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Parts of California survived a record-breaking three-day heatwave last week with a recorded high of 96 degrees in Anaheim. While the drastic change in temperature was shocking, it's surely not the worst the state has ever seen. In fact, California holds the world record for the highest temperature ever recorded. Way back in 1913, Death Valley's Greenland Ranch hit 134 degrees.
Stacker compiled a list of California's most extreme temperatures throughout history. The website consulted 2021 data from the NOAA's State Climate Extremes Committee (SCEC) to track down the hottest and coldest temperatures ever recorded in every state. Here are California's most extreme:
- All-time highest temperature: 134° F (Greenland Ranch on July 10, 1913)
- All-time lowest temperature: -45° F (Boca on Jan. 20, 1937)
- All-time highest 24-hour precipitation: 25.83 inches (Hoegees Fc 60 A on Jan. 22–23, 1943)
- All-time highest 24-hour snowfall: 67 inches (Echo Summit Sierra at Tahoe on Jan. 5, 1982)
Here are the stats from other states in our region:
Arizona
- All-time highest temperature: 128° F (Lake Havasu City on June 29, 1994)
- All-time lowest temperature: -40° F (Hawley Lake on Jan. 7, 1971)
- All-time highest 24-hour precipitation: 11.4 inches (Workman Creek 1 on Sept. 4–5, 1970)
- All-time highest 24-hour snowfall: 38 inches (Heber (Black Mesa) Ranger Station on Dec. 14, 1967)
Nevada
- All-time highest temperature: 125° F (Laughlin on June 29, 1994)
- All-time lowest temperature: -50° F (San Jacinto on Jan. 8, 1937)
- All-time highest 24-hour precipitation: 7.78 inches (Mt. Charleston Fire Station on Oct. 20, 2004)
- All-time highest 24-hour snowfall: 36 inches (Daggett Pass on Dec. 21, 1996)