Bedford Weather Records (USC00130576)

Record envelope, standing records and threshold days for Bedford (USC00130576), Iowa, United States, with 121 years of record.

Key Facts for Bedford

Bedford (USC00130576) is a weather station in Iowa, United States at 40.67 latitude and -94.72 longitude, 363 m (1,190 ft) above sea level.
The station reports from 1898 to 2018, 121 years of record.
1,464 records set at Bedford still stand.
Records are tracked for tmax, tmin, prcp, snow, snwd: an element needs 30 years of data to be eligible.
Bedford set a daily record precipitation of 53.3 mm (2.1 in) on 3 September 2018.

About the Station

Location: Iowa, United States, 40.67 latitude, -94.72 longitude.
Elevation: 363 m (1,190 ft).
Period of record: 1898 to 2018, 121 years.
Eligible elements: tmax, tmin, prcp, snow, snwd.

Daily Record Envelope and 2026

0 days at or beyond a record

The band shows the record high and record low for each calendar day at Bedford. The lines show the 2026 daily maximum and minimum. 0 days in 2026 matched or passed a record. Temperatures are in degrees Celsius.

Daily record high and record low at Bedford, with 2026 drawn through them
Month	Highest record high	Lowest record low	2026 highest maximum	2026 lowest minimum
Jan	20.0 C (68.0 F)	-35.6 C (-32.1 F)	n/a	n/a
Feb	24.4 C (75.9 F)	-36.7 C (-34.1 F)	n/a	n/a
Mar	32.2 C (90.0 F)	-31.1 C (-24.0 F)	n/a	n/a
Apr	34.4 C (93.9 F)	-17.2 C (1.0 F)	n/a	n/a
May	36.1 C (97.0 F)	-7.2 C (19.0 F)	n/a	n/a
Jun	38.9 C (102.0 F)	2.8 C (37.0 F)	n/a	n/a
Jul	43.3 C (109.9 F)	4.4 C (39.9 F)	n/a	n/a
Aug	42.2 C (108.0 F)	2.8 C (37.0 F)	n/a	n/a
Sep	41.7 C (107.1 F)	-5.6 C (21.9 F)	n/a	n/a
Oct	34.4 C (93.9 F)	-12.2 C (10.0 F)	n/a	n/a
Nov	27.2 C (81.0 F)	-23.9 C (-11.0 F)	n/a	n/a
Dec	21.1 C (70.0 F)	-34.4 C (-29.9 F)	n/a	n/a

Which Years Hold Standing Records

1,464 standing records

1,464 records at Bedford still stand. 1913 holds the most, with 43.

Standing records at Bedford by the year they were set
Year set	Standing records
1898	12
1899	28
1900	15
1902	20
1903	13
1904	9
1905	19
1906	20
1907	23
1908	17
1909	20
1910	28
1911	37
1912	28
1913	43
1914	13
1915	26
1916	23
1917	23
1918	20
1919	8
1920	13
1921	19
1938	14
1939	31
1940	15
1941	13
1942	12
1943	5
1944	16
1945	9
1946	13
1947	14
1948	8
1949	6
1950	16
1951	16
1952	16
1953	18
1954	22
1955	20
1956	22
1957	6
1958	10
1959	12
1960	11
1961	6
1962	18
1963	11
1964	23
1965	19
1966	12
1967	14
1968	10
1969	4
1970	10
1971	9
1972	19
1973	9
1974	21
1975	8
1976	10
1977	11
1978	5
1979	2
1980	11
1981	9
1982	9
1983	20
1984	12
1985	14
1986	10
1987	8
1988	11
1989	20
1990	11
1991	13
1992	18
1993	8
1994	5
1995	8
1996	18
1997	8
1998	15
1999	11
2000	11
2001	6
2002	7
2003	3
2004	6
2005	6
2006	10
2007	7
2008	13
2009	3
2010	5
2011	17
2012	26
2013	13
2014	21
2015	12
2016	9
2017	14
2018	13

All-Time Record Progression

7 new records

7 all-time records were set at Bedford between 17 November 1952 and 3 February 1996. Each dot is a new record.

When Bedford set new all-time records
Date	Kind	Detail
1952-11-17	Record daily precipitation	Record daily precipitation 128.8 mm (5.1 in)
1959-06-30	Record daily precipitation	Record daily precipitation 134.9 mm (5.3 in)
1973-10-11	Record daily precipitation	Record daily precipitation 140.2 mm (5.5 in)
1979-07-25	Record daily precipitation	Record daily precipitation 145.5 mm (5.7 in)
1984-09-07	Record high minimum temperature	Record high minimum temperature 29.4 C (84.9 F)
1989-12-22	Record low maximum temperature	Record low maximum temperature -23.9 C (-11.0 F)
1996-02-03	Record low minimum temperature	Record low minimum temperature -36.7 C (-34.1 F)

Wettest Day of Each Month

Jul: 145.5 mm (5.7 in)

The wettest day on record for each calendar month at Bedford. The most was 145.5 mm (5.7 in) on 25 July 1979.

Record daily precipitation for each month at Bedford
Month	Record daily precipitation (mm)	Date
Jan	51.8 mm (2.0 in)	12 January 1960
Feb	50.8 mm (2.0 in)	20 February 1937
Mar	77.0 mm (3.0 in)	30 March 2012
Apr	118.1 mm (4.6 in)	18 April 2013
May	86.6 mm (3.4 in)	7 May 2007
Jun	134.9 mm (5.3 in)	30 June 1959
Jul	145.5 mm (5.7 in)	25 July 1979
Aug	127.0 mm (5.0 in)	2 August 1943
Sep	128.3 mm (5.1 in)	14 September 1914
Oct	140.2 mm (5.5 in)	11 October 1973
Nov	128.8 mm (5.1 in)	17 November 1952
Dec	66.0 mm (2.6 in)	14 December 2015

Period of Record Coverage

1898 to 2018

105 years of record at Bedford, 1898 to 2018. 12 years have data for under 90 percent of days and are left out of rankings: 1898, 1900, 1901, 1902, 1938, 1963, 1978, 1986 and others.

Days with data per year at Bedford
Year	Days with data	Share of year	Complete
1898	96	26%	No
1899	331	91%	Yes
1900	323	88%	No
1901	105	29%	No
1902	271	74%	No
1903	362	99%	Yes
1904	362	99%	Yes
1905	361	99%	Yes
1906	361	99%	Yes
1907	364	100%	Yes
1908	365	100%	Yes
1909	362	99%	Yes
1910	365	100%	Yes
1911	363	99%	Yes
1912	365	100%	Yes
1913	364	100%	Yes
1914	364	100%	Yes
1915	360	99%	Yes
1916	365	100%	Yes
1917	363	99%	Yes
1918	362	99%	Yes
1919	361	99%	Yes
1920	334	91%	Yes
1921	334	92%	Yes
1938	328	90%	No
1939	360	99%	Yes
1940	363	99%	Yes
1941	360	99%	Yes
1942	363	99%	Yes
1943	358	98%	Yes
1944	363	99%	Yes
1945	359	98%	Yes
1946	362	99%	Yes
1947	364	100%	Yes
1948	365	100%	Yes
1949	364	100%	Yes
1950	354	97%	Yes
1951	353	97%	Yes
1952	362	99%	Yes
1953	361	99%	Yes
1954	363	99%	Yes
1955	364	100%	Yes
1956	363	99%	Yes
1957	364	100%	Yes
1958	363	99%	Yes
1959	365	100%	Yes
1960	365	100%	Yes
1961	365	100%	Yes
1962	363	99%	Yes
1963	290	79%	No
1964	364	99%	Yes
1965	365	100%	Yes
1966	359	98%	Yes
1967	352	96%	Yes
1968	365	100%	Yes
1969	364	100%	Yes
1970	362	99%	Yes
1971	360	99%	Yes
1972	362	99%	Yes
1973	359	98%	Yes
1974	365	100%	Yes
1975	365	100%	Yes
1976	366	100%	Yes
1977	364	100%	Yes
1978	326	89%	No
1979	352	96%	Yes
1980	366	100%	Yes
1981	365	100%	Yes
1982	357	98%	Yes
1983	360	99%	Yes
1984	362	99%	Yes
1985	354	97%	Yes
1986	295	81%	No
1987	322	88%	No
1988	355	97%	Yes
1989	361	99%	Yes
1990	362	99%	Yes
1991	335	92%	Yes
1992	364	99%	Yes
1993	362	99%	Yes
1994	361	99%	Yes
1995	363	99%	Yes
1996	361	99%	Yes
1997	353	97%	Yes
1998	360	99%	Yes
1999	363	99%	Yes
2000	360	98%	Yes
2001	354	97%	Yes
2002	269	74%	No
2003	353	97%	Yes
2004	330	90%	Yes
2005	349	96%	Yes
2006	357	98%	Yes
2007	361	99%	Yes
2008	364	99%	Yes
2009	339	93%	Yes
2010	314	86%	No
2011	350	96%	Yes
2012	362	99%	Yes
2013	348	95%	Yes
2014	343	94%	Yes
2015	338	93%	Yes
2016	342	93%	Yes
2017	351	96%	Yes
2018	253	69%	No

Latest Records

Latest records at Bedford
Date	Station	Record	Value	Beat old record by	Old record stood	Significance
3 September 2018	Bedford, US	daily rain	53.3 mm (2.1 in)	15.2 mm (0.6 in)	56 years	36 of 100 (Notable)
28 August 2018	Bedford, US	daily high min (Tie)	23.3 C (73.9 F)	tie	33 years	5 of 100 (Routine)
20 August 2018	Bedford, US	daily rain	94.0 mm (3.7 in)	41.7 mm (1.6 in)	17 years	38 of 100 (Notable)
1 June 2018	Bedford, US	daily high max (Tie)	33.9 C (93.0 F)	tie	17 years	3 of 100 (Routine)
29 May 2018	Bedford, US	daily high max	34.4 C (93.9 F)	0.5 C (0.9 F)	117 years	40 of 100 (Notable)
28 May 2018	Bedford, US	monthly high max (Tie)	36.1 C (97.0 F)	tie	62 years	9 of 100 (Routine)
28 May 2018	Bedford, US	daily high min (Tie)	20.6 C (69.1 F)	tie	27 years	4 of 100 (Routine)
19 April 2018	Bedford, US	daily low max	3.3 C (37.9 F)	2.8 C (5.0 F)	40 years	26 of 100 (Routine)
16 April 2018	Bedford, US	daily low max	-1.1 C (30.0 F)	5.5 C (9.9 F)	108 years	48 of 100 (Notable)
16 April 2018	Bedford, US	daily snow depth (Tie)	2.5 cm (1.0 in)	tie	108 years	10 of 100 (Routine)
15 April 2018	Bedford, US	daily snowfall	5.1 cm (2.0 in)	0.5 cm (0.2 in)	112 years	40 of 100 (Notable)
10 April 2018	Bedford, US	daily low max (Tie)	3.3 C (37.9 F)	tie	44 years	5 of 100 (Routine)
8 April 2018	Bedford, US	daily low min	-11.1 C (12.0 F)	2.2 C (4.0 F)	11 years	17 of 100 (Routine)
7 April 2018	Bedford, US	daily low min	-11.1 C (12.0 F)	2.2 C (4.0 F)	11 years	17 of 100 (Routine)
7 April 2018	Bedford, US	daily low max (Tie)	-0.6 C (30.9 F)	tie	80 years	8 of 100 (Routine)
3 April 2018	Bedford, US	daily low max	0.0 C (32.0 F)	1.1 C (2.0 F)	118 years	41 of 100 (Notable)
2 April 2018	Bedford, US	monthly low max	-2.8 C (27.0 F)	2.2 C (4.0 F)	97 years	52 of 100 (Notable)
2 April 2018	Bedford, US	daily snow depth (Tie)	7.6 cm (3.0 in)	tie	56 years	6 of 100 (Routine)
28 February 2018	Bedford, US	daily high min	4.4 C (39.9 F)	0.5 C (0.9 F)	26 years	17 of 100 (Routine)
17 January 2018	Bedford, US	daily low max	-13.9 C (7.0 F)	0.6 C (1.1 F)	20 years	16 of 100 (Routine)

Climate Trend

85 complete years, 1903 to 2017

One stripe for each of 85 complete years at Bedford, 1903 to 2017. Blue stripes are years cooler than the station's own mean of 10.4 C (50.8 F); red stripes are warmer. The coolest year was 2014, at 8.6 C (47.4 F), and the warmest was 1954, at 12.7 C (54.9 F). The strongest colour marks a difference of 2.3 C (4.1 F).

Annual mean temperature at Bedford as warming stripes, 1903 to 2017
Year	Annual mean temperature	Difference from the station mean
1903	9.4 C	-1.08 C
1904	9.0 C	-1.46 C
1905	9.3 C	-1.12 C
1906	9.8 C	-0.67 C
1907	9.8 C	-0.68 C
1908	10.6 C	+0.14 C
1909	10.0 C	-0.50 C
1910	10.5 C	+0.05 C
1911	11.3 C	+0.87 C
1912	9.0 C	-1.45 C
1913	10.9 C	+0.47 C
1914	10.8 C	+0.30 C
1915	9.8 C	-0.67 C
1916	9.4 C	-1.02 C
1917	8.7 C	-1.80 C
1918	10.9 C	+0.45 C
1919	10.1 C	-0.39 C
1939	12.2 C	+1.75 C
1940	10.1 C	-0.40 C
1941	11.8 C	+1.38 C
1942	10.4 C	-0.03 C
1943	10.3 C	-0.13 C
1944	10.7 C	+0.22 C
1945	10.0 C	-0.49 C
1946	12.0 C	+1.52 C
1947	10.6 C	+0.18 C
1948	10.4 C	-0.01 C
1949	10.3 C	-0.13 C
1950	9.1 C	-1.36 C
1951	9.0 C	-1.43 C
1952	11.3 C	+0.88 C
1953	12.4 C	+1.90 C
1954	12.7 C	+2.26 C
1955	11.5 C	+1.07 C
1956	11.9 C	+1.46 C
1957	11.0 C	+0.58 C
1958	10.6 C	+0.13 C
1959	10.2 C	-0.24 C
1960	9.6 C	-0.84 C
1961	9.8 C	-0.62 C
1962	10.4 C	-0.02 C
1964	11.4 C	+0.97 C
1965	10.7 C	+0.21 C
1966	9.9 C	-0.56 C
1968	10.8 C	+0.36 C
1969	10.4 C	-0.04 C
1970	10.9 C	+0.44 C
1971	10.6 C	+0.10 C
1972	9.8 C	-0.62 C
1973	10.8 C	+0.30 C
1974	10.9 C	+0.42 C
1975	10.6 C	+0.11 C
1976	10.3 C	-0.11 C
1977	11.0 C	+0.56 C
1979	9.2 C	-1.27 C
1980	10.8 C	+0.32 C
1981	11.3 C	+0.85 C
1982	9.9 C	-0.59 C
1983	10.4 C	-0.02 C
1984	10.8 C	+0.37 C
1985	9.6 C	-0.82 C
1988	11.3 C	+0.81 C
1989	10.0 C	-0.50 C
1990	11.1 C	+0.66 C
1992	10.8 C	+0.37 C
1993	9.4 C	-1.01 C
1994	10.7 C	+0.24 C
1995	10.5 C	+0.04 C
1996	9.4 C	-1.04 C
1997	9.9 C	-0.57 C
1998	11.2 C	+0.79 C
1999	10.3 C	-0.14 C
2000	10.2 C	-0.29 C
2003	9.9 C	-0.58 C
2005	10.8 C	+0.30 C
2006	11.4 C	+0.93 C
2007	10.5 C	+0.09 C
2008	8.9 C	-1.58 C
2009	9.4 C	-1.09 C
2011	10.4 C	-0.05 C
2012	12.5 C	+2.02 C
2014	8.6 C	-1.88 C
2015	10.4 C	-0.06 C
2016	11.7 C	+1.27 C
2017	11.4 C	+0.91 C

The fitted trend in annual mean temperature here over 1903 to 2017 is 0.04 C (-0.02 to 0.09) per decade. The interval includes zero, so the trend is not clearly different from zero. In Fahrenheit: 0.06 F (-0.04 to 0.17) per decade. The slope is a straight line fitted to 85 complete years; the brackets give its 95 percent interval.

Fitted temperature trends per decade at Bedford
Measure	Per decade (C)	Per decade (F)	Period	Complete years	Reading
Annual mean temperature	0.04 C (-0.02 to 0.09) per decade	0.06 F (-0.04 to 0.17) per decade	1903 to 2017	85	Not clearly different from zero
Mean daily maximum	-0.01 C (-0.09 to 0.06) per decade	-0.03 F (-0.15 to 0.10) per decade	1903 to 2017	85	Not clearly different from zero
Mean daily minimum	0.09 C (0.03 to 0.14) per decade	0.15 F (0.05 to 0.26) per decade	1903 to 2017	85	Rise

A year is complete when all 12 months have at least 20 days of both daily maximum and daily minimum readings. The annual mean is the mean of the monthly means. The trend describes this one station over this period; it does not say what caused the change.

Extremes by Year

1898 to 2018

Yearly extremes at Bedford: the record and the median year
Measure	Record	Year of the record	Median year	Years with a value
Hottest day (TXx)	43.3 C (109.9 F)	1911	36.7 C (98.1 F)	105
Coldest night (TNn)	-36.7 C (-34.1 F)	1996	-26.1 C (-15.0 F)	105
Wettest day (Rx1day)	145.5 mm (5.7 in)	1979	68.8 mm (2.7 in)	115
Wettest five days (Rx5day)	177.5 mm (7.0 in)	1914	106.6 mm (4.2 in)	115
Longest dry spell (CDD)	58 days	1952	25 days	115

Hottest day (TXx)

The hottest day of the year at Bedford, 1898 to 2018. The record is 43.3 C (109.9 F) in 1911, marked on the chart; the median year is 36.7 C (98.1 F).

Hottest day (TXx) at Bedford by year
Year	Hottest day (TXx)
1898	31.7 C (89.1 F)
1899	38.9 C (102.0 F)
1900	37.2 C (99.0 F)
1901	31.7 C (89.1 F)
1902	34.4 C (93.9 F)
1903	34.4 C (93.9 F)
1904	34.4 C (93.9 F)
1905	35.6 C (96.1 F)
1906	36.1 C (97.0 F)
1907	35.6 C (96.1 F)
1908	36.1 C (97.0 F)
1909	39.4 C (102.9 F)
1910	41.1 C (106.0 F)
1911	43.3 C (109.9 F)
1912	38.3 C (100.9 F)
1913	41.7 C (107.1 F)
1914	41.1 C (106.0 F)
1915	32.8 C (91.0 F)
1916	36.7 C (98.1 F)
1917	38.3 C (100.9 F)
1918	42.2 C (108.0 F)
1919	37.8 C (100.0 F)
1920	37.2 C (99.0 F)
1921	36.7 C (98.1 F)
1928	n/a
1929	n/a
1930	n/a
1931	n/a
1932	n/a
1933	n/a
1934	n/a
1935	n/a
1936	n/a
1937	n/a
1938	38.9 C (102.0 F)
1939	39.4 C (102.9 F)
1940	40.6 C (105.1 F)
1941	38.9 C (102.0 F)
1942	35.0 C (95.0 F)
1943	36.1 C (97.0 F)
1944	37.8 C (100.0 F)
1945	36.7 C (98.1 F)
1946	37.8 C (100.0 F)
1947	38.9 C (102.0 F)
1948	35.0 C (95.0 F)
1949	33.9 C (93.0 F)
1950	33.9 C (93.0 F)
1951	36.7 C (98.1 F)
1952	38.9 C (102.0 F)
1953	38.9 C (102.0 F)
1954	41.7 C (107.1 F)
1955	40.6 C (105.1 F)
1956	40.0 C (104.0 F)
1957	39.4 C (102.9 F)
1958	35.6 C (96.1 F)
1959	35.0 C (95.0 F)
1960	35.6 C (96.1 F)
1961	35.0 C (95.0 F)
1962	35.6 C (96.1 F)
1963	37.8 C (100.0 F)
1964	40.0 C (104.0 F)
1965	35.0 C (95.0 F)
1966	37.2 C (99.0 F)
1967	38.3 C (100.9 F)
1968	34.4 C (93.9 F)
1969	35.6 C (96.1 F)
1970	40.0 C (104.0 F)
1971	36.7 C (98.1 F)
1972	35.0 C (95.0 F)
1973	33.9 C (93.0 F)
1974	40.6 C (105.1 F)
1975	37.2 C (99.0 F)
1976	34.4 C (93.9 F)
1977	38.3 C (100.9 F)
1978	35.6 C (96.1 F)
1979	33.9 C (93.0 F)
1980	40.0 C (104.0 F)
1981	36.7 C (98.1 F)
1982	35.6 C (96.1 F)
1983	39.4 C (102.9 F)
1984	37.2 C (99.0 F)
1985	35.6 C (96.1 F)
1986	35.0 C (95.0 F)
1987	37.8 C (100.0 F)
1988	39.4 C (102.9 F)
1989	37.8 C (100.0 F)
1990	37.2 C (99.0 F)
1991	36.1 C (97.0 F)
1992	32.2 C (90.0 F)
1993	34.4 C (93.9 F)
1994	33.9 C (93.0 F)
1995	37.8 C (100.0 F)
1996	33.9 C (93.0 F)
1997	36.7 C (98.1 F)
1998	35.6 C (96.1 F)
1999	36.7 C (98.1 F)
2000	36.7 C (98.1 F)
2001	38.3 C (100.9 F)
2002	36.1 C (97.0 F)
2003	38.3 C (100.9 F)
2004	33.3 C (91.9 F)
2005	36.1 C (97.0 F)
2006	38.9 C (102.0 F)
2007	35.6 C (96.1 F)
2008	36.7 C (98.1 F)
2009	36.7 C (98.1 F)
2010	35.6 C (96.1 F)
2011	36.7 C (98.1 F)
2012	40.0 C (104.0 F)
2013	37.2 C (99.0 F)
2014	32.8 C (91.0 F)
2015	35.0 C (95.0 F)
2016	35.6 C (96.1 F)
2017	35.0 C (95.0 F)
2018	36.1 C (97.0 F)

Coldest night (TNn)

The coldest night of the year at Bedford, 1898 to 2018. The record is -36.7 C (-34.1 F) in 1996, marked on the chart; the median year is -26.1 C (-15.0 F).

Coldest night (TNn) at Bedford by year
Year	Coldest night (TNn)
1898	-24.4 C (-11.9 F)
1899	-31.7 C (-25.1 F)
1900	-24.4 C (-11.9 F)
1901	-27.2 C (-17.0 F)
1902	-22.8 C (-9.0 F)
1903	-27.2 C (-17.0 F)
1904	-30.6 C (-23.1 F)
1905	-35.6 C (-32.1 F)
1906	-24.4 C (-11.9 F)
1907	-25.0 C (-13.0 F)
1908	-23.3 C (-9.9 F)
1909	-27.2 C (-17.0 F)
1910	-32.2 C (-26.0 F)
1911	-26.1 C (-15.0 F)
1912	-35.0 C (-31.0 F)
1913	-27.8 C (-18.0 F)
1914	-25.6 C (-14.1 F)
1915	-31.1 C (-24.0 F)
1916	-30.6 C (-23.1 F)
1917	-30.0 C (-22.0 F)
1918	-32.8 C (-27.0 F)
1919	-34.4 C (-29.9 F)
1920	-22.2 C (-8.0 F)
1921	-16.7 C (1.9 F)
1928	n/a
1929	n/a
1930	n/a
1931	n/a
1932	n/a
1933	n/a
1934	n/a
1935	n/a
1936	n/a
1937	n/a
1938	-17.8 C (0.0 F)
1939	-21.7 C (-7.1 F)
1940	-29.4 C (-20.9 F)
1941	-17.2 C (1.0 F)
1942	-26.7 C (-16.1 F)
1943	-29.4 C (-20.9 F)
1944	-27.2 C (-17.0 F)
1945	-23.3 C (-9.9 F)
1946	-21.7 C (-7.1 F)
1947	-28.3 C (-18.9 F)
1948	-28.3 C (-18.9 F)
1949	-23.3 C (-9.9 F)
1950	-22.8 C (-9.0 F)
1951	-23.3 C (-9.9 F)
1952	-20.6 C (-5.1 F)
1953	-20.6 C (-5.1 F)
1954	-20.6 C (-5.1 F)
1955	-23.9 C (-11.0 F)
1956	-23.9 C (-11.0 F)
1957	-26.1 C (-15.0 F)
1958	-26.7 C (-16.1 F)
1959	-25.6 C (-14.1 F)
1960	-26.7 C (-16.1 F)
1961	-25.0 C (-13.0 F)
1962	-26.7 C (-16.1 F)
1963	-27.8 C (-18.0 F)
1964	-23.9 C (-11.0 F)
1965	-30.0 C (-22.0 F)
1966	-33.3 C (-27.9 F)
1967	-21.1 C (-6.0 F)
1968	-27.8 C (-18.0 F)
1969	-23.3 C (-9.9 F)
1970	-26.1 C (-15.0 F)
1971	-33.9 C (-29.0 F)
1972	-27.2 C (-17.0 F)
1973	-24.4 C (-11.9 F)
1974	-35.6 C (-32.1 F)
1975	-28.9 C (-20.0 F)
1976	-27.8 C (-18.0 F)
1977	-30.0 C (-22.0 F)
1978	-30.0 C (-22.0 F)
1979	-27.8 C (-18.0 F)
1980	-25.0 C (-13.0 F)
1981	-28.9 C (-20.0 F)
1982	-30.6 C (-23.1 F)
1983	-31.7 C (-25.1 F)
1984	-27.2 C (-17.0 F)
1985	-28.9 C (-20.0 F)
1986	-20.0 C (-4.0 F)
1987	-21.1 C (-6.0 F)
1988	-28.9 C (-20.0 F)
1989	-32.2 C (-26.0 F)
1990	-24.4 C (-11.9 F)
1991	-23.9 C (-11.0 F)
1992	-21.1 C (-6.0 F)
1993	-22.2 C (-8.0 F)
1994	-25.0 C (-13.0 F)
1995	-25.6 C (-14.1 F)
1996	-36.7 C (-34.1 F)
1997	-28.9 C (-20.0 F)
1998	-31.1 C (-24.0 F)
1999	-30.0 C (-22.0 F)
2000	-28.3 C (-18.9 F)
2001	-29.4 C (-20.9 F)
2002	-17.8 C (0.0 F)
2003	-25.6 C (-14.1 F)
2004	-22.2 C (-8.0 F)
2005	-21.7 C (-7.1 F)
2006	-20.6 C (-5.1 F)
2007	-23.9 C (-11.0 F)
2008	-26.1 C (-15.0 F)
2009	-26.1 C (-15.0 F)
2010	-27.2 C (-17.0 F)
2011	-23.3 C (-9.9 F)
2012	-18.3 C (-0.9 F)
2013	-26.7 C (-16.1 F)
2014	-25.0 C (-13.0 F)
2015	-27.8 C (-18.0 F)
2016	-26.1 C (-15.0 F)
2017	-25.0 C (-13.0 F)
2018	-28.9 C (-20.0 F)

Wettest day (Rx1day)

The wettest day of the year at Bedford, 1898 to 2018. The record is 145.5 mm (5.7 in) in 1979, marked on the chart; the median year is 68.8 mm (2.7 in).

Wettest day (Rx1day) at Bedford by year
Year	Wettest day (Rx1day)
1898	37.6 mm (1.5 in)
1899	91.4 mm (3.6 in)
1900	63.5 mm (2.5 in)
1901	44.5 mm (1.8 in)
1902	78.7 mm (3.1 in)
1903	112.0 mm (4.4 in)
1904	76.2 mm (3.0 in)
1905	47.2 mm (1.9 in)
1906	67.8 mm (2.7 in)
1907	59.7 mm (2.4 in)
1908	54.9 mm (2.2 in)
1909	73.7 mm (2.9 in)
1910	65.3 mm (2.6 in)
1911	48.5 mm (1.9 in)
1912	43.9 mm (1.7 in)
1913	46.2 mm (1.8 in)
1914	128.3 mm (5.1 in)
1915	76.2 mm (3.0 in)
1916	72.6 mm (2.9 in)
1917	54.9 mm (2.2 in)
1918	67.3 mm (2.6 in)
1919	110.5 mm (4.4 in)
1920	50.8 mm (2.0 in)
1921	47.0 mm (1.9 in)
1928	103.9 mm (4.1 in)
1929	53.8 mm (2.1 in)
1930	35.6 mm (1.4 in)
1931	81.3 mm (3.2 in)
1932	69.9 mm (2.8 in)
1933	101.6 mm (4.0 in)
1934	35.6 mm (1.4 in)
1935	88.4 mm (3.5 in)
1936	111.3 mm (4.4 in)
1937	58.4 mm (2.3 in)
1938	63.5 mm (2.5 in)
1939	68.6 mm (2.7 in)
1940	64.8 mm (2.6 in)
1941	99.8 mm (3.9 in)
1942	68.6 mm (2.7 in)
1943	127.0 mm (5.0 in)
1944	68.8 mm (2.7 in)
1945	53.3 mm (2.1 in)
1946	48.5 mm (1.9 in)
1947	110.5 mm (4.4 in)
1948	48.8 mm (1.9 in)
1949	59.7 mm (2.4 in)
1950	71.1 mm (2.8 in)
1951	64.0 mm (2.5 in)
1952	128.8 mm (5.1 in)
1953	35.6 mm (1.4 in)
1954	72.4 mm (2.9 in)
1955	57.2 mm (2.3 in)
1956	70.6 mm (2.8 in)
1957	52.6 mm (2.1 in)
1958	84.8 mm (3.3 in)
1959	134.9 mm (5.3 in)
1960	92.7 mm (3.6 in)
1961	61.0 mm (2.4 in)
1962	86.1 mm (3.4 in)
1963	47.2 mm (1.9 in)
1964	69.3 mm (2.7 in)
1965	55.9 mm (2.2 in)
1966	90.9 mm (3.6 in)
1967	78.7 mm (3.1 in)
1968	53.8 mm (2.1 in)
1969	91.7 mm (3.6 in)
1970	37.3 mm (1.5 in)
1971	45.7 mm (1.8 in)
1972	58.4 mm (2.3 in)
1973	140.2 mm (5.5 in)
1974	81.5 mm (3.2 in)
1975	85.1 mm (3.4 in)
1976	75.2 mm (3.0 in)
1977	127.0 mm (5.0 in)
1978	85.6 mm (3.4 in)
1979	145.5 mm (5.7 in)
1980	120.7 mm (4.8 in)
1981	53.3 mm (2.1 in)
1982	76.2 mm (3.0 in)
1983	36.8 mm (1.4 in)
1984	76.7 mm (3.0 in)
1985	73.7 mm (2.9 in)
1986	89.4 mm (3.5 in)
1987	83.3 mm (3.3 in)
1988	41.1 mm (1.6 in)
1989	99.6 mm (3.9 in)
1990	58.4 mm (2.3 in)
1991	41.1 mm (1.6 in)
1992	55.6 mm (2.2 in)
1993	69.3 mm (2.7 in)
1994	63.0 mm (2.5 in)
1995	47.5 mm (1.9 in)
1996	58.2 mm (2.3 in)
1997	48.3 mm (1.9 in)
1998	49.8 mm (2.0 in)
1999	94.2 mm (3.7 in)
2000	70.6 mm (2.8 in)
2001	49.0 mm (1.9 in)
2002	52.6 mm (2.1 in)
2003	55.6 mm (2.2 in)
2004	44.2 mm (1.7 in)
2005	63.8 mm (2.5 in)
2006	81.3 mm (3.2 in)
2007	116.8 mm (4.6 in)
2008	108.5 mm (4.3 in)
2009	60.2 mm (2.4 in)
2010	64.0 mm (2.5 in)
2011	54.6 mm (2.1 in)
2012	85.1 mm (3.4 in)
2013	118.1 mm (4.6 in)
2014	102.1 mm (4.0 in)
2015	108.2 mm (4.3 in)
2016	132.1 mm (5.2 in)
2017	94.0 mm (3.7 in)
2018	94.0 mm (3.7 in)

Wettest five days (Rx5day)

The wettest five days of the year at Bedford, 1898 to 2018. The record is 177.5 mm (7.0 in) in 1914, marked on the chart; the median year is 106.6 mm (4.2 in).

Wettest five days (Rx5day) at Bedford by year
Year	Wettest five days (Rx5day)
1898	64.6 mm (2.5 in)
1899	123.7 mm (4.9 in)
1900	104.4 mm (4.1 in)
1901	50.9 mm (2.0 in)
1902	122.9 mm (4.8 in)
1903	134.1 mm (5.3 in)
1904	97.0 mm (3.8 in)
1905	82.4 mm (3.2 in)
1906	95.2 mm (3.7 in)
1907	85.4 mm (3.4 in)
1908	154.5 mm (6.1 in)
1909	131.1 mm (5.2 in)
1910	86.1 mm (3.4 in)
1911	93.7 mm (3.7 in)
1912	71.9 mm (2.8 in)
1913	66.8 mm (2.6 in)
1914	177.5 mm (7.0 in)
1915	130.0 mm (5.1 in)
1916	99.2 mm (3.9 in)
1917	144.3 mm (5.7 in)
1918	92.7 mm (3.6 in)
1919	162.8 mm (6.4 in)
1920	69.8 mm (2.7 in)
1921	104.8 mm (4.1 in)
1928	163.4 mm (6.4 in)
1929	75.4 mm (3.0 in)
1930	65.3 mm (2.6 in)
1931	116.9 mm (4.6 in)
1932	104.9 mm (4.1 in)
1933	101.6 mm (4.0 in)
1934	86.6 mm (3.4 in)
1935	88.4 mm (3.5 in)
1936	140.5 mm (5.5 in)
1937	106.6 mm (4.2 in)
1938	98.1 mm (3.9 in)
1939	140.0 mm (5.5 in)
1940	100.7 mm (4.0 in)
1941	144.7 mm (5.7 in)
1942	110.3 mm (4.3 in)
1943	167.9 mm (6.6 in)
1944	103.6 mm (4.1 in)
1945	107.1 mm (4.2 in)
1946	93.7 mm (3.7 in)
1947	114.8 mm (4.5 in)
1948	67.8 mm (2.7 in)
1949	92.0 mm (3.6 in)
1950	90.7 mm (3.6 in)
1951	68.6 mm (2.7 in)
1952	161.0 mm (6.3 in)
1953	94.3 mm (3.7 in)
1954	90.7 mm (3.6 in)
1955	90.2 mm (3.6 in)
1956	97.8 mm (3.9 in)
1957	71.9 mm (2.8 in)
1958	131.3 mm (5.2 in)
1959	145.8 mm (5.7 in)
1960	117.6 mm (4.6 in)
1961	113.1 mm (4.5 in)
1962	117.1 mm (4.6 in)
1963	64.8 mm (2.6 in)
1964	111.2 mm (4.4 in)
1965	121.9 mm (4.8 in)
1966	146.3 mm (5.8 in)
1967	123.4 mm (4.9 in)
1968	58.9 mm (2.3 in)
1969	115.8 mm (4.6 in)
1970	78.2 mm (3.1 in)
1971	104.4 mm (4.1 in)
1972	89.9 mm (3.5 in)
1973	174.5 mm (6.9 in)
1974	125.5 mm (4.9 in)
1975	112.6 mm (4.4 in)
1976	131.8 mm (5.2 in)
1977	170.2 mm (6.7 in)
1978	125.7 mm (4.9 in)
1979	165.8 mm (6.5 in)
1980	122.0 mm (4.8 in)
1981	91.7 mm (3.6 in)
1982	116.1 mm (4.6 in)
1983	75.7 mm (3.0 in)
1984	110.2 mm (4.3 in)
1985	99.1 mm (3.9 in)
1986	163.1 mm (6.4 in)
1987	166.6 mm (6.6 in)
1988	80.2 mm (3.2 in)
1989	138.6 mm (5.5 in)
1990	131.3 mm (5.2 in)
1991	86.7 mm (3.4 in)
1992	78.7 mm (3.1 in)
1993	161.0 mm (6.3 in)
1994	81.8 mm (3.2 in)
1995	73.1 mm (2.9 in)
1996	121.0 mm (4.8 in)
1997	80.8 mm (3.2 in)
1998	96.6 mm (3.8 in)
1999	123.2 mm (4.9 in)
2000	113.8 mm (4.5 in)
2001	103.3 mm (4.1 in)
2002	64.6 mm (2.5 in)
2003	115.5 mm (4.5 in)
2004	100.3 mm (3.9 in)
2005	104.9 mm (4.1 in)
2006	159.5 mm (6.3 in)
2007	149.8 mm (5.9 in)
2008	139.0 mm (5.5 in)
2009	94.9 mm (3.7 in)
2010	87.6 mm (3.4 in)
2011	91.3 mm (3.6 in)
2012	92.2 mm (3.6 in)
2013	154.2 mm (6.1 in)
2014	126.2 mm (5.0 in)
2015	167.0 mm (6.6 in)
2016	154.7 mm (6.1 in)
2017	127.1 mm (5.0 in)
2018	133.4 mm (5.3 in)

Longest dry spell (CDD)

The longest dry spell of the year at Bedford, 1898 to 2018. The record is 58 days in 1952, marked on the chart; the median year is 25 days.

Longest dry spell (CDD) at Bedford by year
Year	Longest dry spell (CDD)
1898	26 days
1899	25 days
1900	25 days
1901	28 days
1902	18 days
1903	24 days
1904	30 days
1905	22 days
1906	31 days
1907	25 days
1908	25 days
1909	16 days
1910	30 days
1911	24 days
1912	29 days
1913	28 days
1914	23 days
1915	23 days
1916	22 days
1917	25 days
1918	19 days
1919	28 days
1920	19 days
1921	32 days
1928	18 days
1929	26 days
1930	30 days
1931	30 days
1932	31 days
1933	27 days
1934	42 days
1935	21 days
1936	41 days
1937	21 days
1938	26 days
1939	37 days
1940	20 days
1941	22 days
1942	31 days
1943	27 days
1944	26 days
1945	24 days
1946	23 days
1947	27 days
1948	40 days
1949	26 days
1950	32 days
1951	17 days
1952	58 days
1953	26 days
1954	49 days
1955	30 days
1956	23 days
1957	23 days
1958	32 days
1959	18 days
1960	27 days
1961	23 days
1962	25 days
1963	22 days
1964	20 days
1965	20 days
1966	41 days
1967	29 days
1968	43 days
1969	22 days
1970	41 days
1971	24 days
1972	38 days
1973	39 days
1974	24 days
1975	33 days
1976	26 days
1977	28 days
1978	27 days
1979	36 days
1980	27 days
1981	25 days
1982	19 days
1983	25 days
1984	28 days
1985	20 days
1986	22 days
1987	22 days
1988	33 days
1989	36 days
1990	32 days
1991	24 days
1992	23 days
1993	18 days
1994	28 days
1995	24 days
1996	20 days
1997	15 days
1998	22 days
1999	49 days
2000	29 days
2001	24 days
2002	46 days
2003	17 days
2004	22 days
2005	31 days
2006	34 days
2007	30 days
2008	22 days
2009	24 days
2010	26 days
2011	21 days
2012	31 days
2013	15 days
2014	17 days
2015	23 days
2016	27 days
2017	20 days
2018	17 days

Each chart shows one value per year; the dot marks the record year. TXx is the hottest daily maximum, TNn the coldest daily minimum, Rx1day and Rx5day the largest one-day and five-day rain totals, and CDD the longest run of days with less than 1 mm of rain. A year with missing days can understate an extreme.

Frost Dates and Growing Season

85 years with a frost

Across 85 years with a frost, the median last spring frost at Bedford falls on 29 April and the median first autumn frost on 8 October, which leaves a median of 163 days between them.

In 1980 to 2017 the median growing season was 176 days. That is 19 days more than in 1903 to 1951.

Fitted over all years, the growing season changes by +2.2 days per decade at this station.

Frost dates and growing season at Bedford
Measure	Median, all years	Earliest period (1903 to 1951)	Recent period (1980 to 2017)	Recent against earliest	Fitted trend
Last spring frost	29 April	2 May	21 April	11 days earlier	-1.4 days per decade
First autumn frost	8 October	8 October	11 October	3 days later	+0.7 days per decade
Growing days	163 days	157 days	176 days	19 days more	+2.2 days per decade

A frost day is a day with a daily minimum at or below 0 C (32 F). The last spring frost and the first autumn frost are the last and first such days of the cold season, and growing days are the days between them. A negative trend for the last spring frost means it comes earlier.

Rainfall Return Levels

103 years, 1899 to 2017

A day with at least 69.2 mm (2.7 in) of rain is expected about once in 2 years. A day with at least 160.7 mm (6.3 in) of rain is expected about once in 100 years.

Rainfall return levels at Bedford: the daily rain expected about once in a given number of years
Expected about once in	A day with at least	Note
2 years	69.2 mm (2.7 in)
5 years	93.0 mm (3.7 in)
10 years	109.0 mm (4.3 in)
25 years	129.6 mm (5.1 in)
50 years	145.1 mm (5.7 in)
100 years	160.7 mm (6.3 in)

The levels come from a generalised extreme value (GEV) distribution fitted by L-moments to the wettest-day total of each year, 103 years of values from 1899 to 2017.

A return level is an estimate. It is least reliable for the long periods, 50 and 100 years, and for any period longer than the record behind the fit, where the fit has to reach past the largest day actually observed. It is not a forecast.

The largest wettest-day totals in the fit: 140.2 mm (5.5 in) in 1973; 134.9 mm (5.3 in) in 1959; 132.1 mm (5.2 in) in 2016.

Station Changes

1 suspected

One change was suspected in the annual mean temperature of Bedford, at 1971. Each is measured against neighbouring stations.

Relative to 5 neighbouring stations, the station's annual mean temperature from 1971 ran 0.2 C (0.4 F) lower than in the years before (possible change).

Suspected changes in the annual mean temperature at Bedford, against neighbouring stations
Year	Shift (C)	Shift (F)	Strength	Neighbours
1971	-0.2	-0.4	possible	5

Possible change at the station (a move, a new instrument or a new site); the record is kept as measured. A "likely" change has a larger test statistic than a "possible" one. Neither says why the station differs from its neighbours. How changes are found, and the largest ones.

Download the Data

Data for Bedford standing records by year: CSV or JSON. Field meanings are on the data page.
Data for Bedford threshold days by year: CSV or JSON. Field meanings are on the data page.

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 (17 October 2026). Records are computed by this site and are not official.

Data as of 2025-12-31. Last revised 31 December 2025 (2025-12-31).