Weather Records on 20 December 1996

1,448 weather records were set or tied worldwide on 20 December 1996. Highest significance: Kalispell Glacier AP, US.

Key Facts for 20 December 1996

On 20 December 1996, 1,448 weather records were set or tied at long-record stations worldwide.
131 were record highs and 915 were record lows, counting maximum and minimum temperature.
By timescale, 7 were all-time records, 61 monthly and 1,380 daily.
Kalispell Glacier AP set a daily record snow depth of 73.7 cm (29.0 in) on 20 December 1996.
Across 163 earlier years (1793 to 2025) the same calendar date averaged 461 records.

Record Map

1,448 stations

1,448 station records on 20 December 1996 are marked on the map, coloured by record type. Dot size shows the significance score. Made with Natural Earth.

Weather records on 20 December 1996: highest significance records shown on the map
Station	Country	Type	Value	Significance
Kalispell Glacier AP	United States	Record snow depth	73.7 cm (29.0 in)	65 of 100 (Major)
Boise Air Terminal	United States	Record daily snowfall	24.9 cm (9.8 in)	56 of 100 (Notable)
Skara 1	Sweden	Record low maximum temperature	-16.1 C (3.0 F)	55 of 100 (Notable)
Mantova	Italy	Record daily precipitation	27.8 mm (1.1 in)	48 of 100 (Notable)
Aurland	Norway	Record snow depth	27.0 cm (10.6 in)	48 of 100 (Notable)
Cuatro Cienegas (Smn)	Mexico	Record low minimum temperature	-5.0 C (23.0 F)	47 of 100 (Notable)
Holland Wtp	United States	Record daily snowfall	25.4 cm (10.0 in)	46 of 100 (Notable)
Lovell	United States	Record snow depth	22.9 cm (9.0 in)	46 of 100 (Notable)
Carinda Post Office	Australia	Record daily precipitation	28.0 mm (1.1 in)	45 of 100 (Notable)
Bloomington Indiana UNIV	United States	Record snow depth	15.2 cm (6.0 in)	45 of 100 (Notable)
Mount Barker	Australia	Record high minimum temperature	20.2 C (68.4 F)	44 of 100 (Notable)
Fairview Outstation	Australia	Record daily precipitation	54.0 mm (2.1 in)	44 of 100 (Notable)
Linkoeping-Malmslaett	Sweden	Record low minimum temperature	-25.4 C (-13.7 F)	44 of 100 (Notable)
Falfurrias	United States	Record low minimum temperature	-6.1 C (21.0 F)	43 of 100 (Notable)
Manlio Fabio Altamiramo	Mexico	Record low maximum temperature	17.2 C (63.0 F)	42 of 100 (Notable)
Moron de la Frontera	Spain	Record daily precipitation	54.7 mm (2.2 in)	42 of 100 (Notable)
Karlshamn	Sweden	Record low maximum temperature	-8.2 C (17.2 F)	42 of 100 (Notable)
Priest Rvr Exp STN	United States	Record snow depth	91.4 cm (36.0 in)	42 of 100 (Notable)
Virginia City	United States	Record daily snowfall	29.2 cm (11.5 in)	42 of 100 (Notable)
Crosby	United States	Record snow depth	30.5 cm (12.0 in)	42 of 100 (Notable)
Elberton 2 N	United States	Record low maximum temperature	-1.1 C (30.0 F)	41 of 100 (Notable)
Roseau	United States	Record daily snowfall	10.2 cm (4.0 in)	41 of 100 (Notable)
Highlands	United States	Record low maximum temperature	-7.2 C (19.0 F)	41 of 100 (Notable)
Stanley 3 NNW	United States	Record snow depth	48.3 cm (19.0 in)	41 of 100 (Notable)
Philo 3 SW	United States	Record low maximum temperature	-11.7 C (10.9 F)	41 of 100 (Notable)
Williston Sloulin Fld	United States	Record snow depth	30.5 cm (12.0 in)	41 of 100 (Notable)
Covington 8 WNW	United States	Record low minimum temperature	-8.9 C (16.0 F)	40 of 100 (Notable)
Owosso Wwtp	United States	Record low maximum temperature	-9.4 C (15.1 F)	40 of 100 (Notable)
Bennetts Brg	United States	Record daily snowfall	40.6 cm (16.0 in)	40 of 100 (Notable)
Brevard	United States	Record low maximum temperature	-1.1 C (30.0 F)	40 of 100 (Notable)
Acatzingo de Hidalgo	Mexico	Record low maximum temperature	13.9 C (57.0 F)	39 of 100 (Notable)
Highland Home	United States	Record low maximum temperature	-0.6 C (30.9 F)	39 of 100 (Notable)
Dahlonega 4WSW	United States	Record low maximum temperature	-2.8 C (27.0 F)	39 of 100 (Notable)
Lumpkin 2 SE	United States	Record low minimum temperature	-10.0 C (14.0 F)	39 of 100 (Notable)
Grand Coteau	United States	Record low minimum temperature	-7.2 C (19.0 F)	39 of 100 (Notable)
Warrenton 1 N	United States	Record low maximum temperature	-11.7 C (10.9 F)	39 of 100 (Notable)
Blanco	United States	Record low minimum temperature	-9.4 C (15.1 F)	39 of 100 (Notable)
Axutla (Cfe)	Mexico	Record low maximum temperature	20.6 C (69.1 F)	38 of 100 (Notable)
Jerez de la Frontera	Spain	Record daily precipitation	68.6 mm (2.7 in)	38 of 100 (Notable)
Americus	United States	Record low maximum temperature	0.6 C (33.1 F)	38 of 100 (Notable)
Marshall	United States	Record snow depth	50.8 cm (20.0 in)	38 of 100 (Notable)
Crosbyton	United States	Record low minimum temperature	-15.6 C (3.9 F)	38 of 100 (Notable)
Kalinga	Australia	Record daily precipitation	106.0 mm (4.2 in)	37 of 100 (Notable)
Mexcala (Cfe)	Mexico	Record low maximum temperature	25.0 C (77.0 F)	37 of 100 (Notable)
Cuthbert	United States	Record low maximum temperature	3.3 C (37.9 F)	37 of 100 (Notable)
Hartwell	United States	Record low maximum temperature	-1.1 C (30.0 F)	37 of 100 (Notable)
Newell	United States	Record snow depth	30.5 cm (12.0 in)	37 of 100 (Notable)
Ft Myers Page Fld AP	United States	Record low maximum temperature	7.8 C (46.0 F)	37 of 100 (Notable)
Hamersley	Australia	Record daily precipitation	63.0 mm (2.5 in)	36 of 100 (Notable)
Villa de Arriaga (Dge)	Mexico	Record high maximum temperature	35.0 C (95.0 F)	36 of 100 (Notable)
Aleksandrovsk-Sahalinskij	Russia	Record low minimum temperature	-32.5 C (-26.5 F)	36 of 100 (Notable)
Fortuna 1 W	United States	Record daily snowfall	10.2 cm (4.0 in)	36 of 100 (Notable)
Beaver	United States	Record low minimum temperature	-21.1 C (-6.0 F)	36 of 100 (Notable)
Blunt	United States	Record snow depth	45.7 cm (18.0 in)	36 of 100 (Notable)
Ft Pierre 17 WSW	United States	Record snow depth	25.4 cm (10.0 in)	36 of 100 (Notable)
Eagle Pass 3N	United States	Record low minimum temperature	-6.7 C (19.9 F)	36 of 100 (Notable)
Pineview Dam	United States	Record daily snowfall	35.6 cm (14.0 in)	36 of 100 (Notable)
Fazenda Monte Alegre	Brazil	Record daily precipitation	108.5 mm (4.3 in)	35 of 100 (Notable)
La Estanzuela	Mexico	Record low maximum temperature	12.2 C (54.0 F)	35 of 100 (Notable)
Idaho Falls - Kifi	United States	Record daily snowfall	10.2 cm (4.0 in)	35 of 100 (Notable)

Counts by Type and Timescale

1,448 records

Records set or tied on 20 December 1996 by type: Highest daily maximum 53, Lowest daily maximum 411, Highest daily minimum 78, Lowest daily minimum 504, Heaviest daily rainfall 193, Heaviest daily snowfall 78, Deepest snow cover 131.

Records on 20 December 1996 by type
Record type	Records
Highest daily maximum	53
Lowest daily maximum	411
Highest daily minimum	78
Lowest daily minimum	504
Heaviest daily rainfall	193
Heaviest daily snowfall	78
Deepest snow cover	131

Records on 20 December 1996 by timescale: all-time 7, monthly 61, daily 1,380.

How Much Records Were Beaten By

1,123 broken records

Margins by which the 1,123 broken records beat the old ones, in degrees Celsius for temperature and millimetres for precipitation and snow; the largest margin was 356.0. Ties are not counted.

Top 20 by Significance

20 December 1996

Top 20 records on 20 December 1996 by significance
Date	Station	Record	Value	Beat old record by	Old record stood	Significance
20 December 1996	Kalispell Glacier AP, US	daily snow depth	73.7 cm (29.0 in)	35.6 cm (14.0 in)	67 years	65 of 100 (Major)
20 December 1996	Boise Air Terminal, US	all-time snowfall	24.9 cm (9.8 in)	6.6 cm (2.6 in)	27 years	56 of 100 (Notable)
20 December 1996	Skara 1, SE	daily low max	-16.1 C (3.0 F)	6.1 C (11.0 F)	109 years	55 of 100 (Notable)
20 December 1996	Mantova, IT	daily rain	27.8 mm (1.1 in)	5.8 mm (0.23 in)	142 years	48 of 100 (Notable)
20 December 1996	Aurland, NO	daily snow depth	27.0 cm (10.6 in)	17.0 cm (6.7 in)	15 years	48 of 100 (Notable)
20 December 1996	Cuatro Cienegas (Smn), MX	daily low min	-5.0 C (23.0 F)	5.0 C (9.0 F)	87 years	47 of 100 (Notable)
20 December 1996	Holland Wtp, US	daily snowfall	25.4 cm (10.0 in)	11.4 cm (4.5 in)	45 years	46 of 100 (Notable)
20 December 1996	Lovell, US	daily snow depth	22.9 cm (9.0 in)	7.7 cm (3.0 in)	67 years	46 of 100 (Notable)
20 December 1996	Carinda Post Office, AU	daily rain	28.0 mm (1.1 in)	19.6 mm (0.8 in)	70 years	45 of 100 (Notable)
20 December 1996	Bloomington Indiana UNIV, US	daily snow depth	15.2 cm (6.0 in)	5.0 cm (2.0 in)	82 years	45 of 100 (Notable)
20 December 1996	Mount Barker, AU	daily high min	20.2 C (68.4 F)	4.6 C (8.3 F)	63 years	44 of 100 (Notable)
20 December 1996	Fairview Outstation, AU	daily rain	54.0 mm (2.1 in)	16.9 mm (0.7 in)	85 years	44 of 100 (Notable)
20 December 1996	Linkoeping-Malmslaett, SE	monthly low min	-25.4 C (-13.7 F)	0.2 C (0.4 F)	80 years	44 of 100 (Notable)
20 December 1996	Falfurrias, US	daily low min	-6.1 C (21.0 F)	5.0 C (9.0 F)	87 years	43 of 100 (Notable)
20 December 1996	Manlio Fabio Altamiramo, MX	daily low max	17.2 C (63.0 F)	6.7 C (12.1 F)	51 years	42 of 100 (Notable)
20 December 1996	Moron de la Frontera, ES	daily rain	54.7 mm (2.2 in)	32.2 mm (1.3 in)	38 years	42 of 100 (Notable)
20 December 1996	Karlshamn, SE	daily low max	-8.2 C (17.2 F)	2.8 C (5.0 F)	81 years	42 of 100 (Notable)
20 December 1996	Priest Rvr Exp STN, US	daily snow depth	91.4 cm (36.0 in)	17.7 cm (7.0 in)	81 years	42 of 100 (Notable)
20 December 1996	Virginia City, US	daily snowfall	29.2 cm (11.5 in)	26.7 cm (10.5 in)	8 years	42 of 100 (Notable)
20 December 1996	Crosby, US	daily snow depth	30.5 cm (12.0 in)	7.6 cm (3.0 in)	70 years	42 of 100 (Notable)

Significance is a score from 0 to 100 combining margin, the age of the old record and the length of the station's record. How it is computed.

The Same Date in Other Years

1793 to 1996

Records set or tied on this calendar date in each year from 1793 to 1996. 1996 had 1,448 records.

Counts for years before the ledger starts come from the same station rules.

Records on 12-20 in each year
Year	Records
1793	1
1795	1
1804	1
1805	2
1808	1
1815	1
1828	1
1837	1
1846	1
1855	8
1858	1
1860	1
1866	1
1867	1
1868	1
1869	1
1871	2
1874	3
1875	1
1877	2
1878	1
1879	1
1880	1
1881	1
1882	1
1884	4
1885	1
1886	4
1889	4
1890	2
1891	2
1892	1
1894	2
1895	8
1896	1
1897	4
1898	2
1899	1
1900	7
1901	8
1902	14
1903	17
1904	9
1905	5
1906	5
1907	11
1908	5
1909	22
1910	17
1911	24
1912	27
1913	7
1914	43
1915	18
1916	45
1917	33
1918	18
1919	25
1920	22
1921	101
1922	88
1923	215
1924	332
1925	96
1926	163
1927	200
1928	93
1929	256
1930	67
1931	536
1932	170
1933	492
1934	265
1935	152
1936	416
1937	181
1938	240
1939	308
1940	965
1941	633
1942	817
1943	193
1944	340
1945	430
1946	327
1947	385
1948	345
1949	1,141
1950	758
1951	926
1952	394
1953	385
1954	416
1955	726
1956	471
1957	1,354
1958	382
1959	142
1960	354
1961	369
1962	475
1963	875
1964	499
1965	353
1966	555
1967	1,370
1968	482
1969	514
1970	518
1971	441
1972	448
1973	1,184
1974	328
1975	610
1976	382
1977	484
1978	910
1979	600
1980	667
1981	1,681
1982	712
1983	2,995
1984	1,411
1985	1,035
1986	321
1987	1,179
1988	760
1989	1,812
1990	1,885
1991	1,172
1992	1,134
1993	1,266
1994	813
1995	1,128
1996	1,448
1997	651
1998	1,110
1999	938
2000	1,150
2001	523
2002	943
2003	1,315
2004	836
2005	515
2006	1,387
2007	986
2008	1,356
2009	1,502
2010	2,055
2011	846
2012	1,131
2013	584
2014	524
2015	1,238
2016	603
2017	688
2018	592
2019	731
2020	554
2021	442
2022	567
2023	1,242
2024	897
2025	1,166

Download the Data

Data for records on 1996-12-20: CSV or JSON. Field meanings are on the data page.

Sources: 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)) Made with Natural Earth. Public domain map data. Borders are Natural Earth's de facto depiction. Data as of 2026-10-17 (17 October 2026). Records are computed by this site and are not official.

Data as of 2026-10-16. Last revised 16 October 2026 (2026-10-16).

Margin	Records
0 to 50	1,053
50 to 100	39
100 to 150	19
150 to 200	6
200 to 250	2
250 to 300	3
300 to 350	0
350 to 400	1