LARGEST HAIL
Before June 22, 2004 the largest hailstone fell in Coffeyville, Kansas on September 3, 1970. It had a diameter of 5.7 inches, weighed 1.67 lbs, and had a circumference of 17.5 inches. But on June 22, 2004 a new record fell from the skies. On that night the NWS recieved reports of "Volleyball" size hailstones. It wasnt far from the truth! One hailstone that was collected had a diameter of 7 inches and a circumference of 18.75 inches. The stone didnt break the record for heaviest as weighed just under 1 lb (the Coffeyville, KS stone still holds the heaviest hailstone record) BUT the NWS says that the hailstone hit a gutter of a house and that possibly as much as 40% of stone was lost from that impact and some additionally from melting.

STRONGEST TORNADO
The strongest tornado ever measured may be the May 3, 1999 Moore, Oklahoma tornado. Winds were measured by the Doppler on Wheels at 318 mph which makes that tornado a rare F5 tornado. While that measurement is still disputed, it does seem that this tornado had winds of at least 300 mph. But is this the strongest? The 318 mph wind measurement is the highest ever recorded, but only a handful (less than .01%) of tornadoes are actually surveyed by DOW (Doppler on Wheels) and/or by any other means. While we cant say that the May 3, 1999 tornado was the biggest, or widest, or deadliest, or longest lived, or longest tracked, we can say that it was the costliest. Insurance estimates are in the 1 billion dollar range.

On the same day as the Moore, Oklahoma tornado another tornado struck around the city of Mulhall (north of Guthrie), Oklahoma. This tornado was observed by the DOW (Doppler on Wheels) as well. This F-4 tornado had winds of at least 95 MPH covering an area over 4 miles wide!

On May 4, 2007 a tornado stuck the town of Greensburg, Kansas. 95% of the town was destroyed and 10 people were killed. The Greensburg, Kansas tornado is the first F-5 tornado since the May 3, 1999 tornado and the first using the new EF (enhanced fujita) scale. The estimated width of the tornado was 1.7 miles!

Another large tornado occurred on May 22, 2004 and impacted the town of Hallam, Nebraska. This tornado was rated an F4 and was estimated to be over 2.5 miles wide. The tornado may have been even wider than that as its damage path width may have been limited by the rural nature of the area.

Some of the other strongest tornadoes ever witnessed include: The Tri-State Tornado of March 18, 1925, the Woodward, OK Tornado of April 9, 1947, the Xenia, OH Tornado of April 3, 1974, and the Andover, KS Tornado of April 26, 1991.

HURRICANES
In the Western Hemisphere (Atlantic Basin) Hurricane Wilma (2005) is the most intense hurricane on record as measured by its central air pressure. While in the Carribean, its winds were estimated to be sustained at 185 MPH with gust to over 200 MPH. The pressure fell to a record low of 882 MB.

Hurricane Gilbert (1988) previously held the top spot at 888 MB.

Other strong hurricanes:

Labor Day Hurricane of 1935: 892 MB
Hurricane Rita 2005: 895 MB
Hurricane Allen 1980: 899 MB
Hurricane Katrina 2005: 902 MB
Hurricane Camille 1969: 905 MB
Hurricane Mitch 1998: 905 MB

Typhoon Tip (Eastern Hemisphere) 1979: 870 MB

A highly disputed claim came from Guam on December 17, 1997, as Typhoon Paka passed over the island. A measurement of 236 mph was recorded but the meteorlogical community thinks it was more likely somewhere between 175 - 185 mph

NON-TORNADIC WINDS
The highest wind speed ever directly measured occured on April 12, 1934 on top of Mount Washington, New Hampshire. The wind speed that day gusted to 231 mph. What caused such strong winds? It was caused from a tight pressure gradient between a strong high pressure south of Greenland and a developing strong low over the Great Lakes.

TEMPERATURE EXTREMES
The highest recorded surface temperature of 136 was made on September 13, 1922 in El Azizia, Libbya. Death Valley, California holds the number 2 spot at 134 on July 10, 1913.

The lowest recorded surface temperature of -129 was recorded at the Antarctica station of Vostok on July 21, 1983.

Quick Facts: Every state (including Alaska) has had a temperature of 100.0 F or higher. And every state (except Hawaii 12F) has had a below 0 F temperature.

The biggest temperature difference in one day occured on January 23-24, 1916 in Browning, Montana. On that day the temperature fell from 44 to -56 F for a incredible drop of 100 F. The greatest temperature ranges occur in Siberia in eastern Russia. In the town of Verkhoyansk temperatures have spanned 221 F, from -90 to 98 F.

WETTEST & DRIEST LOCATIONS
With an average rainfall of 523 inches per year, Lloro, Colombia is probably the wettest location on earth. However, Cherrapunjee, India recieved 1,041 inches of rain in one year, and 366 inches of rain in one month!

Also in South America, the driest location on earth with an average of .03 inches per year is Arica, Chile in the Atacama Desert. Some places in the Atacama Desert of Chile have not recieved any rain for 400 years!