Highest Recorded Temperatures
Updated May 8, 2019 |
Infoplease Staff
![Updated by an Infoplease Editor on May 8, 2019](/themes/ip/images/info-circle.png)
Below is a table of the highest recorded temperatures for each continent. Death Valley, Calif., tops the list, hitting a stifling 134 degrees in 1913.
Place | Date | Degrees Fahrenheit | Degrees Celsius | |
---|---|---|---|---|
North America | Furnace Creek Ranch (Death Valley), Calif., USA | July 10, 1913 | 134.0 | 56.7 |
Asia | Tirat Tsvi, Israel | June 21, 1942 | 129.2 | 54.0 |
Africa1 | Kebili, Tunisia | July 7, 1931 | 131.0 | 55.0 |
Australia | Oodnadatta, South Australia | Jan. 2, 1960 | 123.0 | 50.7 |
Europe | Athens, Greece (and Elefsina, Greece) | July 10, 1977 | 118.4 | 48.0 |
South America | Rivadavia, Argentina | Dec. 11, 1905 | 120.0 | 48.9 |
Oceania | Tuguegarao, Philippines | April 20, 1912 | 108.0 | 42.2 |
Antarctica | Vanda Station, Scott Coast | Jan. 5, 1974 | 59.0 | 15.0 |
1. Previous record of 58 degrees celsius recorded at El Azizia, Libya was reviewed (2010-2012) by a World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Commission of Climatology (CCl) special international panel of meteorological experts. Their conclusion rejected the long-held record, citing (a) problematical instrumentation, (b) a likely inexperienced observer, (c) an observation site which was not representative of the desert surroundings, (d) poor matching of the extreme to other nearby locations and (e) poor matching to subsequent temperatures recorded at the site.
Source: World Meteorological Organization.
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