South Africa Weather Records: Most Significant and Latest
The 20 highest significance weather records in South Africa, ranked by margin, age of the old record and length of record.
Key Facts
- South Africa has 129 weather records set or tied in 2026 in the data.
- Skukuza set a monthly record daily precipitation of 177.0 mm (7.0 in) on 5 July 2026.
Record Types Among the Top 20
| Record type | Records |
|---|---|
| Highest daily maximum | 0 |
| Lowest daily maximum | 0 |
| Highest daily minimum | 0 |
| Lowest daily minimum | 0 |
| Heaviest daily rainfall | 20 |
| Heaviest daily snowfall | 0 |
| Deepest snow cover | 0 |
Where They Were Set
| Station | Country | Type | Value | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skukuza | South Africa | Record daily precipitation | 177.0 mm (7.0 in) | 82 of 100 (Exceptional) |
| Fraserburg | South Africa | Record daily precipitation | 35.8 mm (1.4 in) | 80 of 100 (Exceptional) |
| Barkly East | South Africa | Record daily precipitation | 42.0 mm (1.7 in) | 76 of 100 (Major) |
| Barkly East | South Africa | Record daily precipitation | 50.0 mm (2.0 in) | 75 of 100 (Major) |
| Malmesbury | South Africa | Record daily precipitation | 64.2 mm (2.5 in) | 73 of 100 (Major) |
| Skukuza | South Africa | Record daily precipitation | 47.0 mm (1.9 in) | 73 of 100 (Major) |
| Fort Beaufort | South Africa | Record daily precipitation | 58.0 mm (2.3 in) | 72 of 100 (Major) |
| Van Reenen | South Africa | Record daily precipitation | 168.4 mm (6.6 in) | 71 of 100 (Major) |
| Riversdale | South Africa | Record daily precipitation | 36.0 mm (1.4 in) | 70 of 100 (Major) |
| Skukuza | South Africa | Record daily precipitation | 101.0 mm (4.0 in) | 70 of 100 (Major) |
| Skukuza | South Africa | Record daily precipitation | 44.4 mm (1.7 in) | 69 of 100 (Major) |
| Elliot | South Africa | Record daily precipitation | 96.6 mm (3.8 in) | 68 of 100 (Major) |
| Noupoort | South Africa | Record daily precipitation | 44.0 mm (1.7 in) | 65 of 100 (Major) |
| Dohne | South Africa | Record daily precipitation | 48.0 mm (1.9 in) | 63 of 100 (Major) |
| Cedara | South Africa | Record daily precipitation | 62.0 mm (2.4 in) | 62 of 100 (Major) |
| Fraserburg | South Africa | Record daily precipitation | 109.0 mm (4.3 in) | 61 of 100 (Major) |
| Cradock | South Africa | Record daily precipitation | 26.0 mm (1.0 in) | 60 of 100 (Major) |
| Dohne | South Africa | Record daily precipitation | 66.2 mm (2.6 in) | 60 of 100 (Major) |
| Cedara | South Africa | Record daily precipitation | 110.0 mm (4.3 in) | 59 of 100 (Notable) |
| Riversdale | South Africa | Record daily precipitation | 26.0 mm (1.0 in) | 57 of 100 (Notable) |
| Jamestown | South Africa | Record daily precipitation | 52.0 mm (2.0 in) | 57 of 100 (Notable) |
| Willowmore | South Africa | Record daily precipitation | 72.0 mm (2.8 in) | 55 of 100 (Notable) |
| Vryheid | South Africa | Record daily precipitation | 54.0 mm (2.1 in) | 54 of 100 (Notable) |
| Uitenhage | South Africa | Record daily precipitation | 36.6 mm (1.4 in) | 53 of 100 (Notable) |
| Barkly East | South Africa | Record daily precipitation | 28.0 mm (1.1 in) | 51 of 100 (Notable) |
| Van Reenen | South Africa | Record daily precipitation | 28.4 mm (1.1 in) | 47 of 100 (Notable) |
| Elliot | South Africa | Record daily precipitation | 71.0 mm (2.8 in) | 46 of 100 (Notable) |
| Fort Beaufort | South Africa | Record daily precipitation | 39.0 mm (1.5 in) | 45 of 100 (Notable) |
| Jamestown | South Africa | Record daily precipitation | 64.0 mm (2.5 in) | 41 of 100 (Notable) |
| Malmesbury | South Africa | Record daily precipitation | 32.0 mm (1.3 in) | 41 of 100 (Notable) |
| Riversdale | South Africa | Record daily precipitation | 25.0 mm (1.0 in) | 40 of 100 (Notable) |
| Barkly East | South Africa | Record daily precipitation | 62.4 mm (2.5 in) | 38 of 100 (Notable) |
| Jamestown | South Africa | Record daily precipitation | 42.0 mm (1.7 in) | 35 of 100 (Notable) |
| Grahamstown | South Africa | Record daily precipitation | 40.2 mm (1.6 in) | 35 of 100 (Notable) |
| Potchefstroom | South Africa | Record daily precipitation | 26.0 mm (1.0 in) | 34 of 100 (Routine) |
| Skukuza | South Africa | Record daily precipitation | 197.0 mm (7.8 in) | 34 of 100 (Routine) |
| Elliot | South Africa | Record daily precipitation | 58.0 mm (2.3 in) | 33 of 100 (Routine) |
| Skukuza | South Africa | Record high minimum temperature | 22.3 C (72.1 F) | 33 of 100 (Routine) |
| Van Reenen | South Africa | Record daily precipitation | 50.0 mm (2.0 in) | 32 of 100 (Routine) |
| Cape Columbine | South Africa | Record high minimum temperature | 16.1 C (61.0 F) | 31 of 100 (Routine) |
| Skukuza | South Africa | Record low maximum temperature | 14.0 C (57.2 F) | 31 of 100 (Routine) |
| Cape Columbine | South Africa | Record high minimum temperature | 17.0 C (62.6 F) | 29 of 100 (Routine) |
| Skukuza | South Africa | Record low maximum temperature | 23.3 C (73.9 F) | 29 of 100 (Routine) |
| Skukuza | South Africa | Record low maximum temperature | 22.5 C (72.5 F) | 28 of 100 (Routine) |
| Skukuza | South Africa | Record low maximum temperature | 21.5 C (70.7 F) | 28 of 100 (Routine) |
| Cape Columbine | South Africa | Record high minimum temperature | 15.5 C (59.9 F) | 27 of 100 (Routine) |
| Cape Columbine | South Africa | Record high minimum temperature | 17.8 C (64.0 F) | 27 of 100 (Routine) |
| Cedara | South Africa | Record low maximum temperature | 11.9 C (53.4 F) | 27 of 100 (Routine) |
| Cedara | South Africa | Record high minimum temperature | 15.8 C (60.4 F) | 27 of 100 (Routine) |
| Cape Columbine | South Africa | Record low maximum temperature | 17.5 C (63.5 F) | 27 of 100 (Routine) |
| Cedara | South Africa | Record high minimum temperature | 12.0 C (53.6 F) | 26 of 100 (Routine) |
| Cedara | South Africa | Record high minimum temperature | 10.9 C (51.6 F) | 26 of 100 (Routine) |
| Cedara | South Africa | Record high minimum temperature | 11.5 C (52.7 F) | 26 of 100 (Routine) |
| Skukuza | South Africa | Record low maximum temperature | 19.0 C (66.2 F) | 26 of 100 (Routine) |
| Cape Columbine | South Africa | Record high minimum temperature | 20.0 C (68.0 F) | 26 of 100 (Routine) |
| Cape Columbine | South Africa | Record low maximum temperature | 12.0 C (53.6 F) | 25 of 100 (Routine) |
| Skukuza | South Africa | Record low maximum temperature | 25.5 C (77.9 F) | 25 of 100 (Routine) |
| Cape Columbine | South Africa | Record low maximum temperature | 17.2 C (63.0 F) | 25 of 100 (Routine) |
| Skukuza | South Africa | Record low maximum temperature | 15.9 C (60.6 F) | 24 of 100 (Routine) |
| Skukuza | South Africa | Record low maximum temperature | 19.7 C (67.5 F) | 24 of 100 (Routine) |
Ranked by Significance
| Date | Station | Record | Value | Beat old record by | Old record stood | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 July 2026 | Skukuza, ZA | monthly rain | 177.0 mm (7.0 in) | 72.0 mm (2.8 in) | 74 years | 82 of 100 (Exceptional) |
| 17 September 2026 | Fraserburg, ZA | daily rain (Provisional) | 35.8 mm (1.4 in) | 33.3 mm (1.3 in) | 128 years | 80 of 100 (Exceptional) |
| 6 October 2026 | Barkly East, ZA | daily rain (Provisional) | 42.0 mm (1.7 in) | 27.3 mm (1.1 in) | 124 years | 76 of 100 (Major) |
| 4 September 2026 | Barkly East, ZA | daily rain (Provisional) | 50.0 mm (2.0 in) | 28.2 mm (1.1 in) | 96 years | 75 of 100 (Major) |
| 14 September 2026 | Malmesbury, ZA | monthly rain (Provisional) | 64.2 mm (2.5 in) | 17.7 mm (0.7 in) | 90 years | 73 of 100 (Major) |
| 18 July 2026 | Skukuza, ZA | daily rain | 47.0 mm (1.9 in) | 47.0 mm (1.9 in) | 112 years | 73 of 100 (Major) |
| 9 August 2026 | Fort Beaufort, ZA | daily rain | 58.0 mm (2.3 in) | 44.3 mm (1.7 in) | 76 years | 72 of 100 (Major) |
| 17 September 2026 | Van Reenen, ZA | monthly rain (Provisional) | 168.4 mm (6.6 in) | 64.4 mm (2.5 in) | 38 years | 71 of 100 (Major) |
| 18 September 2026 | Riversdale, ZA | daily rain (Provisional) | 36.0 mm (1.4 in) | 22.8 mm (0.9 in) | 112 years | 70 of 100 (Major) |
| 13 July 2026 | Skukuza, ZA | daily rain | 101.0 mm (4.0 in) | 100.0 mm (3.9 in) | 69 years | 70 of 100 (Major) |
| 11 August 2026 | Skukuza, ZA | daily rain | 44.4 mm (1.7 in) | 32.4 mm (1.3 in) | 107 years | 69 of 100 (Major) |
| 4 September 2026 | Elliot, ZA | daily rain (Provisional) | 96.6 mm (3.8 in) | 58.6 mm (2.3 in) | 60 years | 68 of 100 (Major) |
| 23 September 2026 | Noupoort, ZA | daily rain (Provisional) | 44.0 mm (1.7 in) | 24.9 mm (1.0 in) | 101 years | 65 of 100 (Major) |
| 3 September 2026 | Dohne, ZA | daily rain (Provisional) | 48.0 mm (1.9 in) | 34.5 mm (1.4 in) | 53 years | 63 of 100 (Major) |
| 10 August 2026 | Cedara, ZA | daily rain | 62.0 mm (2.4 in) | 53.0 mm (2.1 in) | 48 years | 62 of 100 (Major) |
| 18 September 2026 | Fraserburg, ZA | all-time rain (Provisional) | 109.0 mm (4.3 in) | 1.0 mm (0.04 in) | 136 years | 61 of 100 (Major) |
| 20 September 2026 | Cradock, ZA | daily rain (Provisional) | 26.0 mm (1.0 in) | 14.8 mm (0.6 in) | 120 years | 60 of 100 (Major) |
| 29 July 2026 | Dohne, ZA | daily rain | 66.2 mm (2.6 in) | 60.2 mm (2.4 in) | 41 years | 60 of 100 (Major) |
| 26 September 2026 | Cedara, ZA | daily rain (Provisional) | 110.0 mm (4.3 in) | 52.0 mm (2.0 in) | 39 years | 59 of 100 (Notable) |
| 17 September 2026 | Riversdale, ZA | daily rain (Provisional) | 26.0 mm (1.0 in) | 12.8 mm (0.5 in) | 133 years | 57 of 100 (Notable) |
The score combines margin, the age of the old record and the length of the station's record. How it is computed.
Download the Data
Sources: Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Global Historical Climatology Network Daily (GHCN-Daily). Records are computed by World Extreme Weather Monitor and are not official NOAA products. (US Government open data (NOAA NCEI)) Made with Natural Earth. Public domain map data. Borders are Natural Earth's de facto depiction. Data as of 2026-10-12 (12 October 2026). Records are computed by this site and are not official.
Data as of . Last revised (2026-10-12).