835 of 100 (Notable)

The daily ledgers keep a limited number of records per day, so this list has 20 of the 690 records the event counts. The counts above use the full total.

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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 2026-10-17. Events are found by this site from station records and are not official designations. Records are provisional until reprocessed.