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List of atmospheric pressure records in Europe

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The following is a List of atmospheric pressure records in Europe and the extratropical Northern Atlantic. (It does not include localised events, such as those that occur in tornados.)

Extreme pressure values in Europe show both seasonal and geographical differentiation. The greatest pressure extremes occur in winter (January), with the deepest lows occurring to the northwest of the continent, and a diminishing influence of low pressure to the southeast towards Central Europe and Southeast Europe.[1] This is related to the main cyclonic centre of the Icelandic Low, and the North Atlantic extratropical storm track, close to which have been observed some of the lowest atmospheric pressures of the Northern Hemisphere outside the tropics. Extreme high values are favoured over the north east of Europe where intense cold and long winter nights lead to radiative cooling of the air column, causing sinking air reinforcing the development of the highest pressures. Other influences include the semi-permanent Azores High and Siberian High.[2]

Land-based observations in Europe

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Met Office daily weather report supplementary chart of barometer over Europe on 24 January 1907, for 8 am 23 January with a high of 31.5 inches of mercury (1,070 hPa) over Latvia

Land-based records for Europe:

  • Highest observed air pressure record:
  • 22–23 January 1907 in Pärnu, Estonia and Riga, Latvia at 1067.1 mbar reported in peer-reviewed literature.[3]

Other high values have been reported:

  • 23 January 1907 in Riga at 1068.7 hPa, this value is from a student generated report from the Free University of Berlin Adopt a Vortex scheme.[4] (supported with a 1068 hPa pressure reported in a Danish Meteorological Society publication.[5])
  • 17 February 1954 in northern Russia >1060 hPa,[6] This high is claimed to have a pressure over 1070 hPa by a Free University of Berlin student generated report.[7]
  • 16 February 1956, northern Urals 1070 hPa mentioned in student generated reports from FUB.[7] 1067 hPa in another student report from FUB.[4] Others give a figure for this high of 1065 mslp.[8] An isobar of 1072 over Russia features on the Met Office Daily Weather Report 16 February 1956 centred about the town of Vorkuta, Komi Republic.[9]
  • 31 January 2012 station Khoseda-Khard directly west of Urals a value of 1068.3 hPa,[10] also reported by SMHI,[11] from a high pressure area named "Cooper/Dieter" by the Free University of Berlin in January 2012[7] which brought the Early 2012 European cold wave.

Pressure is thought to have risen above 1060 hPa in Europe on only 12 occasions between 1871 and 2010, in the years 1893, 1899, 1907, 1915, 1920, 1938, 1944, 1946, 1956, 1972, 1995 and 2008.[12] To this list might also be included high pressure anticyclones in 1954 and 2012 (see above), and 1869.[13] The most notable high in Europe peaked in January 1907. This was an unusual development that brought high pressure to the west,[12] and holds the officially-recognised record across multiple countries from Scandinavia to Central Europe (Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Germany, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary).

  • Lowest air pressure:

Another value reported:

  • 6–7 January 1839, recorded at Sumburgh Head, Shetland during the Night of the big wind storm 27.25 inches of mercury (922.8 hPa) this value is from non-standardised equipment, and is not fully supported by values at neighbouring stations (unknown if corrected for MSLP).[15] The conversion to hPa above assumes an Inch of mercury at 0 °F = 3376.85 Pa, if value assumes inHg at 60 °F = 3376.38 Pa the value could be as low as 920.2 hPa.

Northern Europe

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Iceland

Note: Iceland is a sparsely populated country with a very limited number of weather stations compared to its area. Therefore the vast majority of extreme pressure events will not have been recorded.

  • Highest air pressure: 3 January 1841, Reykjavik 1058.0 hPa.[16]
  • Lowest air pressure: 2 December 1929 at Stórhöfði peninsula, Heimaey 920 hPa.[14]

Iceland monthly maximum figures for atmospheric pressure

More information Month, Date ...
Monthly maximum figures for atmospheric pressure in Iceland (Based on Jónsson[17])
Month Date Location pressure
(hPa)		 ref Notes
January 3 January 1841 Reykjavik 1058.0 Calibrated to 1058.5 in some publications.[18]
February 14 February 1892 Akureyri and Stykkishólmur 1051.8 [19]
March 6 March 1883 Vestmannaey settlement 1051.7
April 16 April 1991 Egilsstaðir 1050.8
May 18 May 1894 Akureyri 1045.0
June 11 June 2019 Reykjavík Airport 1040.6 [20][21] Previously 21 June 1939 Stykkishólmur, 1040.4 hPa.
July 3 July 1917 Stykkishólmur 1034.3
August 31 August 2021 Önundarhorn 1036.3 [22][23] An unofficial value, 28 August 1869 Stykkishólmur, 1036.7 hPa
September 28 September 1983 Akureyri 1038.3
October 26 October 2018 Gjögur Airport 1045.9 [24][25] Previously 20 October 1885 at Akureyri and 26 October 1919 at Ísafjörður (1919): 1044.5 hPa[26][24][27]
November 24 November 2005 Bolungarvík 1048.0
December 16 December 1917 Stykkishólmur 1054.2
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Iceland list of atmospheric pressure over 1050 hPa

High pressure in Iceland has exceeded 1050 hPa on 5 recorded occasions in the 19th century, 4 recorded occasions in the 20th century and 2 in the 21st century.[16][needs update]

More information Date, Location ...
Atmospheric pressure exceeding 1050 hPa recorded in Iceland.[16]
Date Location Pressure
(hPa)		 Notes
23 December 1836 Reykjavík 1050.9
3 January 1841 Reykjavík 1058.0
11 December 1846 Reykjavík 1051.7 10 December Stykkishólmur 1052.6 hPa.[28]
6 March 1883 Stykkishólmur 1050.7
12 January 1890 Akureyri 1051.6[29]
26 February 1890 Stykkishólmur 1050.0
14 January 1891 Westman Isles 1051.1[30]
14 February 1892 Akureyri and Stykkishólmur 1051.8[19]
16 December 1917 Stykkishólmur 1054.2
26 February 1962 Akureyri 1051.7
17 January 1977 Galtarviti, Keflavík 1051.1
14–15 April 1991 Several stations 1050
25–26 February 2006 Several stations 1050[17]
28 March 2020 Hjarðarland 1050.5 [31][32] named "Keywan" by FUB.
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Climatic Research Unit Emulate data 1874–2002, also gives values on 10 March 1887 at Stykkishólmur 1052.43 hPa and also 9 January 1977 at the same location 1050.47 hPa.[33][note 1]

Iceland monthly minimum figures for atmospheric pressure

More information Month, Date ...
Monthly minimum figures for atmospheric pressure in Iceland
Month Date Location pressure hPa ref Notes
January 3 January 1933 Westman Isles 923.9 [34]
February 4 February 1824 Reykjavik 923.8 [35]
March 4 March 1913 Reykjavik 934.6 [36]
April 11 April 1990 Bergstöðum in Skagafjörður 951.0 [37]
May 13 May 1956 Stórhöfði 967.3 [38]
June 11 June 1983 Stórhöfði 959.6 [39] 958.0 offshore low.[40]
July 22 July 2012 Westman Isles 972.4 [41]
August 27 August 1927 Hólar in Hornafjörður 960.9 [42]
September 13 September 1906 SW Iceland ~942 [43] *Possible record
October 19 October 1963 Stórhöfði 938.4 [44]
December 2 December 1929 Stórhöfði 920
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In July the pressure in Iceland has only dropped below 975 hPa or lower three times over the entire record extending back to the 1820s. These cases were 974.1 hPa in Stykkishólmur on 18 July 1901, 974.3 hPa in Stykkishólmur on 19 July 1923 and 975.0 hPa in Reykjavík 11 July 1912.[45]—to which can be added 22 July 2012, with 972.4 hPa reported on the Westman Isles, becoming the new national record for the month.[46][47]

A recent low pressure on 30 December 2015 was recorded at Kirkjubaejarklaustur (associated with an area of low pressure known as Eckard/Frank) at 930.2 hPa, the lowest pressure recorded on land in Iceland since 1989.[48]

Faroe Islands

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METEOSAT satellite image of the Braer Storm of January 1993 near peak intensity on January 10, 1993

The Danish Meteorological Institute report record atmospheric pressure for the Faroe Islands (since 1961) as:

Climatic Research Unit Emulate data 1874–2002 give 3 dates when pressure exceeded 1050 hPa in Tórshavn.[50][note 1]

More information Date, pressure hPa ...
Table of atmospheric pressure in Tórshavn exceeding 1050 hPa.
Date pressure hPa
8 January 1896 1052.64
1 February 1902 1052.43
21 February 1944 1050.33
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Ireland

Met Éireann list the following national records for atmospheric pressure:

  • Highest air pressure: 28 January 1905, Valentia Island, Co.Kerry 1051.9 hPa.
  • Lowest air pressure: 28 November 1838, Limerick 931.2 hPa.

Ireland monthly maximum figures for atmospheric pressure

More information Month, Date ...
Monthly maximum figures for atmospheric pressure in Ireland Met Éireann.[52][53]
Month Date Location pressure hPa Notes
January 28 January 1905 Valentia, Co. Kerry 1051.9
February 7 February 1964 Kilkenny and Mullingar[3] 1049.1
March 29 March 2020 Malin Head 1051.2 [54][55] *Previously: 13 March 1900, Valentia 1047.1.
April 26 April 1948 Shannon Airport 1043.4[53]
May 12 May 2012 Cork Airport 1042.4[53] An alternate value on 12 May 2012 at Valentia observatory of 1043.0 hPa has also been reported.[56]
June 14 June 1959 Clones, Co Monaghan 1043.1
July 1 July 1933 Malin Head 1037.9
August 17 August 1940 Valentia 1036.0[53]
September 10 and 11 September 2009[57]
24 September 2018		 Malin Head[57]
Sherkin Island and Cork Airport[58]		 1041.3
October 22 October 2018 Sherkin Island 1043.8 *Previously 31 October 1959 Malin Head 1043.0
November 10 November 1999 Ireland West Airport 1046.0[53]
December 24 December 1926 Malin Head[3] 1049.5
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Ireland monthly minimum figures for atmospheric pressure

More information Month, Date ...
Monthly minimum figures for atmospheric pressure in Ireland Met Éireann.[52][59][53]
Month Date Location pressure hPa Notes
January 26 January 1884 Markree Castle, Sligo 936.6
February 4 February 1951 Midleton, Co. Cork 942.3
March 10 March 2008 Mace Head, Galway 950.0[53] (named Johanna by FUB)[60]
April 1 April 1948 Malin Head, Co. Donegal 952.9
May 10 May 1983 Belmullet, Co. Mayo 970.3
June 8 June 1843 Phoenix Park, Dublin 975.3
July 25 July 1988 Belmullet, Co. Mayo 978.0
August 20 August 2020 Athenry, Galway 966.4[61][62] (Storm Ellen) *Previously 14 August 1959 Belmullet, Co. Mayo 967.8[53]
September 21 September 1953 Claremorris, Co. Mayo 957.1
October 28 October 2004 Valentia 957.5 (named Carolin by FUB)[63]
November 28 November 1838 Limerick 931.2
December 17 December 1989 Cork Airport[64] 942.8
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Isle of Man

1957–2005[3]

  • Highest air pressure: 26 January 1992, Ronaldsway 1047.8 hPa.
  • Lowest air pressure: 1 December 1966, Ronaldsway 946.5 hPa.

An earlier value on 8 December 1886, Cronkbourne 27.555 inches of mercury (933.1 hPa).[65]

United Kingdom

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Graph of minimum and maximum monthly air pressure values in the UK.[needs update]

For the United Kingdom, the Met Office record the record figures for atmospheric pressure (which are nominally since 1870) as:

  • Highest air pressure: 31 January 1902, Aberdeen Scotland 1053.6 hPa.
  • Lowest air pressure: 26 January 1884, Ochtertyre Scotland 925.6 hPa.

Though the lowest pressure may be second to the Night of the big wind low, which saw a value of 27.25 inches of mercury (923 hPa) at Sumburgh Head, Shetland on non-calibrated, non-standard equipment 6–7 January 1839, with the mainland at Cape Wrath reporting an observed pressure of 27.32 inches of mercury (925 hPa).[15]

On 26 January 1884, during the Ochtertyre storm the Ben Nevis summit weather station recorded a low pressure of 784.7 hPa (at high altitude (above 750 m) and not reduced to sea level) this is proposed as being almost certainly the lowest surface pressure ever recorded in the UK,[66] though due to altitude and not being a value reduced to sea level is not considered comparable to the other records presented here.

A low pressure of 914.0mb affected the UK during the Braer Storm on 10 January 1993, however this figure is discounted as this reading was not recorded in the UK.

Ireland and United Kingdom monthly maximum figures for atmospheric pressure

More information Month, Date ...
Monthly maximum figures for atmospheric pressure UK and Ireland Met Office.[67]
Month Date Location pressure hPa Alternative and UK only records
January 31 January 1902 Aberdeen Observatory, Aberdeenshire 1053.6†
February 1 February 1902 Aberdeen Observatory, Aberdeenshire 1052.9
March 29 March 2020 South Uist, Outer Hebrides 1051.2 [68] Previously 3 March 1990 St Mary's Airport, Isles of Scilly 1047.9 hPa.[69] The value from 9 March 1953 Tynemouth of 1048.6 is thought to be from an erroneous value transcription of 1043.6.[70][71]
April 11 April 1938 Eskdalemuir, Dumfriesshire 1044.5
May 16 May 1943 Dublin Airport, Ireland 1042.2 UK value: 1881, Aberdeen, Glasgow and Armagh 1042 hPa.[72]
June 14 June 1959 Clones Co. Monaghan 1043.1 UK value: 14 June 1959, "Northern Ireland" 1043 hPa (Irish record is within 1 km of UK border).[72] 15 June 1874 Scotland >1040 hPa.[73]
July 16 July 1996 Aboyne, Aberdeenshire 1039.2
August 31 August 2021 Stornoway, Isle of Lewis 1038.5[74][75] Previously Kirkwall, Orkney 25 August 1968 1037.4.
September 11 September 2009 Ballykelly, Co. Londonderry 1042.0 *Previously 19 September 1986 Shawbury, Shropshire 1041.2 hPa.[3]
October 31 October 1956 Dyce, Aberdeenshire 1045.6
November 10 November 1999 Aviemore, Invernessshire 1046.7
December 24 December 1926 Wick, Caithness 1051.9
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(† note the value of 1054.7 reported in some literature is an incorrect conversion.[76])

Ireland and United Kingdom list of atmospheric pressure over 1050 hPa

More information Date, Location ...
List of atmospheric pressures over 1050 hPa in UK and Ireland[3] (likely incomplete)
Date Location pressure hPa
24 February 1808 Gordon Castle, Moray Scotland 1050.0
8–9 January 1820 Kinfauns Castle, Perth Scotland 1051.7
9 January 1896 Ochtertyre, Perth Scotland 1053.4
31 January 1902 Aberdeen, Scotland (UK record) 1053.6
28 January 1905 Falmouth, Cornwall 1053.1
23 January 1907 Aberdeen, Scotland 1051.8
24 December 1926 Wick, Scotland 1051.9
26 January 1932 Stonyhurst, Sheffield and Meltham, West Yorkshire 1051.0
16 January 1957 Belmullet, Co Mayo Ireland and Benbecula, Scotland 1050.9
19 January 2020 Mumbles Head, Wales.[77] 1050.5
29 March 2020 South Uist, Scotland.[68] 1051.2
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In the period of instrumental measurement the atmospheric pressure has exceeded 1048 hPa somewhere over the United Kingdom and Ireland on 18 occasions.[3] On 10 of these times, the pressure exceeded 1050 hPa. Intense high pressure is usually seen during midwinter with eight of the 10 occasions where 1050 hPa has been exceeded occurring in January.[3]

Pressure values have been recorded to have exceeded 1050 hPa in all areas of the UK and Ireland except south east England, though values close to this are documented from January 1882 and January 1905.[3] To which high pressure in January 2020 saw a value of 1049.6 at Heathrow Airport measured, which is thought to be likely the highest pressure seen in the region with records back to 1692.[78][79][80]

United Kingdom and Ireland monthly minimum figures for atmospheric pressure

More information Month, Date ...
Monthly minimum figures for atmospheric pressure UK and Ireland Met Office.[67]
Month Date Location pressure
(hPa)		 Alternative and UK only records
January 26 January 1884 Ochtertyre, Perthshire 925.6 Alternative: 6–7 January 1839, Sumburgh Head, Shetland during the Night of the big wind storm 27.25 inches of mercury (922.8 hPa), (value from non-standardised equipment).[15]
February 4 February 1951 Midleton, Co. Cork 942.3 UK value: 9 February 1988, Benbecula 944.0 hPa.[72]
March 9 March 1876 Wick, Caithness 946.2
April 1 April 1948 Malin Head, Co. Donegal 952.9 UK value: 1 April 1948, The Hebrides 953 hPa.[72]
May 8 May 1943 Sealand, Flintshire (listed as Cheshire) 968.0
June 28 June 1938 Lerwick, Shetland 968.4
July 8 July 1964 Sule Skerry, Northern Isles 967.9
August 14 August 1954 Belmullet, Co. Mayo 967.7 UK value: 30 August 1992, NE Scotland ~972 hPa.[81][82][better source needed]
September 21 September 1953 Claremorris, Co. Mayo 957.1 UK value: 16–17 September 1935, "Central England" 960 hPa.[72]
October 14 October 1891 Cawdor Castle, Highland (listed as Nairnshire) 946.8 **Cyclone Oratia
November 11 November 1877 Monach Lighthouse, Outer Hebrides 939.7 The England and Wales record is 953.3 hPa from Plymouth on 2 November 2023 during storm Ciarán, previously 959.7 hPa from 1916.[83][84]
December 8 December 1886 Belfast, Antrim 927.2 On the morning of 8 December 1886, the barometer may have fallen as low as 924 hPa over Northern Ireland, although the lowest authenticated value was 927.2 hPa at Belfast at 1330h, close to the centre of the depression.[85]
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Cyclone Oratia is estimated to have reached a low of 941 hPa in peer-reviewed literature, though the lowest pressure occurred between Aberdeen and Norway over the North Sea and is not a land-based observation. The lowest land-based reported UK pressure during this storm, of 951.2 hPa, was recorded at RAF Fylingdales.[86]

On 7 September 1995, Scilly Isles, reported a low pressure of 966 hPa.[87] The lowest minimum recorded values for the months May to August lie within 0.5 of 968 hPa.

The 20th century low pressure record in the UK occurred on 20 December 1982 at Sule Skerry: it may have dropped as low as 936 hPa.[88]

United Kingdom list of atmospheric pressure below 950 hPa (incomplete)

Home nation records

Based on Burt (2007)[3] and Met Office.[77]

Scotland

Same as UK national records.

  • Highest: 31 January 1902, Aberdeen Observatory 1053.6 hPa.
  • Lowest: 26 January 1884, Ochtertyre Scotland 925.6 hPa.
Northern Ireland
  • High: 29 March 2020, The Northern Irish north coast likely saw a value in the region of ~1051 hPa around Magilligan Point.[citation needed]
29 March 2020, Belfast Aldergrove 1049.8 hPa.[70]
  • Lowest: 8 December 1886, in Belfast 927.2 hPa. (A reading of 922.5 mbar (corrected to MSL) was reported from Omagh in Co. Tyrone (Harding 1887) the graduation and calibration of the barometer were not considered satisfactory enough “to quote the reading as trustworthy”, the storm minimum over the Northern Ireland was thought to be close to 924 mbar.)
Wales
  • Highest: 19 January 2020, Mumbles Head, West Glamorgan 1050.5 hPa.
Previously: 28 January 1905, Pembroke, 1050.1 hPa.[78]
  • Lowest: 22 November 1865, Dolgellau, North Wales 944.8 hPa.
England
  • Highest: 28 January 1905, Falmouth, Cornwall 31.097 inches of mercury (1,053.1 hPa).[93]
  • Lowest: 8 December 1886, Stonyhurst in Lancashire, where the barometer fell to 940.4 hPa.

Alt. 8 December 1886, Newton Reigny in Cumbria, 27.556 inches of mercury (933.2 hPa).[65]

Norway

Yr.no the joint venture between the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation and the Norwegian Meteorological Institute give the national pressure records as:

(formerly listed as 27 January 1907, Bergen 936 hPa.)[96][97]

A value of 702.0 mm Hg at Bergen Lungegård Hospital on January 27, 1884 (935.8 hPa) is also reported,[98][99] which is likely to be from the same low as the UK record from Ochtertyre the previous day. Other sources give a pressure value of 939.8 hPa or 939.7 hPa in Bergen on 27 January 1884.[100][101][102]

Both records in same winter as each other and those of Denmark.

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Average pressure 5 October 2016 from high "Peter"
More information Month, Date ...
Monthly maximum figures for atmospheric pressure Norway
Month Date Location pressure hPa ref Notes
February 28 February 2018 Tynset, Hedmark 1061.0 [103]
October 5 October 2016 Otta 1054.3 [104][105] *Previously 14 October 1896, Dalen, Telemark, 1044.0 hPa.[106]
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Norway uses a different formula for correction of air pressure to sea level than Sweden. This affects the result for high altitude stations in cold weather.[103]

Denmark

The Danish Meteorological Institute report record barometric pressure for Denmark (since 1874) as:

Danish records both occurred within a month during the same winter, and same winter as Norwegian records.[109]

Denmark monthly maximum figures for atmospheric pressure

More information Month, Date ...
Monthly maximum figures for atmospheric pressure Denmark (Italic text based on 1961–1990 data only[110])
Month Date Location pressure hPa ref Notes
January 23 January 1907 Skagen and Copenhagen 1062.2
February 7 February 2012 Thyborøn 1050.3 [111] 2012 value exceeds 1961–1990 maximum.
March 19 March 2022 Tirstrup 1051.6 tbc. [112] 12 March 1880, Hammer Odde 1049.4 hPa.[113]
April 16 April 1962 Skagen 1040.6
May 3 May 1990 Christiansø Lighthouse 1041.6
June 7 June 1962 Skagen 1038.8
July 16 July 1972 Christiansø Lighthouse 1031.9
August 18 August 1966 Christiansø Lighthouse 1032.8
September 29 September 2015 Østerbro 1042.2 [114][115] *Previously 18 September 1904, Hammer Odde Lighthouse 1038.8 hPa. (or 29 September 1970, Bornholm Airport 1040.0 hPa)[110]
October 5 October 2016 Skagen 1045.5 [116][117] *Previously 6 October 1877, Hammer Odde Lighthouse 1044.7 hPa.
November 18 November 1985 Skagen 1052.4
December 24 December 1962 Fornæs Lighthouse and Værløse Air Base 1051.6
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Denmark list of barometric pressure over 1050 hPa

More information Date, Location ...
Above 1050 hPa[111]
Date Location pressure hPa Notes
19 March 2022
7 February 2012 Thyborøn 1050.3 8 February 2012 North Jutland >1050 hPa.[118]
18 November 1985[119] Thyborøn 1050.3 or 1052.5 Skagen.[110]
1962 Denmark 1052
23 January 1907 Skagen 1062.2
31 January—1 February 1902 Skagen and Fanø 1050 [120] 1056.1 [121]
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Denmark monthly minimum figures for atmospheric pressure

More information Month, Date ...
Monthly minimum figures for atmospheric pressure Denmark (Italic text based on 1961–1990 data only[110])
Month Date Location pressure hPa ref Notes
January 14 January 1984 Skagen 950.2
February 20 February 1907 Skagen 943.9
March 25 March 1986 Skrydstrup Airport 961.4 18 March 2007 Skagen 958.6 hPa.[122]
April 21 April 1967 Skagen 975.7 April 1876, 966.0 [123][124]
May 28 May 1972 Thyborøn 985.1 6 May 1997 Skagen 981.3 hPa.[125]
June 6 June 1977 Skagen 985.1
July 30 July 1965 Skagen 982.5
August 6 August 1985 Thyborøn 980.1
September 22 September 1990 Thyborøn 970.1
October 18 October 1967 Tirstrup 966.7 During the passage of the October storm (Lena)
November 6 November 1985 Aalborg Airport 953.0
December 10 December 1965 Thyborøn 955.2 Cyclone Anatol 3 December 1999 saw a pressure over Denmark of ~951 hPa.[126]
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Sweden

The Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute give the nation's barometric records as:

Sweden monthly maximum figures for atmospheric pressure

More information Month, Date ...
Monthly maximum figures for atmospheric pressure Sweden[128]
Month Date Location pressure hPa ref Notes
January 23 January 1907 Kalmar and Visby 1063.7 [129]
February 1 February 2012 Haparanda 1058.0 [130][131]
March 1 March 1971 Svartbyn-Överkalix 1055.7 [132]
April 15 April 1860 Uppsala 1047.1 [133]
May 7 May 1893 Umeå 1048.0 [134][135]
June 3 June 1979 Sveg 1044.8 [136]
July 28 July 1963 Sveg and Särna 1035.6 [137]
August 25 August 1968 Riksgränsen 1038.8 [138]
September 28 September 2017 Åsele and Lycksele 1044.1 [139] *Previously 29 September 2015, Hagshult (Småland) 1042.9 hPa.[140]
The previous record was from 16 September 1903, Sveg 1042.0 hPa.[141]
October 4 October 2016 Sveg 1050.7 [142][143] *Previously 14 October 1896, Stockholm 1048.6 hPa.[144]
November 18 November 1985 Malung and Rännberg-Östmark, Värmland. 1056.0 [145]
December 15 December 1946 Sveg 1059.2 [146]
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Sweden monthly minimum figures for atmospheric pressure

More information Month, Date ...
Monthly minimum figures for atmospheric pressure Sweden[128]
Month Date Location pressure hPa ref
January 30 January 2000 Krångede, Jämtland 946.2 [147]
February 27 February 1990 Understen, Uppland 940.5 [148]
March 8 March 1920 Abisko, Lapland 948.3 [149]
April 6 April 1943 Gäddede, Jämtland 960.3 [150]
May 12 May 1898 Karlstad 971.3 [151]
June 29 June 1938 Storlien 976.2 [152]
July 9 July 1931 Ulricehamn 977.1 [153][154]
August 6 August 1941 Måseskär 975.7 [155]
September 29 September 1956 Klutmark, Västerbotten 960.9 [156]
October 19 October 1970 Edsbyn 954.1 [157]
November 1 November 1921 Holmögadd, . 948.3 [158]
December 6 December 1895 Härnösand 938.4 [159]
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Finland

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Low Vivian approaching Finland 27 February 1990

According to the Finnish Meteorological Institute:

  • Highest air pressure: 22 January 1907, Helsinki 1066 hPa.[160]
  • Lowest air pressure: 27 February 1990 Kuuskajaskari, Rauma 940 hPa.[160][161]

Though a reported low value by Weather Underground weather historian Christopher Burt on 1 March 1990 at an unknown location is reported at 939.7 hPa.[161] Helsingin Sanomat report a value at Turku Airport on 28 February 1990 of 939.8 hPa, with the previous record reported as being from 16 December 1982 on Moikpää, in the Kvarken at 942.1 hPa.[162]

Baltics

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Deutsche Seewarte atmospheric pressure map 23 January 1907

Maximum pressure in Europe 22–23 January 1907 recorded in Pärnu, Estonia and Riga, Latvia at 1067.1 mbar.[3] The Free University of Berlin state the European air pressure record is 23 January 1907 in Riga at 1068.7 hPa.[4]

Estonia

As reported by the Estonian Weather Service

  • Highest air pressure: 23 January 1907, Tallinn 1060.3 hPa.‡[163]
Alt: 21 November 1993, Narva 1057.2 hPa.[164]
16 December 1982 Väike-Maarja 936.0 hPa[163] is a station level value.[164]

‡The Estonian Weather Service report on their website the record maximum observed air pressure in the country as 1060.3 hPa recorded 23 January 1907 in Tallinn.[163] This figure is not supported by NOAA reanalysis charts[165] and the values reported from neighbouring Finland and Latvia probably make this figure an underestimation or error. A possible maximum pressure value for the whole of Europe is thought to have occurred during the 22–23 January 1907 high pressure event with a record set in Pärnu, Estonia and Riga, Latvia at 1067.1 mbar.[3] Though this value is exceeded by the value on 23 January 1907 in Riga reported at 1068.7 hPa by the Free University of Berlin's student generated reports,[4] at which time the pressure is estimated to have reached around 1070 hPa by Yr.no in the Gulf of Riga.[166]

More information Month, Date ...
Monthly maximum figures for atmospheric pressure Estonia 2004–Present, based on hourly station observations.
Month Date Location pressure hPa ref Notes
January 22 January 2006 Kuusiku 1058.1 [167] January 1907
February 1 February 2012 Narva-Jõesuu 1053.4 [168]
March 16 March 2015 Jõhvi 1052.7 [169]
April 2 April 2004 Kihnu 1037.9 [170]
May 6 May 2006 Kunda 1039.0 [171]
June 1 June 2009 Lääne-Nigula 1037.5 [172]
July 2 July 2006 Võru 1033.6 [173]
August 21 August 2015 Lääne-Nigula 1032.3 [174]
September 28 September 2018 Jõhvi 1043.9 [175]
October 31 October 2015 Võru 1041.6 [176]
November 16 November 2018 Valga 1043.2 [177] 21 November 1993 Narva 1057.2.
December 30 December 2015 Valga 1048.0 [178]
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More information Month, Date ...
Monthly minimum figures for atmospheric pressure Estonia 2004–Present, based on hourly station observations.
Month Date Location pressure hPa ref Notes
January 11 January 2005 Ristna 962.6 [167]
February 17 February 2022 Vilsandi 959.6 [168]
March 26 March 2008 Narva-Jõesuu 966.6 [169]
April 5 April 2022 Pakri 965.8 [170]
May 2 May 2019 Kunda 977.1 [171]
June 27 June 2007 Ristna 981.7 [172]
July 9 July 2009 Ristna 986.6 [173]
August 10 August 2005 Kihnu 985.0 [174]
September 14 September 2017 Vilsandi 981.4 [175]
October 21 October 2021 Vilsandi 966.7 [176]
November 23 November 2008 Tiirikoja 951.3 [177]
December 6 December 2013 Vilsandi 966.1 [178] 16 December 1982, Naissaar 947.6 hPa
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Latvia

  • Highest air pressure: 22–23 January 1907 Liepāja 1065.9 hPa

In the period 1960 to 2014, 16 December 1997 Daugavpils a value of 1055.8 hPa recorded.[179]

  • Low air pressure: 13 February 1962 Vidzeme Upland 932.9 hPa (probably a station level reading).

Lithuania

  • Highest air pressure: December 1889 Vilnius 1058.5 hPa
  • Lowest air pressure: January 1931 Ukmergė and Dotnuva 951.6 hPa.

23 January 1907 1065.1 hPa.[12] Deutsche Seewarte gives morning readings on 23 January 1907 in Klaipėda (Memel) of 799.0 millimetres of mercury (1,065.2 hPa) and in Vilnius (Wilna) of 798.9 millimetres of mercury (1,065.1 hPa).[180] There is a mention in the Hungarian meteorological journal Időjarás of reaching 800.0 millimetres of mercury (1,066.6 hPa) in Vilnius (Wilna) during the exceptional January 1907 anticyclone, but in the other place the Vilnius value of 799.4 millimetres of mercury (1,065.8 hPa) is reported.[181] According to an article in the German-Austrian expert journal Meteorologische Zeitschrift, on 23 January 1907 at 7 hrs Vilnius (Wilna) reached 799.2 millimetres of mercury (1,065.5 hPa).[182]

Kaliningrad/Königsberg

  • Highest air pressure: 23 January 1907 1064.7 hPa[12]

Western Europe

Summarize
Perspective

Channel Islands

Jersey

1862–present

  • Highest air pressure: 29 January 1905, Jersey 1051.7 hPa.[3]
  • Lowest air pressure: 25 February 1989, Jersey 953.8 hPa.[64]

Guernsey

Guernsey Airport 1960–present.[3]

  • Highest air pressure: 20 January 2020, 1049.1 hPa.[183]
Formerly 3 March 1990, 1047.7 hPa.
  • Lowest air pressure: 25 February 1989, 952.5 hPa.

Alderney

  • Highest air pressure 20 January 2020, 1049.8 hPa.[183]

France

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Met Office Daily Weather Report pressure map 29 January 1905

Météo-France figures from 1951–present.[184]

Previously: 3 March 1990, Pointe de Chémoulin, Saint-Nazaire Loire-Atlantique 1048.9 hPa.[187]

though other listed figures predate Météo-France's records.[citation needed]

On 28 January 1905 values of 31.04 inches of mercury (1,051 hPa) in Biarritz, and 31.01 inches of mercury (1,050 hPa) in Brest are listed in the Met Office Daily Weather Report.[189] On the 29 January 1905, the atmospheric pressure reached a value of 1049.3 hPa in Paris.[190][191]

More information Month, Date ...
Monthly maximum figures for atmospheric pressure France
Month Date Location pressure hPa ref Notes
January 20 January 2020 Abbeville 1049.7
February *Possible 20th Century: February 15, 1934 Cap De La Hague 1,048.2 hPa.[192]
March 3 March 1990 Pointe de Chémoulin, Saint-Nazaire Loire-Atlantique 1048.9 hPa
May 13 May 2019 Dunkirk 1040.7 [193][194]
September 25 September 2018 Valenciennes 1040.0 [195] *Previously 19 September 1986 Dunkirk 1038.4 [196]
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More information Month, Date ...
Monthly minimum figures for atmospheric pressure France
Month Date Location pressure hPa ref Notes
May 5 May 2004 Cap de la Hague 980.1 [197]
October 16 October 1987 Ushant 948 hPa.[198]
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Belgium

The Belgian Royal Meteorological Institute gives the national record values as:

  • Highest air pressure: 20 January 2020, Uccle 1048.3 hPa.[199]
Previously: 27 January 1932, Uccle 1048 hPa.[200]
More information Month, Date ...
Monthly maximum figures for atmospheric pressure Belgium (since 20 century)
Month Date Location pressure hPa ref Notes
January 20 January 2020 Uccle 1048.3
May 16 May 1943 Uccle 1039.5 [201]
June 6 June 1962 Uccle 1034.9 [202]
September 27 September 1906 Uccle 1037.9 [202]
October 23 October 1958 Uccle 1039.5 [202]
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More information Month, Date ...
Monthly minimum figures for atmospheric pressure Belgium (since 20 century)
Month Date Location pressure hPa ref Notes
February 25 February 1989 Uccle 956.8 [202] *Alt On 25 February 1989 a value reported at Blankenberge of 954 hPa.[200][202]
August 24 August 1956 Uccle 980 [202]
September 11 September 1903 Uccle 976.8 [202]
October 10 October 1964 Uccle 971.0 [202]
November 29 November 1965 Uccle 967 [202]
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Luxembourg

Thumb
Synoptic chart 28 December 2016 showing high pressure area Yörn over southern England and near continent.
Previously:27–28 December 2016, MeteoLux recorded the highest atmospheric pressures observed at the Luxembourg Findel Airport weather station since measurement began in 1947, a value of 1047.2 hPa was recorded twice (under the high pressure Yörn. The previous record to this was from February 15–16, 1959 at 1046.6 hPa.[204]
  • Lowest pressure: February 1989 Luxembourg Findel Airport, 959.8.[205]
More information Month, Date ...
Monthly maximum figures for atmospheric pressure Luxembourg (since 1947).
Month Date Location pressure hPa ref Notes
January 20 January 2020 Luxembourg Findel Airport 1048.0 [203] Previously 1989 1045.5 hPa.[206]
February February 1959 Luxembourg Findel Airport 1046.6 [205]
March March 1990 Luxembourg Findel Airport 1045.8 [207]
April April 1947 Luxembourg Findel Airport 1039.9 [208]
May 13 May 2019 Luxembourg Findel Airport 1037.5 [209]
June June 2005 Luxembourg Findel Airport 1036.3 [210]
July July 1969 Luxembourg Findel Airport 1031.2 [211]
August August 1949 Luxembourg Findel Airport 1033.5 [212]
September 25 September 2018 Luxembourg Findel Airport 1039.3 [213]
October October 1983 Luxembourg Findel Airport 1040.0 [214]
November November 2001 Luxembourg Findel Airport 1042.1 [215]
December 27–28 December 2016 Luxembourg Findel Airport 1047.2 Previously 1991 1044.0 hPa.[216]
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More information Month, Date ...
Monthly minimum figures for atmospheric pressure Luxembourg (since 1947).
Month Date Location pressure hPa ref Notes
January January 2009 Luxembourg Findel Airport 967.6 [217]
February February 1989 Luxembourg Findel Airport 959.8 [205]
March March 1994 Luxembourg Findel Airport 968.6 [207]
April April 1962 Luxembourg Findel Airport 984.2 [208]
May May 2009 Luxembourg Findel Airport 983.2 [218]
June June 2009 Luxembourg Findel Airport 988.8 [210]
July July 1987 Luxembourg Findel Airport 993.7 [211]
August August 2008 Luxembourg Findel Airport 979.7 [212]
September September 1974 Luxembourg Findel Airport 988.5 [219]
October October 1990 Luxembourg Findel Airport 979.8 [214]
November November 1965 Luxembourg Findel Airport 974.6 [215]
December December 1976 Luxembourg Findel Airport 966.5 [220]
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Netherlands

The Dutch Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute lists the following as national records:

  • weergegevens.nl give a value on 23 January 1907 at Eelde of 1053.0 hPa.[223]

Netherlands monthly maximum figures for atmospheric pressure

More information Month, Date ...
Monthly maximum figures for atmospheric pressure Netherlands based on KNMI hourly observations.
Month Date Location pressure hPa ref Notes
January 23 January 1907 Eelde 1053.0 [224] *Alt: 26 January 1932, De Bilt 1050.4 hPa.[225]
February 16 February 2008 Eelde 1048.1 [226] *Alt: 1046.7 hPa.[227]
March 6 March 1852 Utrecht 1046.9 [228]
April 10 April 1938 Vlissingen 1041.6 [229]
May 13 May 2019 Vlieland 1041.9 [230] *Previously 16 May 1943 Eelde, De Bilt and De Kooy 1040.2 hPa
June 6–7 June 1962 De Kooy 1038.3 [231] Alt. 7 June 1962 unknown location 1036.9.[228]
July 8 July 2013 and 10 July 1911 Hoorn and De Kooy 1034.6 [232]
August 13 August 1949 Maastricht 1034.1 [233]
September 25 September 2018 Maastricht 1040.2 [234] Previously:29 September 2015 Hoorn 1039.8 hPa.
October 22 October 1983 Rotterdam and Soesterberg 1041.7 [235]
November 20 November 1915 Eelde 1044.7 [236]
December 23 December 1962 Eelde 1050.2 [237]
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Netherlands monthly minimum figures for atmospheric pressure

More information Month, Date ...
Monthly minimum figures for atmospheric pressure Netherlands
Month Date Location pressure hPa ref Notes
January 23 January 2009 Hook of Holland 961.0 [238]
February 25 February 1989 Vlissingen 954.4 [238]
March 24 March 1986 Leeuwarden 963.5 [223]
April 1 April 1994 De Kooy 972.6 [223]
May 5 May 2000 De Bilt 983.5 [239] *Alt: 5 May 2004, Vlieland 982.3 hPa.[223]
June 27 June 1958 Vlissingen 988.0 [223]
July 10 July 2000 De Bilt 987.5 [240] *Alt: 10 July 2000, Hoorn (Terschelling) 984.0 hPa.[223]
August 27 August 1912 De Bilt 973.0 [223]
September 24 September 1927 De Kooy 974.8 [223]
October 27 October 1959 De Kooy 968.8 [223]
November 27 November 1983 Eelde, Drenthe 954.2
December 10 December 1965 Leeuwarden 961.5 [223]
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Germany

The German weather service (DWD) give the

Other record figures and locations are also presented:

  • 23 January 1907 Dahlem (Berlin) 1057.8 hPa.[243][244] It is claimed this is an incorrect correction to mslp and correct value is 1056.7 hPa.[245] (neither figure is higher than the DWD value)

Germany monthly maximum figures for atmospheric pressure

More information Month, Date ...
Monthly maximum figures for atmospheric pressure Germany based on DWD CDC hourly station observations of air pressure at mean sea level, 1949–Present.[246] (tentative)
Month Date Location pressure hPa Altitude (m) ref Notes
January 23 January 1907 Greifswald, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern 1060.8 National record.
February 15 February 1959 Mühldorf, Bavaria 1050 405.6
March 19 March 2022 Kiel lighthouse 1049.5 [247] Previously 4 March 1990 Garmisch Partenkirchen, Bavaria 1048.5.
April 21 April 2002 Greifswalder Oie, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern 1039.3 12 Based on Berlin record, Berlin only value 1040.1 hPa 4 April 1909.[248]
May 13 May 2019 Norderney, Lower Saxony 1041.1 11.47 Based on NL record.
June 7 June 1962 List on Sylt, Schleswig-Holstein 1037.8 24.7 Based on NL & DK.
July 16 July 2006 Waren (Müritz), Mecklenburg-Vorpommern 1034.3 72.6 Based on Berlin.
August 4 August 1981 Neustadt an der Weinstraße, Rhineland-Palatinate 1038.3 163 Based on Berlin
September 25 September 2018 Zwiesel, Bavaria 1042.8 614.7 Based on NL and Lux.
October 18 October 1993 Parow Airport, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern 1042.8 4 Based on Berlin.
November 18 November 1985 Arkona, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern 1046.5 42 Based on DK, offshore same value at Kiel Leuchtturm. CRU Emulate data 11 November 1859 in Jena have a value of 1046.01 hPa.[249][note 1]
December 23 December 1963 Berlin Tempelhof Airport 1049.6 48
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Central Europe

Summarize
Perspective

Austria

  • A high pressure on 16 January 1882 Vienna 1050.5 hPa, the highest there since 1775.[3]

The highest value is likely to have occurred during the 1907 high pressure event.[250] Deutsche Seewarte gives an evening reading on 23 January 1907 in Vienna of 790.7 millimetres of mercury (1,054.2 hPa).[180]

  • A low pressure could possibly be 2 or 3 Dec 1976 (Based on HU and CZ records) <970 hPa.

Czech Republic

Hungary

The Hungarian Meteorological Service (OMSZ) gives the following values:

According to an expert article in the Hungarian journal Pótfüzetek a Természettudományi Közlönyhöz, the highest reading in Budapest on 24 January 1907 was 793.1 millimetres of mercury (1,057.4 hPa) at 8 hrs.[254] A Hungarian meteorological journal Időjarás reports 793.0 millimetres of mercury (1,057.2 hPa) in Budapest on the same day.[181]

Italy

Liechtenstein

A private weather station in Balzers, southwest Liechtenstein reported on 28 December 2016 a value of 1046.4 hPa under the high named Yörn, described as a record by the Liechtensteiner Vaterland.[259]

Poland

  • The Polish Institute of Meteorology and Water Management list a record high pressure (post-war) on 16 December 1997 with 1054.4 hPa recorded in Suwalki.[260]

It is likely 23 January 1907 saw a pressure of 1064.8 ± 0.5 mbar over Polish territory.[12] Deutsche Seewarte gives morning readings on 23 January 1907 in Nowy Port (Neufahrwasser) of 798.2 millimetres of mercury (1,064.2 hPa), in Darłowo (Rügenwalde) and Warsaw (Warschau) of 796.5 millimetres of mercury (1,061.9 hPa), in Świnoujście (Swinemünde) of 795.0 millimetres of mercury (1,059.9 hPa) and in Kraków (Krakau) of 794.2 millimetres of mercury (1,058.8 hPa).[180] According to an article in the German-Austrian expert journal Meteorologische Zeitschrift, on 23 January 1907 Suwalki reached 797.5 millimetres of mercury (1,063.2 hPa) and Warsaw (Warschau) 796.3 millimetres of mercury (1,061.6 hPa) at 7 hrs, while Nowy Port (Neufahrwasser) 797.9 millimetres of mercury (1,063.8 hPa) at 13 hrs.[182] In another article in the same journal, Rudzki reports the highest value in Kraków of 794.4 millimetres of mercury (1,059.1 hPa) on 23 January 1907 at 10 a.m.[182]

Other high pressures are reported as 1051.1 hPa January 22, 2006, 1050 hPa January 3, 1993 and 1048 hPa 10 December 1991.

  • The lowest post WWII value of 965.2 hPa is reported from February 26, 1989 in Szczecin and Łódź.[261]

Reanalysis data show a low record likely occurred on 17 January 1931 when a below 960 hPa low moved over the Baltic skirting the very north of today's Polish territory.[262]

Slovakia

The Slovak Hydrometeorological Institute report:

  • Low air pressure (1961-2010): 3 December 1976 Boľkovce 970.2 hPa[265] (the lowest published value; though is not thought to be a correct absolute minimum)[263]

Slovenia

The Slovenian Environment Agency (ARSO) tweeted that pressure on 20 January 2020 reached 1048 hPa, slightly below the values seen on January 24, 1907 and 24 December 1963.[266]

Switzerland

Thumb
Pressure over Europe 16 January 1882 (782.3 mmHg ~1043 hPa)
27 December 2016 during the high pressure Yörn Bischofszell reported a QFF value of 1048.3 hPa.[269][270] With the weather station at Zürichberg reporting its highest ever value since the station was established in 1949.[271]

Other high pressures in Switzerland are given as 3–4 March 1990 at Zurich Airport of >1047 hPa[272] and 29 January 1989 at Schaffhausen of 1047.2 hPa, which was the highest pressure in the country since the 1950s, when values on 15 February 1959 at Kloten reached 1047.1 hPa.[273][274] A high value of 1050.2 hPa at Bern on 17 January 1882 is proposed as having occurred (on an internet forum).[275][better source needed] Though values in MeteoSwiss annals are unreduced to MSLP.[276]

Southeast Europe

Croatia

On 21 January 2020 the Croatian Meteorological and Hydrological Service (DHMZ) tweeted a high pressure value at Kutjevo in eastern Croatia at 1050 hPa.[278]

Serbia

Deutsche Seewarte gives a morning reading on 24 January 1907 in Belgrade of 791.2 millimetres of mercury (1,054.8 hPa).[180]

Romania

  • A high air pressure on 24 January 1907 is reported at >1060 over Romania.[5]

Articles in expert journals Időjarás and Pótfüzetek a Természettudományi Közlönyhöz report 797.0 millimetres of mercury (1,062.6 hPa) on 24 January 1907 in Sibiu (Nagyszeben).[181][254] Deutsche Seewarte gives a morning Sibiu (Hermannstadt) reading on 24 January 1907 of 796.8 millimetres of mercury (1,062.3 hPa).[180]

Greece

  • A high pressure: 24 January 1907 Athens 8 am daily reading 787.7 millimetres of mercury (1,050.2 hPa).[279]
  • A low pressure: 21–22 January 2004 Icaria 972 hPa.[280][281]

Eastern Europe

Ukraine

A reading of 798 millimetres of mercury (1,064 hPa) in Ternopil (Ternopol) on 24 January 1907 is reported by an expert article in the Hungarian journal Pótfüzetek a Természettudományi Közlönyhöz.[254] According to an article in the German-Austrian expert journal Meteorologische Zeitschrift, Lviv (Lemberg) reached 797.6 millimetres of mercury (1,063.4 hPa) on 23 January 1907 at 21 hrs.[182] Deutsche Seewarte gives morning readings on 23 January 1907 in Lviv (Lemberg) of 796.3 millimetres of mercury (1,061.6 hPa).[180]

Belarus

Deutsche Seewarte gives a morning reading on 24 January 1907 in Pinsk of 795.2 mmHg (1060.2 hPa).[180]

Iberia

Thumb
Synoptic chart of high pressure Iberia 2015

Spain

On 29 January 1905 Instituto Central Meteorológico report in Santander an evening reading of 788.5 millimetres of mercury (1,051.2 hPa).[285]

Balearic islands

  • Highest air pressure: 9 January 2015, Ibiza Airport 1041.1 hPa.[287] The 9 January 2015 air pressure was 0.3 hPa more than the previous record from January 1983.[287]

Portugal

  • Highest air pressure: 9 January 2015 Chaves and Bragança, Portugal 1050.3 hPa.[288][289] The first time values over 1050 hPa had been recorded in continental Portugal.[290]
  • A low air pressure: 15 February 1941 in Évora at 931 hPa is reported by one source, which also reports a minimum value of 937 hPa in Coimbra and 950 hPa in Lisbon during the passage of this low pressure.[291] The Instituto Português do Mar e da Atmosfera give a value of 938.5 hPa at station level for Coimbra (not MSLP).[292] Other sources only give minimum values of around 950 hPa in Lisbon as the minimum during the passage of this low.[293][294] Garnier et al. (2018) state a pressure of 948.29 hPa recorded by the meteorological services on 15 February 1941, which is described as the lowest pressure recorded in the Algarve area since 1854.[295]

Notable non-tropical pressures over the North Atlantic

Summarize
Perspective
Thumb
Deep low SW of Iceland 14 December 1986, which, according to the German Weather Service, possibly reached a nadir of 912–913 hPa over the North Atlantic
See also: Explosive cyclogenesis and List of European windstorms

Notable atmospheric pressure reports from offshore and in the North Atlantic are:

  • High pressure, 28 January 2003 saw high of 1057 centred at 51° N, 27° W (approx. 1000km north of Azores).[3]

A lower value is reported from 27 to 28 February 1988 at 1053 hPa centred at approximately 53.5° N, 25.6° W.[3]

  • Low pressure, Two or three (possibly four) non-tropical areas of low pressure with central low pressure over the North Atlantic below 920 hPa have been reported, with a further unverified instance during the Night of the Big Wind (see above), these represent globally the lowest non-tropical large-scale synoptic values.
  • 13 January 1993 Braer Storm dropped 78 hPa in 24 hours,[64][296] to a central pressure out in the Atlantic at 62° N, 15° W of 914.0 hPa, and was likely the deepest cyclone on record for the North Atlantic, and very probably for any temperate latitude.[297]
  • 14–15 December 1986, The British Meteorological Office assessed the centre of a depression at about 916 hPa, the West German Meteorological Service enclosed the depression with a 915 hPa isobar, indicating a pressure possibly as low as 912–913 hPa.[298]

For comparison, the lowest Atlantic basin tropical cyclone low pressure is Hurricane Wilma in 2005, which holds the record at 882 hPa.[299] (see list of most intense tropical cyclones in the North Atlantic).

Similarly low extra-tropical values elsewhere have only been documented near Antarctica, with 919 hPa observed at Casey Station on the Windmill Islands (just outside the Antarctic Circle) on August 8–9, 1976 at Vincennes Bay (66°17’S 110°31’E).[300] Though this value is considerably lower than any other on record and could conceivably be a fault with the recording instrument, though values are internally consistent with readings below 940 mb at this time.[161] A study published in Geophysical Research Letters in July 2023 on an extratropical cyclone in the Southern Ocean in October 2022 estimated that the cyclone reached a pressure of 899.91 hPa (26.574 inHg) while also estimate four other cyclones in the same region with pressures below or equal to 914 hPa (27.0 inHg).[301]

The two lowest extra-tropical pressures reported from the Pacific basin are the 8 November 2014 Bering Sea cyclone at 924 hPa (warnings for the low to reach 920 hPa were released by the Japan Meteorological Agency[302]),[303] and the 13 December 2015 North Pacific low at 924 hPa.[304] 31 December 2020 NWS OPC analysis of a low 52N 173E down to 921 hPa.[305][306]

North Atlantic low pressures below 940 hPa

During a typical winter, one or perhaps two low pressure areas in the North Atlantic will deepen below 950 hPa, with pressures only deepening below 940 hPa on average once or twice per decade.[307] Before the satellite and weather model era, records (mostly from shipping) reported barometric pressures over the extratropical North Atlantic as going as low as 925 hPa, with values below 940 hPa being very rare occurrences.[308] The frequency of very deep depressions (central pressure below about 940 hPa) in the North Atlantic is thought to have increased significantly since the winter of 1982/83 to 1993.[297]

Table of North Atlantic low pressures below 940 hPa (incomplete)

More information Date, Location ...
Date Location Notes Pressure hPa Ref.
1822, 8 February Reykjavik, Iceland Onshore reading 926.5 [14]
1824, 4 February Reykjavik, Iceland Onshore reading 924 [298]
1838, 28 November Limerick, Ireland Onshore reading 931.2 [298]
1839, 6 January Northwest of Scotland During the Night of the Big Wind low pressure may have reached a low of 914 hPa, though a value of 918 hPa is generally accepted. Though analysis of the land-based observed pressures indicate higher minima, around 931 hPa, and subsequently the depression's nadir at sea could be higher than proposed.[309] 918 [310]
1852, 21 January Reykjavik 937.7 [311]
1865, 31 December Butt of Lewis Lighthouse, Scotland A report of 27.63 inches of mercury (936 hPa) from Hoy, Orkney, which is not supported by observation from Cantick Head Lighthouse on South Walls. 937.7 [89]
1870, 5 February 49° N, 26° W The ship Neier (49° N, 26° W) reported and observation of 921.1 hPa, supported by an observation on the HMS Tarifa (51° N, 26° W) of 925.5 hPa. 921.1 [298]
1877, 11 November Monach Lighthouse, Outer Hebrides Onshore observation 939.7 [67]
1884, 26 January Ochtertyre, Perthshire Lowest land based observation in the UK. 26 January record observed low pressure Ireland for that month at Markree Castle, Sligo 936.6 hPa.[52][59] On 27 January 1884 Bergen in Norway reported an onshore observation of 939.7 hPa.[312] 925.6 [298]
1886, 8 December Belfast Land observation, the low probably reached values of around 924 hPa over Northern Ireland, lowest value reported on the island of Ireland. 927.2 [298]
1888, 23 December Reykjavik, Iceland 929 [313]
1895, 6 December Härnösand, Sweden 939.5 hPa was reported at Lungö Lighthouse (62° N, 18° E) on 6 December 1895.[314] 938.4 [127]
1907, 27 January Bergen Onshore observation 936 [94]
1907, 20 February East of the Shetland Islands Low brought record observed low pressure to Denmark and Norway.[94] (nadir ~934) 934 [315]
1914, 27 December Vestmannaeyjar, Iceland 929.0 [34]
1924, 26 December Grindavík, Reykjanes Iceland. 933.7 [316]
1925, 7–8 February Iceland Halaveðrið 935 [317]
1929, 2 December Stórhöfði peninsula, Heimaey Onshore observation (could be same system as 4 December 1929)[318] The reading could have been as low as 919.7 hPa.[34] 920 [14]
1929, 4 December Unknown Reported by the ship SS Westpool in an unknown location in the North Atlantic (could be same system as 2 December 1929).[318] 925.5 [298]
1933, 3 January Reykjavik, Iceland Onshore reading of a low thought to be filling. 931.4 hPa recorded at Akureyri, the lowest pressure measured there.[34] 927.2 [298]
1945, 19 December Between Iceland and Ireland Lowest onshore measurement reported from Valentia, Ireland at 948.6 hPa, estimated central minimum of 927 hPa. 927 [298]
1948, 2 February SW of Iceland 933 [319]
1949, 25 January Dalatangi lighthouse, Mjóifjörður, east Iceland Onshore report of 941 hPa with a central pressure offshore thought to be 940 hPa. 940 [320]
1952, 27 October 53° N, 18.5° W A vigorous development deepened around to a proposed low of 922 hPa, though the contemporary reports suggest 935–936 hPa as a more probable value. 935.5 [298]
1962, 16 January 56° N, 19° W Ocean Weather ship 'Lima' 931.1 [298]
1962, 13 February Vidzeme Upland, Latvia 932.9
1963, 19 October Iceland Onshore reading 938.4 hPa at Stórhöfði, Ex-Hurricane Flora. 935 [44]
1972, 7 January Near Ocean Weather ship Charlie 935 [321]
1974, 10–11 January 56° N, 22.5° W North west of Ireland, Met Éireann estimated the low deepened to a low of 936 hPa at 57° N, 21° W.[322] 934 [298]
1982, 8 February SW Iceland ~932. 934 hPa in Daily Weather Report.[323] 932 [321]
1982, 16 December Sundsvall 16 December an extreme low airpressure was identified in Sweden, centred on Sundsvall where recording instruments showed 939 hPa, nearly equalling the Swedish national record.[324] 940.1 according to SMHI.[314]Väike-Maarja, Estonia reported a station level value of 936.0 hPa.[163] 939
1982, 19–20 December 58.5° N, 15° W The 20th Century low pressure record onshore in the UK occurred on 20 December 1982 at Sule Skerry dropping as low as 936 hPa. 937.6 hPa was recorded at Stornoway on 20 December 1982 as the lowest barometric pressure observed anywhere in the British Isles since 1886. 931 [88]
1983, 5 January South of Iceland, 929.9 hPa reported from Stórhöfði, Vestmannaeyjar.[34] Could be the same low as mentioned in January 1983 by Brown (1995) at ~932 hPa.[321] 930 [298]
1983, 26 December South east of Greenland 936 [298]
1986, 14–15 December 61° N, 32° W The ship Uyir measured a pressure of 920.2 hPa south east of Greenland on December 15, 1986. The Met Office estimated a central pressure of 916 hPa. The West German weather Service estimated the low could have reached as low as 912–913 hPa. 916 [298][325][326]
1989, 4–5 January Offshore Nova Scotia "ERICA IOP4 storm" post-analysis suggested that the pressure fell to a possible low of to 928 hPa. This was the lowest pressure ever observed in an Atlantic extratropical cyclone south of 40 degrees latitude in the 20th century. 936 [327]
1989, 15 February Ocean weather station Mike, Norwegian sea 66° N, 2° E Pressure likely to have dropped to 935.5 hPa, as the recorder was not able to print the lowest pressure. 937.1 [312][328]
1989, 29 October CFS reanalysis chart, 921 hPa.[329] 926 [330]
1989, 24 December South west of Iceland Estimated at a little below 920 hPa. 929.5 hPa reported from Stórhöfði, Vestmannaeyjar.[34] 920 [64]
1990, 1 March Finland This value is not reported by the Finnish Meteorological Institute. 939.7 [318]
1992, 2 March Offshore of Newfoundland 926 [64]
1992, 23 November Offshore SE Iceland 938 [308][331]
1992, 29 November East of Cape Farewell, Greenland lee low 931.5 [332] 936 [308][331]
1993, 10 January 62° N, 15° W North Atlantic west of Faroe Islands Braer storm was the deepest cyclone on record for the North Atlantic, and very probably for any temperate latitude 912–915 hPa. Low claimed to have reached a nadir of 913, with 916 confirmed.[333] 914[334][335] 914 [297]
1999, 15–16 January South of Iceland Ship Dettifoss (P3BK4) reported 928 hPa. MeteoFrance publication 925 hPa.[198] 926 [336][337][338]
1999, 25 December Between Scotland and Norway A Central Forecasting Office, Bracknell analysis gave a lowest pressure of 938 hPa, based on reported pressures of 940 hPa over the North Sea. Buoy 63113 at 61°N 1.7°E reported a minimum pressure of 937.6 hpa at 1300 UTC 25 December.[339] 938 [340]
1999, 31 December 59° N, 35° W Formation of two sub 940 lows in 1999 book-ended the destructive Cyclone Lothar and Martin in Europe. 929 [339]
2003, 8 March Central Atlantic Named "Gordian" by the Free University of Berlin, analysed by them to have deepened below 940 hPa.[341] 924 [342]
2006, 10 December 62° N, 37° W Named "Xynthia" by the Free University of Berlin, who estimated central pressure below 930 hPa.[343] 928 [344]
2007, 12 December 928 [345]
2009, 23 January Between Iceland and Scotland Named "Hans" by the Free University of Berlin.[346] 938 [347]
2011, 10 February 56° N, 32° W Named "Paolini" by the Free University of Berlin.[348][349] 935 [350]
2013, 26 January Named "Jolle" by Free University of Berlin 932 [351][352][353]
2013, 24 December Cyclone Dirk, this was the lowest barometric pressure observed at any site in the British Isles, and the deepest depression to pass close to the British Isles, since 8 December 1886, 936.4 hPa at Stornoway was reported on minute observations at 12:29, with 936.8 hPa recorded at the 13:00 hourly observation.[307] At the southernmost tip of the Faroe Islands a low air pressure of 932.2 hPa was recorded on Christmas Eve at Akraberg lighthouse.[354] 927 [355][356]
2014, 5 January 51° N, 36° W Christina 934 [307]
2015, 5 December South of Iceland Desmond 939 [357][358]
2015, 29 December South east of Iceland Frank/Eckhardt.[359] 928 [360]
2016, 21 December SW of Jan Mayen (70° N, 13° W) Named Zarina by FUB. Low mimima likely over Arctic Ocean. ECMWF model estimated low down to 937 hPa.[361] 940 [362]
2017, 6 February 54° N, 30° W Named Niklas by FUB,[363] UKMO chart down to 929 hPa,[364] NWSOPC 932 hPa,[365][366] DMI 935 hPa.[367] 932 [368]
2017, 25 February Between Greenland and Iceland Named Udo by FUB,[369] 938 hPa UKMO analysis chart 06 UTC 25 Feb 2017.[370] 939 [368]
2018, 14 January Close to Jan Mayen Named Evi by FUB,[371] 935 hPa 1800 UTC 14 Jan 2018 UKMO Analysis chart,[372] 935
2018, 12 October West of Ireland Named Callum by UK and Irish Met Offices, Nevine by FUB,[373] 938 hPa 0000 UTC 12 Oct 2018.[374] Met Éireann forecasters commentary gave a value as low as 936 hPa.[375] 937 hPa.[44] Reported as the lowest early season pressure for an extratropical Atlantic storm since at least 1979 by Met Éireann.[376] 938
2019, 20 February 53° N, 33° W Named Julia by the Instituto Português do Mar e da Atmosfera. NWS OPC analysis 934 hPa.. UKMO 936 hPa.[377] 934 [378]
2020, 8 February 63° N, 37° W Named "Ruth" by the Free University of Berlin.[379] NWS "Greenland Bomb".[380] 930 [381]
2020, 14 February 59° N, 24° W Named "Uta" by the Free University of Berlin. 929 NWS[382] NWS "Iceland Bomb".[380] 933
2020, 15 February 63° N, 20° W Named "Dennis" by UKMO, "Victoria" by Free University of Berlin.[383] Onshore 932.3 hPa reported from Surtsey, Iceland.[384] UKMO 922 hPa. ECMWF 919 hPa.[385] 920 [382]
2020, 16 December NE of Newfoundland "Eva" FUB 938 [386]
2022, 6 January SE of Greenland "Barbara" FUB, UKMO 931 hPa. NWS forecast 928 hPa.[387] 931 [388]
2022, 7 February Between Iceland and Greenland "Sarai" FUB,[389] UKMO 930 hPa. NWS 928.[390] 930
2022, 14 March South of Greenland UKMO 929. 927.[391] Onshore locations in Greenland reported lows of 935.7 (or as low as 934.1).[392] 929
2022, 24 September Nova Scotia Post-tropical Cyclone Fiona, thought to be the lowest pressure observed in Canada. 931
2022, 4 November Post tropical Cyclone Martin 934 [393]
2024, 21 November "Bert"[394] FUB, 936
Close

See also

Notes

  1. [N 1]
    CRU Emulate data are adjusted to represent the 24 hour station mean.[51]

References

External links

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