List of atmospheric pressure records in Europe

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. 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.

Land-based observations in Europe For comparison, the standard atmospheric pressure at sea level is 1013.25 hPa. This is the average pressure at sea level under calm, stable conditions.

Land-based records for Europe:

Highest observed air pressure record: 22–23 January 1907 in Pärnu, Estonia and Riga, Latvia at 1067.1 hPa reported in peer-reviewed literature. 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. (supported with a 1068 hPa pressure reported in a Danish Meteorological Society publication.) 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. 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. To this list might also be included high pressure anticyclones in 1954 and 2012 (see above), and 1869. The most notable high in Europe peaked in January 1907. This was an unusual development that brought high pressure to the west, 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: 2 December 1929 at Stórhöfði peninsula, Heimaey southwest Iceland 920 hPa. 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). 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 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. Lowest air pressure: 2 December 1929 at Stórhöfði peninsula, Heimaey 920 hPa.

Iceland monthly maximum figures for atmospheric pressure

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.

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 (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.

Faroe Islands

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

Highest air pressure: 13 December 1995, Tórshavn and 28 March 2020 Vágar Airport, 1048.9 hPa. Lowest air pressure: 11 January 1993, Vágar Airport during the Braer Storm 930.3 hPa. Climatic Research Unit Emulate data 1874–2002 give 3 dates when pressure exceeded 1050 hPa in Tórshavn.

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

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

United Kingdom

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

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