The list of weather records includes the most extreme occurrences of weather phenomena for various categories. Many weather records are measured under specific conditions—such as surface temperature and wind speed—to keep consistency among measurements around the Earth. Each of these records is understood to be the record value officially observed, as these records may have been exceeded before modern weather instrumentation was invented, or in remote areas without an official weather station. This list does not include remotely sensed observations such as satellite measurements, since those values are not considered official records.
Temperature
Measuring conditions The standard measuring conditions for temperature are in the air, to above the ground, and shielded from direct sunlight intensity (hence the term x degrees "in the shade"). The following lists include all officially confirmed claims measured by those methods.
Temperatures measured directly on the ground may exceed air temperatures by . The highest natural ground surface temperature ever recorded may have been an alleged reading of at Furnace Creek, California, United States, on 15 July 1972. In 2011, a ground temperature of was recorded in Port Sudan, Sudan.Table 9.2, p. 158, Dryland Climatology, Sharon E. Nicholson, Cambridge University Press, 2011, . The theoretical maximum possible ground surface temperature has been estimated to be between for dry, darkish soils of low thermal conductivity.
Satellite measurements of ground temperature taken between 2003 and 2009, taken with the MODIS infrared spectroradiometer on the Aqua satellite, found a maximum temperature of , which was recorded in 2005 in the Lut Desert, Iran. The Lut Desert was also found to have the highest maximum temperature in five of the seven years measured (2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2009). These measurements reflect averages over a large region and so are lower than the maximum point surface temperature.
Satellite measurements of the surface temperature of Antarctica, taken between 1982 and 2013, found a coldest temperature of on 10 August 2010, at . Although this is not comparable to an air temperature, it is believed that the air temperature at this location would have been lower than the official record lowest air temperature of .Coldest spot on Earth identified by satellite , Jonathan Amos, BBC News, 9 December 2013.The Coldest Place on Earth: -90 °C and below from Landsat 8 and other satellite thermal sensors , Ted Scambos, Allen Pope, Garrett Campbell, and Terry Haran, American Geophysical Union fall meeting, 9 December 2013.
Hottest
Highest temperatures ever recorded
According to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the highest temperature ever recorded globally is on 10 July 1913 in Furnace Creek (Greenland Ranch), California, but the validity of this record is challenged as possible problems with the reading have since been discovered. Christopher C. Burt, a weather historian writing for Weather Underground, believes that the 1913 Death Valley reading is "a myth", and is at least too high. Burt proposes that the highest reliably recorded temperature on Earth could still be at Death Valley, but is instead recorded on 30 June 2013. This is lower than a 1931 measurement of recorded in Kebili, Tunisia, which has been verified by the WMO, although it has been disputed by most meteorologists. The temperature of is also matched by a 1942 record from Tirat Zvi, Israel. In 2016 and 2017, readings in Kuwait and Iran also matched the 2013 Death Valley record, while readings in 2020 and 2021 also at Furnace Creek went even higher, up to 54.4 °C (130 °F), however, they have not yet been validated by WMO. The WMO has stated they stand by the 1913 record pending any future investigations.
The former highest official temperature on Earth, , measured in ʽAziziya, Libya on 13 September 1922, was reassessed in July 2012 by the WMO which published a report that invalidated the record. Another record hottest temperature was reportedly reached during a severe heat burst that occurred in Kopperl, Texas on 15 June 1960. Also nicknamed "Satan's Storm", the temperature is reported to have increased to around in a matter of minutes during the decay phase of a thunderstorm. This event, however, is poorly known and is not commonly included on lists of the highest globally recorded temperatures. There have been other unconfirmed reports of high temperatures, but these temperatures have never been officially validated by national weather services/WMO, and are currently considered to have been recorder's errors,Weather Extremes , Weather Underground – Retrieved 14 September 2012. thus not being recognised as world records.
Highest global average temperature The warmest day on record for the entire planet was 22 July 2024 when the highest global average temperature was recorded at . The previous record was set the day before on 21 July 2024. The month of July 2023 was the hottest month on record globally. September 2023 was the most anomalously warm month, averaging 1.75 °C (3.15 °F) above the preindustrial average for September. The Copernicus Programme (begun 1940) had recorded 13 August 2016, as the hottest global temperature, but by July 2024, that date had been downgraded to the fourth hottest.
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) stated in its State of the Global Climate 2025 report that the period from 2015 to 2025 represented the warmest eleven-year span since global temperature records began. The report also indicated that 2025 ranked among the two or three hottest individual years on record globally, with the global mean temperature estimated at approximately 1.43 °C (2.57 °F) above the 1850-1900 preindustrial baseline.
Country/Region Temperature Town/Location DateAfrica Ouargla, Ouargla ProvinceMaunDoriPraiaFaya-LargeauCeutaHahaya International AirportAswanLavumisa ? Dallol, AfarTchibangaJenoiKuntaurMay 2002NavrongoKoundara, Boké RegionOdienneWajirEjeda, Atsimo-Andrefana?KayesTrevaniAgadir (Inezgane Airport) BilmaYolaImpfondoSt. PaulKigaliGeorgetownBerberaVioolsdrif, Northern CapeDongolaAbeid Amani Karume International Airport, Zanzibar CityMangoKairouanKitgumMfuwe, Eastern ProvinceAntarcticaSigny Research Station, Signy IslandAsiaLata, Abkhazia? (then, )Farah Bahrain International Airportyaleclimateconnections.org 10 June 2026: https://yaleclimateconnections.org/2026/06/may-2026-was-the-worlds-second-warmest-may-on-record/ May 2026 was the world’s second-warmest May on record] Rajshahi Phuentsholing Mukim Sukang Preah Vihear and Svay Leu District Sanbu Township, Turpan, Xinjiang Sheung Shui Phalodi, Rajasthan Jatiwangi, Java Ahvaz Airport (OIAW) BasraPalestine Kalya Isesaki, Gunma Deir Alla Turkistan Mitribah, Al Jahra Governorate Jangy-Jer Tha NgonHouche Al Oumara; Zahle Coloane Chuping Hanimaadhoo Khongor, Darkhan-Uul Province Myinmu AtariaHoeryong Joba Mohenjo-daroTurbat28 May 2017 (first recorded under the Insular Government) Tuguegarao, Cagayan Valley11 May 1969 Doha (Asia) Ust-Kara, Zabaykalsky Krai Jeddah TengahAng Mo Kio13 May 2023 Yangsan, South Gyeongsang Province Vavuniya Al-Hasakah Fuyuan Aivadj Tak Silopi, Şırnak Province (then the , ) Repetek Biosphere State Reserve, Karakum Desert Sweihan, Al AinMashikudukUchquduq18 July 2026 Tương Dương Commune,Nghệ An ProvinceEuropeAyios Nikolaos,Dhekelia Kuçovë Borda Vidal Meghri Bad Deutsch-Altenburg Julfa and Ordubad? Pinsk Begijnendijk, Flemish Brabant Mostar Sadovo, Plovdiv Province (then the , ) Ploče Athalassa Visitor Centre Doksany Ødum, Favrskov Municipality Hans Christian Andersen Airport(in Danish) VõruVágar Airport Joensuu Airport, Liperi Vérargues, Hérault Möckern-Drewitz, Saxony-AnhaltThe temperature of 42.6 degrees on 25 July 2019 in Lingen was declared invalid 2020, Elefsina, Attica Guernsey Airport Szécsény (then the ) Teigarhorn, DjúpivogurEinarsson, Markús. Climate of Iceland pg 683. Retrieved 29 April 2009.Heat Wave Hits Iceland, New Records Set Iceland Review 31 July 2008. Retrieved 29 April 2009. (then part of the ) Kilkenny Castle, County KilkennyIsle of Man Airport Floridia, Sicily Mason St Louis Klina VentspilsLVGMC Twitter account . Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre. Retrieved 4 August 2014. Ruggell Zarasai, Utena County Remich, Remich Malta International Airport Fălești Monaco PodgoricaDanilovgrad8 August 2012 Gilze en Rijen, North Brabant Demir Kapija, Demir KapijaLefkoniko Nesbyen, Buskerud Słubice Amareleja, BejaExtremes Instituto Português do Mar e da Atmosfera, IPMA Ion Sion, Brăila CountyThermal Extremees Administratiei Nationale de Meteorologie (European part) Utta, Kalmykia Serravalle Smederevska Palanka, Podunavlje Dolne Plachtince Cerklje ob Krki La Rambla, Cordoba (as La Rambla Privilegio)Longyearbyen Ultuna, Uppsala CountyMålilla, Kalmar County29 June 1947 Grono, Moesa District Luhansk Coningsby, Lincolnshire Vatican CityNorth America The Valley V. C. Bird International Airport, St. John's Freeport Saint James Barton Creek Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport Lytton, British Columbia Owen Roberts International Airport, Grand Cayman Cerro Huacalito, Guanacaste Province Veguitas (Granma Province) Canefield Airport Mao Maniitsoq Estanzuela, Zacapa San Pedro Sula Caravelle MexicaliTepache, Sonora20 June 2024Chinandega San Francisco PonceAguirre17 September 2020 Furnace Creek, Death Valley, California9 July 2021World: Highest Temperature World Meteorological Organization. Retrieved 13 September 2012. Saint CroixOceania Oodnadatta, South Australia Onslow, Western AustraliaGlobal Measured Extremes of Temperature and Precipitation. National Climatic Data Center. Retrieved 13 August 2023 Cocos (Keeling) Islands Vatukoula Utirik Atoll Nauru Arc-2 Boulouparis Rangiora, Canterbury Roman Tmetuchl International Airport Asau Honiara, Guadalcanal Province Niuafoou Lamap Malekula Futuna AirportSouth America Campo Gallo, Santiago del Estero Province Queen Beatrix International Airport, Oranjestad Villamontes, Tarija Department Flamingo International Airport, Kralendijk Araçuaí, Minas Gerais Cauquenes, Maule Region Jerusalen, Cundinamarca Grand-SantiEbini Las Palmas, BoquerónTingo de Ponaza Paysandú, Paysandú DepartmentFlorida, Florida Department Santa Ana de Coro, Falcón
Other high-temperature records Country/Region TemperatureTown/LocationDateRecordInfo Marble Bar, Western Australia to (160 days)Most consecutive days above 37.8 °C (100 °F) - Lut DesertHighest natural ground surface temperature - () Death Valley to (40 days)Most consecutive days above 48.9 °C (120 °F) - Imperial, CaliforniaHighest temperature during rain - Khasab weather stationHighest overnight low temperature - Qurayyat, Muscat GovernorateHighest minimum temperature for a 24-hour period and for a calendar day - MitribahMost days 50°C (122°F) or above in a month (20 days) - Highest average daily high recorded for a month - () Death ValleyHighest average monthly temperature - Verkhoyansk, Sakha RepublicHighest temperature north of the Arctic Circle - Lytton, British ColumbiaHighest temperature ever recorded north of the 50th parallel north -
Humidity Highest dew point temperature: A dew point of — while the temperature was — was observed at Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, at 3:00 p.m. on 8 July 2003. (The relative humidity was 69%). Highest heat index: In the observation above at Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, the heat index ("feels like" temperature) was . Highest temperature with 100% relative humidity: A temperature of with 100% relative humidity in Jask, Iran, on 21 July 2012.
Coldest
Lowest temperatures recorded
The lowest temperature recorded is , in Vostok Station, Antarctica on 21 July 1983.