In a whirlwind of record-breaking temperatures, meteorologists are left in awe of the extraordinary weather event unfolding before their eyes. While it may appear that temperature records are being shattered with each passing moment, the significance of a temperature surpassing an all-time record is truly remarkable.
Daily records are the most common type, occurring when a temperature for a specific day reaches an extreme that has never been recorded before, whether it be scorching heat or bone-chilling cold. However, an all-time record is in a league of its own, signifying a temperature that has never been documented at that intensity for any day in history. Breaking an all-time record is a rare and formidable feat compared to a daily record.
Various categories of all-time records exist, including high temperatures, low temperatures, rainfall, and snowfall. One notable example is Alaska, holding the record for the coldest temperature ever recorded in the United States, a staggering -80 degrees on Jan. 23, 1971, in Prospect Creek, situated north of Fairbanks. Montana claims the coldest all-time record for the contiguous 48 states, reaching an astonishing -70 degrees in 1954 at Rogers Pass. Interestingly, Hawaii stands as the sole state without a sub-zero all-time cold record.
On the other end of the spectrum, Death Valley stands out for registering the highest temperature not only in the U.S. but on Earth, a scorching 134 degrees. Each state in the nation boasts an all-time high temperature exceeding 100 degrees, reflecting the widespread impact of extreme heat events.
Jennifer Gray, a seasoned weather and climate writer for weather.com, has dedicated the past two decades to covering some of the most significant weather and climate stories worldwide.
