November 26

Events - Nature & Environment

1970day.year

In Basse-Terre, Guadeloupe, 38 millimetres (1.5 in) of rain fall in a minute, the heaviest rainfall ever recorded.

In Basse-Terre, Guadeloupe, 38 mm of rain fell in a single minute, setting the world record for the heaviest one-minute rainfall rate.
On November 26, 1970, meteorologists observed a staggering downpour in Basse-Terre, Guadeloupe, where 38 millimetres of rain fell in just sixty seconds. This extraordinary event established a global benchmark for intense precipitation in such a short period. The sudden deluge highlighted the power of tropical weather systems and provided invaluable data for climatology studies. Local drainage and infrastructure were put to the test, underscoring challenges in urban planning for flash floods. This record remains a key reference in meteorological archives and continues to inform research on extreme weather phenomena.
1970 Basse-Terre Guadeloupe
2004day.year

The last Poʻouli (Black-faced honeycreeper) dies of avian malaria in the Maui Bird Conservation Center in Olinda, Hawaii, before it could breed, making the species in all probability extinct.

On November 26, 2004, the last known Poʻouli bird died at the Maui Bird Conservation Center, rendering the species functionally extinct.
The Poʻouli, a rare black-faced honeycreeper native to Maui, likely became extinct when the last known bird died on November 26, 2004. Discovered only in 1973, the species faced devastating losses from avian malaria, invasive species, and habitat degradation. Conservationists at the Maui Bird Conservation Center made intensive efforts to breed the remaining individuals in captivity. Despite these efforts, the lone Poʻouli died before it could successfully reproduce. Its extinction symbolizes the fragility of island ecosystems under human and disease pressures. The loss inspired renewed focus on saving other endangered Hawaiian birds.
Poʻouli avian malaria