Weather Records on 31 December 1997

988 weather records were set or tied worldwide on 31 December 1997. Highest significance: Benfontein, ZA.

Key Facts for 31 December 1997

On 31 December 1997, 988 weather records were set or tied at long-record stations worldwide.
268 were record highs and 232 were record lows, counting maximum and minimum temperature.
By timescale, 9 were all-time records, 32 monthly and 947 daily.
Benfontein set a daily record precipitation of 67.0 mm (2.6 in) on 31 December 1997.
Across 157 earlier years (1797 to 2025) the same calendar date averaged 484 records.

Record Map

988 stations

988 station records on 31 December 1997 are marked on the map, coloured by record type. Dot size shows the significance score. Made with Natural Earth.

Weather records on 31 December 1997: highest significance records shown on the map
Station	Country	Type	Value	Significance
Benfontein	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	67.0 mm (2.6 in)	64 of 100 (Major)
Kailua 446	United States	Record daily precipitation	149.9 mm (5.9 in)	63 of 100 (Major)
Flying Fish Point	Australia	Record daily precipitation	188.0 mm (7.4 in)	61 of 100 (Major)
Oakland 1 SE	United States	Record daily snowfall	21.1 cm (8.3 in)	61 of 100 (Major)
Dixie	United States	Record daily precipitation	71.6 mm (2.8 in)	60 of 100 (Major)
Marshall	United States	Record daily snowfall	12.7 cm (5.0 in)	60 of 100 (Major)
Albion	United States	Record daily snowfall	12.7 cm (5.0 in)	57 of 100 (Notable)
Marshall	United States	Record snow depth	22.9 cm (9.0 in)	57 of 100 (Notable)
Highmarket 2W	United States	Record daily snowfall	45.7 cm (18.0 in)	55 of 100 (Notable)
Waynesville 1 E	United States	Record snow depth	15.2 cm (6.0 in)	54 of 100 (Notable)
Buchanan	United States	Record daily snowfall	20.3 cm (8.0 in)	53 of 100 (Notable)
Andrews	United States	Record snow depth	10.2 cm (4.0 in)	52 of 100 (Notable)
Greeneville Exp STN	United States	Record snow depth	10.2 cm (4.0 in)	52 of 100 (Notable)
Cold Bay AP	United States	Record snow depth	55.9 cm (22.0 in)	50 of 100 (Notable)
Norfolk 2 SW	United States	Record daily snowfall	24.1 cm (9.5 in)	49 of 100 (Notable)
Hot Springs	United States	Record daily snowfall	11.4 cm (4.5 in)	49 of 100 (Notable)
Glenwillard Dashields L&D	United States	Record daily snowfall	11.4 cm (4.5 in)	48 of 100 (Notable)
Buchanan	United States	Record snow depth	20.3 cm (8.0 in)	47 of 100 (Notable)
Murphy 4ESE	United States	Record daily snowfall	10.2 cm (4.0 in)	46 of 100 (Notable)
Kingston	United States	Record daily precipitation	139.7 mm (5.5 in)	45 of 100 (Notable)
Kalinga	Australia	Record daily precipitation	134.0 mm (5.3 in)	44 of 100 (Notable)
Miltonvale	United States	Record daily precipitation	56.6 mm (2.2 in)	44 of 100 (Notable)
Sebree 1 E	United States	Record snow depth	10.2 cm (4.0 in)	44 of 100 (Notable)
Kingston	United States	Record daily snowfall	5.8 cm (2.3 in)	44 of 100 (Notable)
Beckley Va Hospital	United States	Record daily snowfall	21.6 cm (8.5 in)	44 of 100 (Notable)
Maranboy	Australia	Record daily precipitation	93.0 mm (3.7 in)	43 of 100 (Notable)
South Johnstone Exp STN	Australia	Record daily precipitation	160.0 mm (6.3 in)	43 of 100 (Notable)
Prata	Brazil	Record daily precipitation	108.2 mm (4.3 in)	43 of 100 (Notable)
Newport 1 NW	United States	Record daily snowfall	6.4 cm (2.5 in)	43 of 100 (Notable)
Honokaa Town 215	United States	Record daily precipitation	105.4 mm (4.1 in)	43 of 100 (Notable)
Kimberley	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	43.0 mm (1.7 in)	42 of 100 (Notable)
St James Wwtp	United States	Record daily precipitation	25.4 mm (1.0 in)	42 of 100 (Notable)
Canton	United States	Record snow depth	30.5 cm (12.0 in)	42 of 100 (Notable)
Ixcateopan de Tlapa	Mexico	Record low minimum temperature	2.8 C (37.0 F)	41 of 100 (Notable)
Cairns Post Office	Australia	Record low maximum temperature	25.6 C (78.1 F)	40 of 100 (Notable)
Colton 2 N	United States	Record daily snowfall	15.2 cm (6.0 in)	40 of 100 (Notable)
Morrisville 6 SW	United States	Record daily snowfall	28.2 cm (11.1 in)	40 of 100 (Notable)
Reidsville 2 NW	United States	Record snow depth	10.2 cm (4.0 in)	40 of 100 (Notable)
Crossville Ed & Rsch STN	United States	Record snow depth	17.8 cm (7.0 in)	40 of 100 (Notable)
Valley Head	United States	Record daily snowfall	17.8 cm (7.0 in)	40 of 100 (Notable)
Haliimaile 423	United States	Record daily precipitation	86.6 mm (3.4 in)	40 of 100 (Notable)
Zamboanga	Philippines	Record daily precipitation	51.0 mm (2.0 in)	39 of 100 (Notable)
Lajas Substn	Puerto Rico [United States]	Record low maximum temperature	25.6 C (78.1 F)	39 of 100 (Notable)
Mt Vernon	United States	Record daily snowfall	7.6 cm (3.0 in)	39 of 100 (Notable)
Wanatah 2 WNW	United States	Record daily snowfall	17.8 cm (7.0 in)	39 of 100 (Notable)
Moorefield 1 SSE	United States	Record snow depth	22.9 cm (9.0 in)	39 of 100 (Notable)
Burketown Post Office	Australia	Record low minimum temperature	19.6 C (67.3 F)	38 of 100 (Notable)
Ft Sumner	United States	Record snow depth	15.2 cm (6.0 in)	38 of 100 (Notable)
Hamakuapoko 485	United States	Record daily precipitation	53.1 mm (2.1 in)	38 of 100 (Notable)
Bethel AP	United States	Record daily snowfall	19.8 cm (7.8 in)	38 of 100 (Notable)
Leeukop	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	34.0 mm (1.3 in)	37 of 100 (Notable)
Waterloo	United States	Record daily snowfall	21.6 cm (8.5 in)	37 of 100 (Notable)
Waterville 2	United States	Record snow depth	17.8 cm (7.0 in)	37 of 100 (Notable)
Dailey 1 SE	United States	Record daily snowfall	11.9 cm (4.7 in)	37 of 100 (Notable)
Paauilo 221	United States	Record daily precipitation	83.1 mm (3.3 in)	37 of 100 (Notable)
Santa Maria (Dge)	Mexico	Record high maximum temperature	30.0 C (86.0 F)	36 of 100 (Notable)
Sebree 1 E	United States	Record daily snowfall	7.6 cm (3.0 in)	36 of 100 (Notable)
Mountainair	United States	Record low minimum temperature	-20.6 C (-5.1 F)	36 of 100 (Notable)
Waterville 2	United States	Record daily snowfall	5.1 cm (2.0 in)	36 of 100 (Notable)
Walhalla	United States	Record daily snowfall	5.1 cm (2.0 in)	36 of 100 (Notable)

Counts by Type and Timescale

988 records

Records set or tied on 31 December 1997 by type: Highest daily maximum 164, Lowest daily maximum 83, Highest daily minimum 104, Lowest daily minimum 149, Heaviest daily rainfall 187, Heaviest daily snowfall 162, Deepest snow cover 139.

Records on 31 December 1997 by type
Record type	Records
Highest daily maximum	164
Lowest daily maximum	83
Highest daily minimum	104
Lowest daily minimum	149
Heaviest daily rainfall	187
Heaviest daily snowfall	162
Deepest snow cover	139

Records on 31 December 1997 by timescale: all-time 9, monthly 32, daily 947.

How Much Records Were Beaten By

763 broken records

Margins by which the 763 broken records beat the old ones, in degrees Celsius for temperature and millimetres for precipitation and snow; the largest margin was 305.0. Ties are not counted.

Top 20 by Significance

31 December 1997

Top 20 records on 31 December 1997 by significance
Date	Station	Record	Value	Beat old record by	Old record stood	Significance
31 December 1997	Benfontein, ZA	daily rain	67.0 mm (2.6 in)	44.1 mm (1.7 in)	62 years	64 of 100 (Major)
31 December 1997	Kailua 446, US	daily rain	149.9 mm (5.9 in)	71.4 mm (2.8 in)	60 years	63 of 100 (Major)
31 December 1997	Flying Fish Point, AU	daily rain	188.0 mm (7.4 in)	101.6 mm (4.0 in)	51 years	61 of 100 (Major)
31 December 1997	Oakland 1 SE, US	daily snowfall	21.1 cm (8.3 in)	10.9 cm (4.3 in)	101 years	61 of 100 (Major)
31 December 1997	Dixie, US	all-time rain	71.6 mm (2.8 in)	20.8 mm (0.8 in)	1 year	60 of 100 (Major)
31 December 1997	Marshall, US	daily snowfall	12.7 cm (5.0 in)	11.4 cm (4.5 in)	92 years	60 of 100 (Major)
31 December 1997	Albion, US	daily snowfall	12.7 cm (5.0 in)	7.6 cm (3.0 in)	99 years	57 of 100 (Notable)
31 December 1997	Marshall, US	daily snow depth	22.9 cm (9.0 in)	17.8 cm (7.0 in)	36 years	57 of 100 (Notable)
31 December 1997	Highmarket 2W, US	daily snowfall	45.7 cm (18.0 in)	30.5 cm (12.0 in)	42 years	55 of 100 (Notable)
31 December 1997	Waynesville 1 E, US	daily snow depth	15.2 cm (6.0 in)	15.2 cm (6.0 in)	67 years	54 of 100 (Notable)
31 December 1997	Buchanan, US	daily snowfall	20.3 cm (8.0 in)	15.2 cm (6.0 in)	72 years	53 of 100 (Notable)
31 December 1997	Andrews, US	daily snow depth	10.2 cm (4.0 in)	10.2 cm (4.0 in)	48 years	52 of 100 (Notable)
31 December 1997	Greeneville Exp STN, US	daily snow depth	10.2 cm (4.0 in)	10.2 cm (4.0 in)	64 years	52 of 100 (Notable)
31 December 1997	Cold Bay AP, US	daily snow depth	55.9 cm (22.0 in)	25.4 cm (10.0 in)	40 years	50 of 100 (Notable)
31 December 1997	Norfolk 2 SW, US	daily snowfall	24.1 cm (9.5 in)	6.3 cm (2.5 in)	110 years	49 of 100 (Notable)
31 December 1997	Hot Springs, US	daily snowfall	11.4 cm (4.5 in)	11.4 cm (4.5 in)	68 years	49 of 100 (Notable)
31 December 1997	Glenwillard Dashields L&D, US	daily snowfall	11.4 cm (4.5 in)	11.4 cm (4.5 in)	52 years	48 of 100 (Notable)
31 December 1997	Buchanan, US	daily snow depth	20.3 cm (8.0 in)	12.7 cm (5.0 in)	67 years	47 of 100 (Notable)
31 December 1997	Murphy 4ESE, US	daily snowfall	10.2 cm (4.0 in)	7.4 cm (2.9 in)	80 years	46 of 100 (Notable)
31 December 1997	Kingston, US	monthly rain	139.7 mm (5.5 in)	26.7 mm (1.1 in)	24 years	45 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

1797 to 1997

Records set or tied on this calendar date in each year from 1797 to 1997. 1997 had 988 records.

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

Records on 12-31 in each year
Year	Records
1797	1
1799	2
1826	1
1836	1
1842	2
1850	3
1853	1
1854	1
1859	1
1860	1
1867	1
1870	2
1872	2
1874	4
1875	2
1876	2
1878	2
1879	2
1880	2
1882	1
1884	2
1885	1
1886	3
1887	1
1888	2
1890	2
1891	8
1892	4
1895	4
1897	6
1898	5
1899	4
1900	3
1901	16
1902	3
1903	3
1904	11
1905	9
1906	31
1907	11
1908	7
1909	5
1910	25
1911	14
1912	17
1913	46
1914	34
1915	32
1916	25
1917	239
1918	24
1919	38
1920	64
1921	130
1922	83
1923	280
1924	113
1925	183
1926	77
1927	491
1928	53
1929	224
1930	58
1931	543
1932	394
1933	409
1934	181
1935	309
1936	567
1937	500
1938	247
1939	298
1940	467
1941	159
1942	352
1943	159
1944	259
1945	210
1946	707
1947	461
1948	591
1949	384
1950	310
1951	1,421
1952	377
1953	410
1954	286
1955	429
1956	216
1957	724
1958	584
1959	414
1960	389
1961	309
1962	810
1963	1,015
1964	388
1965	1,371
1966	326
1967	1,023
1968	1,371
1969	825
1970	579
1971	568
1972	836
1973	1,370
1974	590
1975	791
1976	1,306
1977	641
1978	2,791
1979	448
1980	1,448
1981	786
1982	639
1983	2,220
1984	942
1985	593
1986	616
1987	845
1988	600
1989	506
1990	1,379
1991	703
1992	1,062
1993	718
1994	878
1995	1,151
1996	2,202
1997	988
1998	739
1999	524
2000	1,575
2001	748
2002	1,232
2003	523
2004	1,278
2005	959
2006	2,089
2007	652
2008	656
2009	867
2010	1,544
2011	739
2012	803
2013	606
2014	903
2015	748
2016	678
2017	1,589
2018	620
2019	593
2020	489
2021	1,739
2022	1,497
2023	474
2024	460
2025	760

Download the Data

Data for records on 1997-12-31: 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	639
50 to 100	76
100 to 150	37
150 to 200	7
200 to 250	2
250 to 300	1
300 to 350	1