Weather Records on 21 August 1971

660 weather records were set or tied worldwide on 21 August 1971. Highest significance: Pearston (Pol), ZA.

Key Facts for 21 August 1971

On 21 August 1971, 660 weather records were set or tied at long-record stations worldwide.
161 were record highs and 59 were record lows, counting maximum and minimum temperature.
By timescale, 10 were all-time records, 40 monthly and 610 daily.
Pearston (Pol) set a monthly record daily precipitation of 68.0 mm (2.7 in) on 21 August 1971.
Across 165 earlier years (1800 to 2026) the same calendar date averaged 449 records.

Record Map

660 stations

660 station records on 21 August 1971 are marked on the map, coloured by record type. Dot size shows the significance score. Made with Natural Earth.

Weather records on 21 August 1971: highest significance records shown on the map
Station	Country	Type	Value	Significance
Pearston (Pol)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	68.0 mm (2.7 in)	80 of 100 (Exceptional)
Somerset East	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	88.5 mm (3.5 in)	71 of 100 (Major)
Wolwefontein (Pol)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	152.0 mm (6.0 in)	70 of 100 (Major)
Qacu (Bos)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	62.5 mm (2.5 in)	67 of 100 (Major)
Walgett (Dungalear)	Australia	Record daily precipitation	39.9 mm (1.6 in)	66 of 100 (Major)
Arrilalah Telegraph Off	Australia	Record daily precipitation	59.2 mm (2.3 in)	65 of 100 (Major)
Waaipoort	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	80.0 mm (3.1 in)	65 of 100 (Major)
Grahamstown	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	145.0 mm (5.7 in)	64 of 100 (Major)
Adolphskraal	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	105.3 mm (4.1 in)	63 of 100 (Major)
Aberdeen Rd (Sar)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	29.5 mm (1.2 in)	62 of 100 (Major)
Cookhouse (Sar)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	81.1 mm (3.2 in)	62 of 100 (Major)
De Jong Ranch, Howic	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	37.1 mm (1.5 in)	62 of 100 (Major)
Steytlerville (Mag)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	70.5 mm (2.8 in)	61 of 100 (Major)
Cheviot Fells	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	40.7 mm (1.6 in)	61 of 100 (Major)
Tierhoek	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	261.1 mm (10.3 in)	60 of 100 (Major)
Loerie (Bos)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	119.5 mm (4.7 in)	60 of 100 (Major)
Isidinge (Bos)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	89.0 mm (3.5 in)	60 of 100 (Major)
Derry 4 SW	United States	Record daily precipitation	71.1 mm (2.8 in)	60 of 100 (Major)
Jansenville	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	77.0 mm (3.0 in)	59 of 100 (Notable)
Dontsa	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	72.0 mm (2.8 in)	59 of 100 (Notable)
Aberdeen (Tnk)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	87.0 mm (3.4 in)	59 of 100 (Notable)
Albertvale	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	116.0 mm (4.6 in)	58 of 100 (Notable)
Pirie (Bos)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	180.5 mm (7.1 in)	58 of 100 (Notable)
Dohne (Sar)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	68.0 mm (2.7 in)	58 of 100 (Notable)
Kei Road (Pol)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	74.0 mm (2.9 in)	58 of 100 (Notable)
Huxley	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	60.0 mm (2.4 in)	58 of 100 (Notable)
Rabula (Bos)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	119.0 mm (4.7 in)	57 of 100 (Notable)
Kologha (Bos)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	76.5 mm (3.0 in)	57 of 100 (Notable)
Nieu-Bethesda (Pol)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	60.0 mm (2.4 in)	57 of 100 (Notable)
Longvale	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	170.0 mm (6.7 in)	56 of 100 (Notable)
Kieskamahoek (Pol)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	61.0 mm (2.4 in)	56 of 100 (Notable)
Bloemhof	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	49.0 mm (1.9 in)	56 of 100 (Notable)
Red Rock 6 SSW	United States	Record daily precipitation	36.8 mm (1.4 in)	56 of 100 (Notable)
Fort Beaufort	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	51.0 mm (2.0 in)	55 of 100 (Notable)
Uitkomst	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	80.0 mm (3.1 in)	54 of 100 (Notable)
Norley Station	Australia	Record daily precipitation	31.5 mm (1.2 in)	53 of 100 (Notable)
Alexandria (Bos)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	77.5 mm (3.1 in)	53 of 100 (Notable)
Weetaliba (Weetalabah)	Australia	Record daily precipitation	70.4 mm (2.8 in)	52 of 100 (Notable)
Bathurst Ns,	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	78.0 mm (3.1 in)	52 of 100 (Notable)
Kendrew Estates	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	86.5 mm (3.4 in)	52 of 100 (Notable)
Fountain Head	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	42.0 mm (1.7 in)	52 of 100 (Notable)
Keilands	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	51.5 mm (2.0 in)	52 of 100 (Notable)
Tsomo (Pol)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	52.0 mm (2.0 in)	52 of 100 (Notable)
Willowvale (Tnk)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	65.0 mm (2.6 in)	52 of 100 (Notable)
Safford	United States	Record daily precipitation	42.4 mm (1.7 in)	52 of 100 (Notable)
Zoetvlei	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	33.0 mm (1.3 in)	50 of 100 (Notable)
Richmond - Uws Hawkesbury	Australia	Record daily precipitation	36.1 mm (1.4 in)	49 of 100 (Notable)
Eenstroom	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	105.0 mm (4.1 in)	49 of 100 (Notable)
Izeleni (Bos)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	77.5 mm (3.1 in)	49 of 100 (Notable)
Thomas River (Pol)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	45.0 mm (1.8 in)	49 of 100 (Notable)
Cezu (Bos)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	88.0 mm (3.5 in)	49 of 100 (Notable)
Mill Holme	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	60.0 mm (2.4 in)	48 of 100 (Notable)
Biesjiesfontein	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	84.0 mm (3.3 in)	47 of 100 (Notable)
Balfour (Pol)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	38.0 mm (1.5 in)	47 of 100 (Notable)
Cobar (the Meadows)	Australia	Record daily precipitation	27.2 mm (1.1 in)	46 of 100 (Notable)
Willowmore	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	28.4 mm (1.1 in)	46 of 100 (Notable)
Cypherfontein	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	54.0 mm (2.1 in)	46 of 100 (Notable)
Kentani (Bos)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	80.5 mm (3.2 in)	46 of 100 (Notable)
Hankey (Pol)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	88.0 mm (3.5 in)	45 of 100 (Notable)
Dohne	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	66.0 mm (2.6 in)	45 of 100 (Notable)

Counts by Type and Timescale

660 records

Records set or tied on 21 August 1971 by type: Highest daily maximum 83, Lowest daily maximum 34, Highest daily minimum 78, Lowest daily minimum 25, Heaviest daily rainfall 439, Deepest snow cover 1.

Records on 21 August 1971 by type
Record type	Records
Highest daily maximum	83
Lowest daily maximum	34
Highest daily minimum	78
Lowest daily minimum	25
Heaviest daily rainfall	439
Heaviest daily snowfall	0
Deepest snow cover	1

Records on 21 August 1971 by timescale: all-time 10, monthly 40, daily 610.

How Much Records Were Beaten By

571 broken records

Margins by which the 571 broken records beat the old ones, in degrees Celsius for temperature and millimetres for precipitation and snow; the largest margin was 91.8. Ties are not counted.

Top 20 by Significance

21 August 1971

Top 20 records on 21 August 1971 by significance
Date	Station	Record	Value	Beat old record by	Old record stood	Significance
21 August 1971	Pearston (Pol), ZA	monthly rain	68.0 mm (2.7 in)	29.9 mm (1.2 in)	75 years	80 of 100 (Exceptional)
21 August 1971	Somerset East, ZA	monthly rain	88.5 mm (3.5 in)	28.0 mm (1.1 in)	57 years	71 of 100 (Major)
21 August 1971	Wolwefontein (Pol), ZA	all-time rain	152.0 mm (6.0 in)	50.1 mm (2.0 in)	20 years	70 of 100 (Major)
21 August 1971	Qacu (Bos), ZA	daily rain	62.5 mm (2.5 in)	48.8 mm (1.9 in)	65 years	67 of 100 (Major)
21 August 1971	Walgett (Dungalear), AU	daily rain	39.9 mm (1.6 in)	26.7 mm (1.1 in)	87 years	66 of 100 (Major)
21 August 1971	Arrilalah Telegraph Off, AU	monthly rain	59.2 mm (2.3 in)	31.3 mm (1.2 in)	32 years	65 of 100 (Major)
21 August 1971	Waaipoort, ZA	monthly rain	80.0 mm (3.1 in)	34.3 mm (1.4 in)	37 years	65 of 100 (Major)
21 August 1971	Grahamstown, ZA	monthly rain	145.0 mm (5.7 in)	65.5 mm (2.6 in)	17 years	64 of 100 (Major)
21 August 1971	Adolphskraal, ZA	monthly rain	105.3 mm (4.1 in)	64.7 mm (2.5 in)	32 years	63 of 100 (Major)
21 August 1971	Aberdeen Rd (Sar), ZA	daily rain	29.5 mm (1.2 in)	24.2 mm (1.0 in)	83 years	62 of 100 (Major)
21 August 1971	Cookhouse (Sar), ZA	monthly rain	81.1 mm (3.2 in)	32.8 mm (1.3 in)	17 years	62 of 100 (Major)
21 August 1971	De Jong Ranch, Howic, ZA	daily rain	37.1 mm (1.5 in)	32.8 mm (1.3 in)	62 years	62 of 100 (Major)
21 August 1971	Steytlerville (Mag), ZA	monthly rain	70.5 mm (2.8 in)	19.7 mm (0.8 in)	68 years	61 of 100 (Major)
21 August 1971	Cheviot Fells, ZA	daily rain	40.7 mm (1.6 in)	25.5 mm (1.0 in)	66 years	61 of 100 (Major)
21 August 1971	Tierhoek, ZA	all-time rain	261.1 mm (10.3 in)	78.5 mm (3.1 in)	17 years	60 of 100 (Major)
21 August 1971	Loerie (Bos), ZA	monthly rain	119.5 mm (4.7 in)	54.0 mm (2.1 in)	16 years	60 of 100 (Major)
21 August 1971	Isidinge (Bos), ZA	daily rain	89.0 mm (3.5 in)	64.1 mm (2.5 in)	41 years	60 of 100 (Major)
21 August 1971	Derry 4 SW, US	daily rain	71.1 mm (2.8 in)	55.6 mm (2.2 in)	44 years	60 of 100 (Major)
21 August 1971	Jansenville, ZA	monthly rain	77.0 mm (3.0 in)	39.0 mm (1.5 in)	0 years	59 of 100 (Notable)
21 August 1971	Dontsa, ZA	daily rain	72.0 mm (2.8 in)	50.9 mm (2.0 in)	41 years	59 of 100 (Notable)

Significance is a score from 0 to 100 combining margin, the age of the old record and the length of the station's record. How it is computed.

The Same Date in Other Years

1800 to 1971

Records set or tied on this calendar date in each year from 1800 to 1971. 1971 had 660 records.

Counts for years before the ledger starts come from the same station rules.

Records on 08-21 in each year
Year	Records
1800	1
1802	1
1804	1
1807	1
1816	1
1818	1
1832	1
1834	1
1839	3
1843	1
1847	1
1849	3
1850	1
1851	2
1863	1
1866	1
1867	2
1870	3
1871	2
1872	1
1873	1
1876	1
1877	2
1879	2
1884	2
1885	5
1886	1
1887	5
1888	2
1889	3
1890	4
1891	2
1893	4
1894	8
1895	3
1896	2
1897	4
1898	4
1899	7
1900	4
1901	9
1902	8
1903	6
1904	8
1905	4
1906	22
1907	20
1908	13
1909	17
1910	33
1911	19
1912	50
1913	37
1914	24
1915	21
1916	106
1917	101
1918	202
1919	19
1920	59
1921	34
1922	58
1923	111
1924	135
1925	220
1926	227
1927	228
1928	110
1929	234
1930	297
1931	277
1932	264
1933	328
1934	320
1935	318
1936	807
1937	762
1938	239
1939	630
1940	683
1941	180
1942	415
1943	438
1944	346
1945	544
1946	390
1947	954
1948	305
1949	508
1950	958
1951	699
1952	368
1953	331
1954	497
1955	885
1956	701
1957	490
1958	389
1959	704
1960	490
1961	644
1962	469
1963	338
1964	794
1965	455
1966	661
1967	541
1968	1,014
1969	650
1970	373
1971	660
1972	441
1973	438
1974	564
1975	545
1976	756
1977	764
1978	445
1979	778
1980	904
1981	1,015
1982	769
1983	1,407
1984	975
1985	623
1986	1,166
1987	740
1988	889
1989	828
1990	910
1991	828
1992	957
1993	698
1994	968
1995	962
1996	950
1997	1,291
1998	948
1999	717
2000	861
2001	797
2002	965
2003	1,241
2004	1,585
2005	1,071
2006	797
2007	1,829
2008	1,012
2009	1,319
2010	1,155
2011	1,022
2012	990
2013	513
2014	624
2015	651
2016	890
2017	347
2018	816
2019	631
2020	1,147
2021	767
2022	917
2023	1,826
2024	777
2025	1,230
2026	1,289

Download the Data

Data for records on 1971-08-21: CSV or JSON. Field meanings are on the data page.

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 2026-10-14 (14 October 2026). Records are computed by this site and are not official.

Data as of 2026-10-12. Last revised 12 October 2026 (2026-10-12).

Histogram of margins by which records were beaten on 21 August 1971
Margin	Records
0 to 20	460
20 to 40	75
40 to 60	25
60 to 80	9
80 to 100	2