extreme temperatures

The pair of temperature values corresponding to the highest and lowest of all those recorded during a given period of time. The maximum and minimum temperatures reached each day constitute the daily extremes, and are recorded as such in the logbooks of weather observatories. The maximum is usually reached somewhat after solar noon, while the minimum is usually recorded shortly after dawn. Although the day-night cycle sets the pattern for a location's daily thermal behaviour, extreme values can occasionally be reached at times of day other than the usual ones. This circumstance occurs, at times, when masses of very cold or extremely warm air move in abruptly, which upsets the dictates set by the solar factor.