# How can I access historical climate data?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-access-historical-climate-data/562544>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [December 1, 2010, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-access-historical-climate-data/562544 "2010-12-01T16:06:45Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![blood63](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/97f17d/32.png) [@blood63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blood63)\
**Post date:** [December 1, 2010, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-access-historical-climate-data/562544/1 "2010-12-01T16:06:45Z")

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I have a need for online historical climate data. For example I would need to view yearly highs and lows, precipitation for major cities around the world for both the present time and in the past (50 years would be good).  
I have spend a bit of time (1/2 hour) and thought this would be easy. The data is either too technical, in a different language or unavailable. I can access the Portuguese Meterological Society but the do not have historical data online (that I can find).  
Is there a hidden reservoir somewhere?  
Thanks.

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**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\
**Post date:** [December 1, 2010, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-access-historical-climate-data/562544/2 "2010-12-01T16:35:39Z")

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Not sure if [THIS](http://www.wunderground.com/history/) is what you’re looking for. We use it when planning vacations so we can get an idea of what to expect weather wise. Looks like it goes back 62 years.

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**Author:** ![ramel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eb8c5e/32.png) [@ramel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ramel)\
**Post date:** [December 1, 2010, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-access-historical-climate-data/562544/3 "2010-12-01T16:41:13Z")

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Wolfram Alpha might help

Example [temperature uk 1990-2000 - Wolfram|Alpha](http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=temperature+uk+1990-2000)

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**Author:** ![blood63](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/97f17d/32.png) [@blood63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blood63)\
**Post date:** [December 1, 2010, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-access-historical-climate-data/562544/4 "2010-12-01T17:56:47Z")

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> [@pkbites](#):
>
> Not sure if [THIS](http://www.wunderground.com/history/) is what you’re looking for. We use it when planning vacations so we can get an idea of what to expect weather wise. Looks like it goes back 62 years.

Its very easy to use. Thanks for the quick response.

In am still interested if there are other sites with a little more detail.