Storms:

Deadliest tornado in the U.S. - Missouri, IN

On March 18, 1925, a twister cut a 219 mile path through three states, killing some 689 and injuring nearly 2000.

Largest tornado outbreak in the U.S. - Ohio River Valley

On April 3 and 4, 1974, a storm system spawned over 125 tornadoes from Indiana to northern Georgia, nearly a quarter of them rating as fearsome F4s or F5s.

Deadliest Hurricane to hit the U.S. - Galveston, TX

Not expected to be destructive, the 1900 storm ravaged the island with 100 mph winds and a 20 foot storm surge; an estimated 8000 people died.

Deadliest flood caused by a storm surge - Bangladesh

In November 1970 a cyclone in the Bay of Bengal killed about 300,000 people.

Costliest meteorological disaster - Bahamas, Florida and Louisana

In 1922 the small but destructive Hurricane Andrew caused an estimated $25 billion worth of damage.

Largest tropical cyclone - Pacific Ocean

The storm system known as John wandered the Pacific for 31 days in August and September 1994.

Precipitation

Wettest place on Earth - Lloro, Colombia

An estimated average 0f 523,6 inches of rain falls each year.

Driest place on Earth - Arica, Chile

Averaged .03 inch of rain each year for half a century.

Greatest 24 hour rainfall - Foc-Foc, Reunion Island

Between January 7 and January 8, 1966, 72 inches of rain fell.

Temperature

Highest temperature - Al-Aziziyah, Libya

Mercury reached 136 degrees Fahrenheit on September 13, 1922.

Lowest temperature - Vostok Research Station, Antarctica

Temperature of -129 degrees was recorded on July 21, 1983, outside this Soviet research station.

Hottest place on Earth - Dallol, Ethiopia

Average temperature from 1960 to 1966 was 94 degrees F.

Coldest place on Earth - Sovietskaya Research Station, Antarctica

Average temperature in 1957 and 1958 was -71 degrees F.

Greatest 24 hour temperature fall in the U.S. - Browning, Montana

Temperature fell from 44 degrees to -56 degrees between January 23 and 24, 1916.

Most variable temperature on Earth - Verkhoyansk, Russia

Temperatures have ranged from -90 degrees to 94 degrees F, although Verkhoyansk is usually extremely cold.

Longest streak of stable temperatures - Garapan, Saipan Island, Northern Mariana Islands

From 1927 to 1935 the temperature never rose above 88.5 degrees F and never dropped below 67.3 degrees F.

Other

Highest waterspout - Eden, New South Wales, Australia

Estimated to be 5014 feet high, it was spotted on May 16, 1898.

Foggiest place in the U.S. - Cape Dissappointment, Washington

An average of 2552 hours (106 days) each year are heavily foggy. (Some may argue that it is my brain before coffee in the morning that is foggier!)

Most humid place on Earth - Aseb, Eritrea

Average afternoon dew point is over 84 degrees F.

Strongest winds outside of a Tornado - Mount Washington, N.H.

Gusts of 231 mph were measured on April 12, 1934.