In 1887, in Montana, USA there was a snowstorm with a difference. The flakes measured 15 inches across and they were up to 6 inches thick. This is claimed as a world record for snowflakes. In Bratsk, Siberia, in 1971, flakes measuring 8 inches by 12 inches were observed.
Turtle From The Sky
In 1894 a severe hail storm in Mississippi stunned the inhabitants of Bovina when it also brought an ice encased turtle measuring about 6 inches by 8 inches out of the sky.
Giant Hailstones
In 1995 huge hailstones peppered the Fort Worth area. Damage to property totalled more that $2 billion when lumps of ice the size of oranges and grapefruit fell from the skies. There were many injuries and this storm went down as the tenth most expensive in US history.
Heaviest Rainfall
It often seems that it couldn't rain any harder when we watch very heavy rain through a window, or get caught in it, but the heaviest rain ever recorded was measured in the Caribbean. In one minute 1.5 inches of rain fell at Barot, on the island of Guadeloupe on November 26th, 1970.
Hottest Place On Earth
The highest temperature ever recorded on earth was measured in Azizia, Libya, in 1922. The thermometer went all the way up to 136 degrees Fahrenheit which is 58 centigrade, in the shade. Imagine how hot it must have been in the sun.
Wettest Day On Record
March 16th, 1952 was the wettest day ever recorded. More than six feet of rain (74inches) fell at Cilaos on Reunion Island.
Snowiest Winter On Record
At Paradise Ranger Station in Washington State 1,122 inches of snow fell during the winter of 1971-1972. The average snowfall is usually around 580 inches.
Coal Falls From The Sky
During a huge storm in June of 1983, in Dorset, England, lumps of coal fell from the sky pelted a number of yachtsman who were out for a day's sailing.
Red Rain
In 1968 southern England was covered in red dust. The heavy rain that had been blown in on the storm clouds was mixed with red sand which had travelled over one thousand miles from the Sahara desert.
Raining Frogs
In 1939 it actually rained frogs during a thunderstorm in Wiltshire, England. Animals coming down in rainstorms is not as rare as it sounds. It is thought that they actually get sucked upwards by waterspouts, tornadoes or powerful up drafts.
