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WEATHER FACTS
- Highest recorded temperature in the world: 136° F (58° C), Al Aziziyah, Libya, September 13, 1922
- Highest recorded temperature in the United States: 134° F (56.7° C), Death Valley, California, July 10, 1913
- Lowest recorded temperature in the world: -128.6° F (89.6° C), Vostok Station, Antarctica, July 21 1983.
- Lowest recorded temperature in the world in an inhabited area: -90.4° F (-68° C), Oymyakon, Siberia, February 6, 1933
- Lowest recorded temperature in the United States: -79.8° F (-62.1° C), Prospect Creek, Alaska, January 23, 1971
- Lowest recorded temperature in the United States (48 contiguous states): -69.7° F (-56.5° C), Rogers Pass, Montana, January 20, 1954.
- Fastest recorded wind speed: 231 miles per hour, Mount Washington, New Hampshire; April 12, 1934
- Greatest rainfall in one day: 73.62 inches, Cilaos, La ReŽunion, Indian Ocean; March 15, 1952
- Greatest rainfall in one year: 1,041 inches, Assam, India; August 1880-1881
- Greatest rainfall in one minute: 1.8 inches, Basse Terre, Guadeloupe, November 26, 1970
- Greatest snowfall for a single storm: 189 inches, Mount Shasta Ski Bowl, California; February 13-19, 1959
- Largest hailstone: 2.2 pounds, Gopalganj district of Bangladesh, April 14, 1986
- Lightning: Lightning bolts can travel 10 or more miles from the storm cloud to strike in regions with blue skies.
- Temperature of lightning: approximately 50,000°F
- Odds of being struck by lightning in a given year: approximately 1 in 700,000
- Tornado: Fastest tornado winds: 286 miles per hour, Wichita Falls, Texas; April 2, 1958
- Tornado: Longest Discontinuous Tornado: 293 miles on the ground, 1917, traveled from Missouri to Indiana but was not on the ground for the entire distance.
- Tree crickets are called the poor man's thermometer because temperature directly affects their rate of activity. Listen for a cricket and count the number of chirps it makes in fifteen seconds. Add 40. The sum will be very close to the Fahrenheit temperature.
- How far away is lightning? During a storm, count the number of seconds between the strike of lightning and the sound of thunder, then divide by five. The answer reveals how many miles away the lightning is. (The thunder and lightning strike at the same time, but it takes the sound longer to travel; if you see lightning and hear thunder simultaneously, you are right in the middle of the storm.)
- Facts gathered from information contained in the 2005 Guinness World Records, HIT Entertainment Ltd. Company and NOAA
CAMP NAUTICUS
Is there a junior Madame Curie or marine biologist in your family? Camp Nauticus offers a wide variety of programs for all ages and interests.