Temperature extremes are the highest and lowest temperatures recorded in specific locales. As extreme points, they provide a range of typical temperatures in that locale.
Only outdoor climactic temperatures are recorded; temperatures recorded inside forest fires, for example, would not be included. Additionally, only temperatures recorded four feet (1.2 m) or higher above the ground, and in the shade, are admissible, as ground temperatures in many areas are much hotter than air temperatures. One inch above the ground, temperatures can exceed 90 degrees Celsius (194 F) in the deserts.
Recorded temperature extremes are almost certainly not the highest and lowest climactic temperatures ever; weather records have only been kept for a few decades in some locales, and uninhabited locations are recorded rarely if ever. As well, many readings exist exceeding documented extremes but are disputed. For example, there are disputed claims of 60.0 C (140 F) readings in the Mexican deserts.
The world's temperature extremes are 58.0 C (136.4 F), recorded in Al'Aziziyah , Libya, and -89.2 C (-128.6 F) recorded in Vostok, Antarctica. For the United States, the extremes are 56.7 C (134.0 F) in Death Valley, California and -62.2 C (-80.0 F) recorded in Prospect Creek , Alaska.
Among the U.S. states, Hawaii has both the lowest state maximum of 37.5 C (99.5 F) and the highest state minimum of -11.1 C (12.0 F). Indeed, tropical locations such as Hawaii often have the lowest recorded temperature ranges, sometimes as low as 16.7 C (30 C) whereas the Siberian desert locales, known for scrorching summers and frigid winters, can have temperature ranges exceeding 100 C (180 F). The most dramatic temperature changes, however, occur in North American climates susceptible to Chinook winds. For example, the largest 2-minute temperature change of +27.2 C (+49 F) occurred in Minnesota, a rise from -20 C (-4 F) to 7.2 C (45 F).
Lifetime temperature ranges are sometimes compared by well-traveled North Americans and Europeans, as having a large range can be a sign of extensive travel. There is much variation due to climate, but without travel, the average American might have a lifetime range between 50 and 75 degrees Celsius (90 - 120 F). Europeans, unless they travel to places with unusual climates, tend to have smaller temperature ranges due to the more moderate temperatures observed on the continent (excluding during the freak summer of 2003).
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