Weather Records on 21 February 1988

633 weather records were set or tied worldwide on 21 February 1988. Highest significance: Dewetsdorp (Pol), ZA.

Key Facts for 21 February 1988

On 21 February 1988, 633 weather records were set or tied at long-record stations worldwide.
234 were record highs and 146 were record lows, counting maximum and minimum temperature.
By timescale, 15 were all-time records, 31 monthly and 587 daily.
Dewetsdorp (Pol) set a daily record precipitation of 110.4 mm (4.3 in) on 21 February 1988.
Across 164 earlier years (1795 to 2026) the same calendar date averaged 500 records.

Record Map

633 stations

633 station records on 21 February 1988 are marked on the map, coloured by record type. Dot size shows the significance score. Made with Natural Earth.

Weather records on 21 February 1988: highest significance records shown on the map
Station	Country	Type	Value	Significance
Dewetsdorp (Pol)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	110.4 mm (4.3 in)	71 of 100 (Major)
Kuilput	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	162.0 mm (6.4 in)	67 of 100 (Major)
Nazareth House Farm	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	84.0 mm (3.3 in)	61 of 100 (Major)
Quilimane	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	77.0 mm (3.0 in)	59 of 100 (Notable)
Klipfontein "Rietpan"	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	107.0 mm (4.2 in)	59 of 100 (Notable)
Mafeteng	Lesotho	Record daily precipitation	72.5 mm (2.9 in)	58 of 100 (Notable)
Cyferfontein	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	95.0 mm (3.7 in)	58 of 100 (Notable)
Geluk	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	117.0 mm (4.6 in)	58 of 100 (Notable)
Katdoornput 29	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	64.0 mm (2.5 in)	57 of 100 (Notable)
Taung	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	90.0 mm (3.5 in)	57 of 100 (Notable)
Glen Agr. College,Bfn.	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	124.0 mm (4.9 in)	56 of 100 (Notable)
Sheenspost	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	85.0 mm (3.3 in)	55 of 100 (Notable)
Witsieshoek	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	72.0 mm (2.8 in)	55 of 100 (Notable)
Mazelspoort Dam	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	81.5 mm (3.2 in)	54 of 100 (Notable)
Glen Morgan	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	62.5 mm (2.5 in)	54 of 100 (Notable)
Wolfridge (Bos)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	91.5 mm (3.6 in)	53 of 100 (Notable)
Excelsior (Mun)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	98.0 mm (3.9 in)	52 of 100 (Notable)
Bordeaux	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	160.0 mm (6.3 in)	51 of 100 (Notable)
Nueva Esperanza	Mexico	Record high minimum temperature	28.9 C (84.0 F)	50 of 100 (Notable)
Postmasburg	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	75.0 mm (3.0 in)	50 of 100 (Notable)
Emgcewe (Bos)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	69.8 mm (2.7 in)	49 of 100 (Notable)
Roodepoort	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	95.0 mm (3.7 in)	49 of 100 (Notable)
Ficksburg;Kersieproe	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	47.0 mm (1.9 in)	48 of 100 (Notable)
Hertzogville (Pol)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	140.0 mm (5.5 in)	48 of 100 (Notable)
Oatlands	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	87.0 mm (3.4 in)	48 of 100 (Notable)
Leeudoringstad (Skl)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	49.5 mm (1.9 in)	48 of 100 (Notable)
Zastron (Tnk)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	97.5 mm (3.8 in)	47 of 100 (Notable)
Westminter Estate	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	60.0 mm (2.4 in)	47 of 100 (Notable)
Compton	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	76.5 mm (3.0 in)	46 of 100 (Notable)
Brandfort (Mag)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	75.0 mm (3.0 in)	46 of 100 (Notable)
Idomia	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	106.5 mm (4.2 in)	46 of 100 (Notable)
Ficksburg	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	44.2 mm (1.7 in)	45 of 100 (Notable)
Morokweng (Pol)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	48.0 mm (1.9 in)	45 of 100 (Notable)
Rietvallei	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	96.2 mm (3.8 in)	45 of 100 (Notable)
Timasevskaja	Russia	Record daily precipitation	25.7 mm (1.0 in)	44 of 100 (Notable)
Lelie Shoek	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	124.0 mm (4.9 in)	44 of 100 (Notable)
Waterford	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	127.7 mm (5.0 in)	44 of 100 (Notable)
Colonia Do Piagui	Brazil	Record daily precipitation	99.3 mm (3.9 in)	43 of 100 (Notable)
Middelplaats	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	67.5 mm (2.7 in)	43 of 100 (Notable)
Tussenvier	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	140.0 mm (5.5 in)	43 of 100 (Notable)
Stillewoning	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	106.6 mm (4.2 in)	43 of 100 (Notable)
Ladysdale	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	116.0 mm (4.6 in)	42 of 100 (Notable)
Bloemfontein Airpor	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	81.0 mm (3.2 in)	42 of 100 (Notable)
Roodepoort	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	76.0 mm (3.0 in)	42 of 100 (Notable)
Vryburg	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	112.5 mm (4.4 in)	41 of 100 (Notable)
Mongagua	Brazil	Record daily precipitation	204.3 mm (8.0 in)	40 of 100 (Notable)
Waterland	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	42.0 mm (1.7 in)	40 of 100 (Notable)
Warrenton (Mun)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	52.0 mm (2.0 in)	40 of 100 (Notable)
Folkston 3 SW	United States	Record daily precipitation	45.7 mm (1.8 in)	40 of 100 (Notable)
Riverside 7 SSW	United States	Record high maximum temperature	16.1 C (61.0 F)	40 of 100 (Notable)
Sweetwater	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	87.5 mm (3.4 in)	39 of 100 (Notable)
Palmyra	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	53.0 mm (2.1 in)	39 of 100 (Notable)
Nelsdrift	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	43.0 mm (1.7 in)	38 of 100 (Notable)
Schweizer-Reneke (Pol)	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	64.0 mm (2.5 in)	38 of 100 (Notable)
Ashland	United States	Record high maximum temperature	23.3 C (73.9 F)	38 of 100 (Notable)
Usina Itatinga	Brazil	Record daily precipitation	282.9 mm (11.1 in)	37 of 100 (Notable)
Engenheiro Maia	Brazil	Record daily precipitation	91.0 mm (3.6 in)	37 of 100 (Notable)
Temilpa	Mexico	Record high maximum temperature	40.0 C (104.0 F)	37 of 100 (Notable)
Kirklington	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	42.7 mm (1.7 in)	37 of 100 (Notable)
Leliefontein	South Africa	Record daily precipitation	128.0 mm (5.0 in)	37 of 100 (Notable)

Counts by Type and Timescale

633 records

Records set or tied on 21 February 1988 by type: Highest daily maximum 162, Lowest daily maximum 56, Highest daily minimum 72, Lowest daily minimum 90, Heaviest daily rainfall 228, Heaviest daily snowfall 8, Deepest snow cover 17.

Records on 21 February 1988 by type
Record type	Records
Highest daily maximum	162
Lowest daily maximum	56
Highest daily minimum	72
Lowest daily minimum	90
Heaviest daily rainfall	228
Heaviest daily snowfall	8
Deepest snow cover	17

Records on 21 February 1988 by timescale: all-time 15, monthly 31, daily 587.

How Much Records Were Beaten By

501 broken records

Margins by which the 501 broken records beat the old ones, in degrees Celsius for temperature and millimetres for precipitation and snow; the largest margin was 203.0. Ties are not counted.

Top 20 by Significance

21 February 1988

Top 20 records on 21 February 1988 by significance
Date	Station	Record	Value	Beat old record by	Old record stood	Significance
21 February 1988	Dewetsdorp (Pol), ZA	daily rain	110.4 mm (4.3 in)	59.6 mm (2.3 in)	78 years	71 of 100 (Major)
21 February 1988	Kuilput, ZA	daily rain	162.0 mm (6.4 in)	137.9 mm (5.4 in)	69 years	67 of 100 (Major)
21 February 1988	Nazareth House Farm, ZA	daily rain	84.0 mm (3.3 in)	38.3 mm (1.5 in)	68 years	61 of 100 (Major)
21 February 1988	Quilimane, ZA	daily rain	77.0 mm (3.0 in)	53.6 mm (2.1 in)	40 years	59 of 100 (Notable)
21 February 1988	Klipfontein "Rietpan", ZA	monthly rain	107.0 mm (4.2 in)	50.0 mm (2.0 in)	11 years	59 of 100 (Notable)
21 February 1988	Mafeteng, LS	daily rain	72.5 mm (2.9 in)	56.0 mm (2.2 in)	40 years	58 of 100 (Notable)
21 February 1988	Cyferfontein, ZA	daily rain	95.0 mm (3.7 in)	76.7 mm (3.0 in)	36 years	58 of 100 (Notable)
21 February 1988	Geluk, ZA	all-time rain	117.0 mm (4.6 in)	19.2 mm (0.8 in)	48 years	58 of 100 (Notable)
21 February 1988	Katdoornput 29, ZA	daily rain	64.0 mm (2.5 in)	33.0 mm (1.3 in)	68 years	57 of 100 (Notable)
21 February 1988	Taung, ZA	daily rain	90.0 mm (3.5 in)	54.5 mm (2.1 in)	28 years	57 of 100 (Notable)
21 February 1988	Glen Agr. College,Bfn., ZA	all-time rain	124.0 mm (4.9 in)	28.0 mm (1.1 in)	11 years	56 of 100 (Notable)
21 February 1988	Sheenspost, ZA	daily rain	85.0 mm (3.3 in)	61.0 mm (2.4 in)	32 years	55 of 100 (Notable)
21 February 1988	Witsieshoek, ZA	daily rain	72.0 mm (2.8 in)	30.9 mm (1.2 in)	78 years	55 of 100 (Notable)
21 February 1988	Mazelspoort Dam, ZA	daily rain	81.5 mm (3.2 in)	27.4 mm (1.1 in)	70 years	54 of 100 (Notable)
21 February 1988	Glen Morgan, ZA	daily rain	62.5 mm (2.5 in)	41.5 mm (1.6 in)	34 years	54 of 100 (Notable)
21 February 1988	Wolfridge (Bos), ZA	daily rain	91.5 mm (3.6 in)	58.5 mm (2.3 in)	16 years	53 of 100 (Notable)
21 February 1988	Excelsior (Mun), ZA	monthly rain	98.0 mm (3.9 in)	23.8 mm (0.9 in)	47 years	52 of 100 (Notable)
21 February 1988	Bordeaux, ZA	all-time rain	160.0 mm (6.3 in)	27.0 mm (1.1 in)	0 years	51 of 100 (Notable)
21 February 1988	Nueva Esperanza, MX	daily high min	28.9 C (84.0 F)	8.9 C (16.0 F)	24 years	50 of 100 (Notable)
21 February 1988	Postmasburg, ZA	daily rain	75.0 mm (3.0 in)	44.0 mm (1.7 in)	28 years	50 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

1795 to 1988

Records set or tied on this calendar date in each year from 1795 to 1988. 1988 had 633 records.

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

Records on 02-21 in each year
Year	Records
1795	1
1804	1
1810	3
1814	3
1838	1
1845	1
1846	2
1847	1
1849	2
1850	1
1851	1
1855	1
1856	1
1860	1
1861	1
1862	2
1870	2
1875	2
1876	1
1879	1
1880	2
1881	1
1882	1
1883	1
1884	1
1885	1
1886	3
1888	2
1889	4
1890	2
1891	1
1893	9
1894	2
1895	2
1896	1
1897	5
1898	14
1899	3
1900	1
1901	11
1902	8
1903	13
1904	12
1905	6
1906	51
1907	18
1908	12
1909	28
1910	26
1911	24
1912	26
1913	29
1914	25
1915	52
1916	82
1917	415
1918	80
1919	47
1920	23
1921	96
1922	157
1923	40
1924	84
1925	209
1926	101
1927	191
1928	81
1929	403
1930	1,334
1931	197
1932	159
1933	229
1934	423
1935	300
1936	617
1937	699
1938	181
1939	586
1940	159
1941	224
1942	552
1943	460
1944	313
1945	621
1946	149
1947	458
1948	511
1949	889
1950	492
1951	573
1952	356
1953	1,238
1954	958
1955	857
1956	460
1957	709
1958	993
1959	383
1960	493
1961	831
1962	590
1963	1,022
1964	357
1965	275
1966	574
1967	312
1968	1,177
1969	658
1970	545
1971	787
1972	717
1973	790
1974	634
1975	655
1976	845
1977	1,362
1978	1,382
1979	1,212
1980	837
1981	1,600
1982	1,074
1983	608
1984	518
1985	837
1986	1,341
1987	658
1988	633
1989	866
1990	1,971
1991	680
1992	418
1993	1,540
1994	980
1995	1,267
1996	1,742
1997	1,806
1998	1,100
1999	552
2000	812
2001	583
2002	934
2003	1,253
2004	629
2005	840
2006	801
2007	747
2008	1,131
2009	622
2010	1,156
2011	1,379
2012	540
2013	845
2014	881
2015	1,773
2016	1,151
2017	1,828
2018	2,891
2019	1,330
2020	547
2021	878
2022	734
2023	677
2024	647
2025	1,776
2026	552

Download the Data

Data for records on 1988-02-21: 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 2026-10-15 (15 October 2026). Records are computed by this site and are not official.

Data as of 2026-10-15. Last revised 15 October 2026 (2026-10-15).

Margin	Records
0 to 50	479
50 to 100	17
100 to 150	3
150 to 200	1
200 to 250	1