List of atmospheric pressure records in Europe
The following is a List of atmospheric pressure records in Europe and the extratropical Northern Atlantic.
Extreme pressure values in Europe show both seasonal and geographical differentiation. The greatest pressure extremes occur in winter with the deepest lows occurring to the northwest of the continent with a diminishing influence of low pressure to the southeast towards Central Europe and Southeast Europe. 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 cooling of the air column by radiative cooling causing sinking air reinforcing the development of the highest pressures. Other influences include the semi-permanent Azores high, and Siberian highs.
Land-based observations in Europe
Land-based records for Europe:- 22–23 January 1907 in Pärnu, Estonia and Riga, Latvia at 1067.1 mbar reported in peer-reviewed literature.
- 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.
- 17 February 1954 in northern Russia >1060 hPa, This high is claimed to have a pressure over 1070 hPa by a Free University of Berlin student generated report.
- 16 February 1956, northern Urals 1070 hPa mentioned in student generated reports from FUB. 1067 hPa in another student report from FUB. Others give a figure for this high of 1065 mslp. 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.
- 31 January 2012 station Khoseda-Khard directly west of Urals a value of 1068.3 hPa, also reported by SMHI, from a high pressure area named "Cooper/Dieter" by the Free University of Berlin in January 2012 which brought the Early 2012 European cold wave.
Another value reported:
- 6–7 January 1839, recorded at Sumburgh Head, Shetland during the Night of the big wind storm this value is from non-standardised equipment, and is not fully supported by values at neighbouring stations. 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
Iceland
Iceland monthly maximum figures for atmospheric pressure
Iceland list of atmospheric pressure over 1050 hPa
High pressure in Iceland has exceeded 1050 hPa 4 times in the twentieth century and five times in the nineteenth century.Date | Location | pressure hPa | Notes |
23 December 1836 | Reykjavik | 1050.9 | |
3 January 1841 | Reykjavik | 1058.0 | |
11 December 1846 | Reykjavik | 1051.7 | |
6 March 1883 | Stykkishólmur | 1050.7 | |
12 January 1890 | Akureyri | 1051.6 | |
26 February 1890 | Stykkishólmur | 1050.0 | |
14 January 1891 | Westman Isles | 1051.1 | |
14 February 1892 | Akureyri and Stykkishólmur | 1051.8 | |
16 December 1917 | Stykkishólmur | 1054.2 | |
26 February 1962 | Akureyri | 1051.7 | |
17 January 1977 | Galtarviti, Keflavik | 1051.1 | |
14–15 April 1991 | Several stations | 1050 | |
25–26 February 2006 | Several stations | 1050 | |
28 March 2020 | Hjarðarland | 1050.5 | named "Keywan" by FUB. |
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.
Iceland monthly minimum figures for atmospheric pressure
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.—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.A recent low pressure on 30 December 2015 was recorded at Kirkjubaejarklaustur at 930.2 hPa, the lowest pressure recorded on land in Iceland since 1989.
Faroe Islands
The Danish Meteorological Institute report record atmospheric pressure for the Faroe Islands as:Climatic Research Unit Emulate data 1874–2002 give 3 dates when pressure exceeded 1050 hPa in Tórshavn.
Date | pressure hPa |
8 January 1896 | 1052.64 |
1 February 1902 | 1052.43 |
21 February 1944 | 1050.33 |
Ireland
list the following national records for atmospheric pressure:Ireland monthly maximum figures for atmospheric pressure
Ireland monthly minimum figures for atmospheric pressure
Isle of Man
1957–2005- Highest air pressure: 26 January 1992, Ronaldsway 1047.8 hPa.
- Lowest air pressure: 1 December 1966, Ronaldsway 946.5 hPa.
United Kingdom and Ireland
For the United Kingdom, the Met Office record the record figures for atmospheric pressure as:- Highest air pressure: 31 January 1902, Aberdeen Scotland 1053.6 hPa.
- Lowest air pressure: 26 January 1884, Ochtertyre Scotland 925.6 hPa.
On 26 January 1884, during the Ochtertyre storm the Ben Nevis summit weather station recorded a low pressure of 784.7 hPa this is proposed as being almost certainly the lowest surface pressure ever recorded in the UK, 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.
United Kingdom monthly maximum figures for atmospheric pressure
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 | Previously 3 March 1990 St Mary's Airport, Isles of Scilly 1047.9 hPa. The value from 9 March 1953 Tynemouth of 1048.6 is thought to be from an erroneous value transcription of 1043.6. |
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. |
June | 14 June 1959 | Clones Co. Monaghan | 1043.1 | UK value: 14 June 1959, "Northern Ireland" 1043 hPa. 15 June 1874 Scotland >1040 hPa. |
July | 16 July 1996 | Aboyne, Aberdeenshire | 1039.2 | |
August | 25 August 1968 | Kirkwall, Orkney | 1037.4 | |
September | 11 September 2009 | Ballykelly, Co. Londonderry | 1042.0 | *Previously 19 September 1986 Shawbury, Shropshire 1041.2 hPa. |
October | 31 October 1956 | Dyce, Aberdeenshire | 1045.6 | |
November | 10 November 1999 | Aviemore, Invernessshire | 1046.7 | |
December | 24 December 1926 | Wick, Caithness | 1051.9 |
United Kingdom list of atmospheric pressure over 1050 hPa
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 | 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. | 1050.5 |
29 March 2020 | South Uist, Scotland. | 1051.2 |
In the period of instrumental measurement the atmospheric pressure has exceeded 1048 hPa somewhere over the United Kingdom and Ireland on 18 occasions. 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.
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. 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.
United Kingdom monthly minimum figures for atmospheric pressure
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,. |
February | 4 February 1951 | Midleton, Co. Cork | 942.3 | UK value: 9 February 1988, Benbecula 944.0 hPa. |
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. |
May | 8 May 1943 | Sealand, Flintshire | 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. |
September | 21 September 1953 | Claremorris, Co. Mayo | 957.1 | UK value: 16–17 September 1935, "Central England" 960 hPa. |
October | 14 October 1981 | Cawdor Castle, Highland | 946.8 | **Cyclone Oratia |
November | 11 November 1877 | Monach Lighthouse, Outer Hebrides | 939.7 | |
December | 8 December 1886 | Belfast, Antrim | 927.2 | On the morning of 8 December 1886, the barometer may have fallen as low as 924 mbar over northern Ireland, although the lowest authenticated value was 927.2 mbar at Belfast at 1330h, close to the centre of the depression. |
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 was recorded from RAF Fylingdales at 951.2 hPa.
On 7 September 1995, Scilly Isles, reported a low pressure of 966 hPa. 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 mbar.
United Kingdom list of atmospheric pressure below 950 hPa (incomplete)
- 1821 December 25, London.
- 1839 January 7, Night of the big wind, pressure below at Inchkeith, Peterhead and Aberdeen.
- 1865 November 22,
- 1865 December 31, Butt of Lewis Lighthouse, with a report of from Hoy that is not supported by observation from Cantick head lighthouse on South Walls.
- 1884 January 26, Ochtertyre, record lowest pressure value for the UK.
- 1886 December 8,
- 1982 December 20, Stornoway 937.6 hPa.
- 2013 December 24, Cyclone Dirk
- 2020 February 9 Storm Ciara, Kirkwall Airport 945 hPa.
Home nation records
Scotland
Same as UK national records.Northern Ireland
Wales
England
Alt. 8 December 1886, Newton Reigny in Cumbria,.Norway
the joint venture between the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation and the Norwegian Meteorological Institute give the national pressure records as:A value of 702.0 mm Hg at Bergen Lungegård Hospital on January 27, 1884 is also reported, 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.
Both records in same winter as each other and those of Denmark.
Month | Date | Location | pressure hPa | ref | Notes |
February | 28 February 2018 | Tynset, Hedmark | 1061.0 | - | |
October | 5 October 2016 | Otta | 1054.3 | *Previously 14 October 1896, Dalen, Telemark, 1044.0 hPa. |
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.
Denmark
The Danish Meteorological Institute report record barometric pressure for Denmark as:Danish records both occurred within a month during the same winter, and same winter as Norwegian records.
Denmark monthly maximum figures for atmospheric pressure
Month | Date | Location | pressure hPa | ref | Notes |
January | 23 January 1907 | Skagen and Copenhagen | 1062.2 | ||
February | 7 February 2012 | Thyborøn | 1050.3 | 2012 value exceeds 1961–1990 maximum. | |
March | 30 March 1977 | Bornholm Airport | 1047.0 | 12 March 1880, Hammer Odde 1049.4 hPa. | |
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 | *Previously 18 September 1904, Hammer Odde Lighthouse 1038.8 hPa. | |
October | 5 October 2016 | Skagen | 1045.5 | *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 |
Denmark list of barometric pressure over 1050 hPa
Denmark monthly minimum figures for atmospheric pressure
Sweden
The Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute give the nation's barometric records as:Sweden monthly maximum figures for atmospheric pressure
Sweden monthly minimum figures for atmospheric pressure
Finland
According to the Finnish Meteorological Institute: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. 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.
Baltics
Maximum pressure in Europe 22–23 January 1907 recorded in Pärnu, Estonia and Riga, Latvia at 1067.1 mbar. The Free University of Berlin state the European air pressure record is 23 January 1907 in Riga at 1068.7 hPa.Estonia
As reported by the Estonian Weather Service‡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. This figure is not supported by NOAA reanalysis charts 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. 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, at which time the pressure is estimated to have reached around 1070 hPa by Yr.no in the Gulf of Riga.
Latvia
In the period 1960 to 2014, 16 December 1997 Daugavpils a value of 1055.8 hPa recorded.Lithuania
23 January 1907 1065.1 hPa. Deutsche Seewarte gives morning readings on 23 January 1907 in Klaipeda of and in Vilnius of. There is a mention in the Hungarian meteorological journal Időjarás of reaching in Vilnius during the exceptional January 1907 anticyclone, but in the other place the Vilnius value of is reported. According to an article in the German-Austrian expert journal Meteorologische Zeitschrift, on 23 January 1907 at 7 hrs Vilnius reached.Kaliningrad/Königsberg
Western Europe
Channel Islands
Jersey
1862–presentGuernsey
1960–present.Alderney
France
figures from 1951–present.though other listed figures predate Météo-France's records.
- Highest air pressure: 6 February 1821 Paris 1050.4 hPa.
- Lowest air pressure: 25 December 1821 Boulogne sur mer 947.1 hPa.
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. | ||||
March | 3 March 1990 | Pointe de Chémoulin, Saint-Nazaire Loire-Atlantique | 1048.9 hPa | ||
May | 13 May 2019 | Dunkirk | 1040.7 | ||
September | 25 September 2018 | Valenciennes | 1040.0 | *Previously 19 September 1986 Dunkirk 1038.4 |
Month | Date | Location | pressure hPa | ref |
May | 5 May 2004 | Cap de la Hague | 980.1 |
Belgium
The Belgian Royal Meteorological Institute gives the national record values as:Month | Date | Location | pressure hPa | ref | Notes |
January | 20 January 2020 | Uccle | 1048.3 | - | |
May | 16 May 1943 | Uccle | 1039.5 | - | |
June | 6 June 1962 | Uccle | 1034.9 | - | |
September | 27 September 1906 | Uccle | 1037.9 | - | |
October | 23 October 1958 | Uccle | 1039.5 | - |
Month | Date | Location | pressure hPa | ref | Notes |
February | 25 February 1989 | Uccle | 956.8 | *Alt On 25 February 1989 a value reported at Blankenberge of 954 hPa. | |
August | 24 August 1956 | Uccle | 980 | ||
September | 11 September 1903 | Uccle | 976.8 | ||
October | 10 October 1964 | Uccle | 971.0 | ||
November | 29 November 1965 | Uccle | 967 |
Luxembourg
Month | Date | Location | pressure hPa | ref | Notes |
January | 20 January 2020 | Luxembourg Findel Airport | 1048.0 | Previously 1989 1045.5 hPa. | |
February | February 1959 | Luxembourg Findel Airport | 1046.6 | ||
March | March 1990 | Luxembourg Findel Airport | 1045.8 | ||
April | April 1947 | Luxembourg Findel Airport | 1039.9 | ||
May | 13 May 2019 | Luxembourg Findel Airport | 1037.5 | ||
June | June 2005 | Luxembourg Findel Airport | 1036.3 | ||
July | July 1969 | Luxembourg Findel Airport | 1031.2 | ||
August | August 1949 | Luxembourg Findel Airport | 1033.5 | ||
September | 25 September 2018 | Luxembourg Findel Airport | 1039.3 | ||
October | October 1983 | Luxembourg Findel Airport | 1040.0 | ||
November | November 2001 | Luxembourg Findel Airport | 1042.1 | ||
December | 27–28 December 2016 | Luxembourg Findel Airport | 1047.2 | Previously 1991 1044.0 hPa. |
Month | Date | Location | pressure hPa | ref | Notes |
January | January 2009 | Luxembourg Findel Airport | 967.6 | ||
February | February 1989 | Luxembourg Findel Airport | 959.8 | ||
March | March 1994 | Luxembourg Findel Airport | 968.6 | ||
April | April 1962 | Luxembourg Findel Airport | 984.2 | ||
May | May 2009 | Luxembourg Findel Airport | 983.2 | ||
June | June 2009 | Luxembourg Findel Airport | 988.8 | ||
July | July 1987 | Luxembourg Findel Airport | 993.7 | ||
August | August 2008 | Luxembourg Findel Airport | 979.7 | ||
September | September 1974 | Luxembourg Findel Airport | 988.5 | ||
October | October 1990 | Luxembourg Findel Airport | 979.8 | ||
November | November 1965 | Luxembourg Findel Airport | 974.6 | ||
December | December 1976 | Luxembourg Findel Airport | 966.5 |
Netherlands
The Dutch Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute lists the following as national records:Netherlands monthly maximum figures for atmospheric pressure
Netherlands monthly minimum figures for atmospheric pressure
Germany
The German weather service give theOther record figures and locations are also presented:
- 23 January 1907 Dahlem 1057.8 hPa. It is claimed this is an incorrect correction to mslp and correct value is 1056.7 hPa.
Germany monthly maximum figures for atmospheric pressure
Central Europe
Poland
It is likely 23 January 1907 saw a pressure of 1064.8 ± 0.5 mbar over Polish territory. Deutsche Seewarte gives morning readings on 23 January 1907 in Nowy Port of, in Darłowo and Warsaw of, in Świnoujście of and in Kraków of. According to an article in the German-Austrian expert journal Meteorologische Zeitschrift, on 23 January 1907 Suwalki reached and Warsaw at 7 hrs, while Nowy Port at 13 hrs. In another article in the same journal, Rudzki reports the highest value in Kraków of on 23 January 1907 at 10 a.m.Other high pressures are reported as 1051.1 hPa January 22, 2006, 1050 hPa January 3, 1993 and 1048 hPa 10 December 1991.
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.
Switzerland
Other high pressures in Switzerland are given as 3–4 March 1990 at Zurich Airport of >1047 hPa 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. A high value of 1050.2 hPa at Bern on 17 January 1882 is proposed as having occurred. Though values in MeteoSwiss annals are unreduced to MSLP.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.Austria
- A high pressure on 16 January 1882 Vienna 1050.5 hPa, the highest there since 1775.
- A low pressure could possibly be 2 or 3 Dec 1976 <970 hPa.
Czechia
- 23 January 1907 Bystřice pod Hostýnem 1057.2 hPa.
- Lowest 26 February 1989 Čáslav 967.2 hPa appeared in press citing a Czech Hydrometeorological Institute employee.
Slovakia
Hungary
The Hungarian Meteorological Service 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 at 8 hrs. A Hungarian meteorological journal Időjarás reports in Budapest on the same day.
Slovenia
The Slovenian Environment Agency tweeted that pressure on 20 January 2020 reached 1048 hPa, slightly below the values seen onJanuary 24 1907 and 24 December 1963.
Italy
Southeast Europe
Croatia
Serbia
Deutsche Seewarte gives a morning reading on 24 January 1907 in Belgrade of.Romania
Articles in expert journals Időjarás and Pótfüzetek a Természettudományi Közlönyhöz report on 24 January 1907 in Sibiu. Deutsche Seewarte gives a morning Sibiu reading on 24 January 1907 of.Greece
Eastern Europe
Ukraine
A reading of in Ternopil on 24 January 1907 is reported by an expert article in the Hungarian journal Pótfüzetek a Természettudományi Közlönyhöz. According to an article in the German-Austrian expert journal Meteorologische Zeitschrift, Lviv reached on 23 January 1907 at 21 hrs. Deutsche Seewarte gives morning readings on 23 January 1907 in Lviv of.Belarus
Deutsche Seewarte gives a morning reading on 24 January 1907 in Pinsk of.Iberia
Spain
Balearic islands
Portugal
Notable non-tropical pressures over the North Atlantic
Notable atmospheric pressure reports from offshore and in the North Atlantic are:A lower value is reported from 27–28 February 1988 at 1053 hPa centred at approximately .
For comparison, the lowest Atlantic basin tropical cyclone low pressure is Hurricane Wilma in 2005, which holds the record at 882 hPa..
Similarly low extra-tropical values elsewhere have only been documented near Antarctica, with 919 hPa observed at Casey Station on the Windmill Islands on August 8–9, 1976 at Vincennes Bay. 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.
The two lowest extra-tropical pressures reported from the Pacific basin are the 8 November 2014 Bering Sea cyclone at 924 hPa, and the 13 December 2015 North Pacific low at 924 hPa.