Grahamstown Weather Records (SF000570480)

Record envelope, standing records and threshold days for Grahamstown (SF000570480), South Africa, with 150 years of record.

Key Facts for Grahamstown

Grahamstown (SF000570480) is a weather station in South Africa at -33.28 latitude and 26.50 longitude, 642 m (2,106 ft) above sea level.
The station reports from 1877 to 2026, 150 years of record.
1,464 records set at Grahamstown still stand.
Records are tracked for prcp: an element needs 30 years of data to be eligible.
Grahamstown set a daily record precipitation of 40.2 mm (1.6 in) on 28 July 2026.

About the Station

Location: South Africa, -33.28 latitude, 26.50 longitude.
Elevation: 642 m (2,106 ft).
Period of record: 1877 to 2026, 150 years.
Eligible elements: prcp.

Daily Record Envelope and 2026

7 days at or beyond a record

The band shows the record high and record low for each calendar day at Grahamstown. The lines show the 2026 daily maximum and minimum. 7 days in 2026 matched or passed a record. Temperatures are in degrees Celsius.

Daily record high and record low at Grahamstown, with 2026 drawn through them
Month	Highest record high	Lowest record low	2026 highest maximum	2026 lowest minimum
Jan	40.4 C (104.7 F)	6.4 C (43.5 F)	36.6 C (97.9 F)	10.9 C (51.6 F)
Feb	40.3 C (104.5 F)	7.7 C (45.9 F)	36.6 C (97.9 F)	12.9 C (55.2 F)
Mar	40.7 C (105.3 F)	5.8 C (42.4 F)	34.3 C (93.7 F)	12.1 C (53.8 F)
Apr	37.3 C (99.1 F)	2.7 C (36.9 F)	33.0 C (91.4 F)	8.8 C (47.8 F)
May	33.3 C (91.9 F)	1.9 C (35.4 F)	28.3 C (82.9 F)	8.8 C (47.8 F)
Jun	28.5 C (83.3 F)	-0.5 C (31.1 F)	27.6 C (81.7 F)	7.1 C (44.8 F)
Jul	32.5 C (90.5 F)	-1.7 C (28.9 F)	25.7 C (78.3 F)	0.0 C (32.0 F)
Aug	33.5 C (92.3 F)	-0.4 C (31.3 F)	26.6 C (79.9 F)	8.6 C (47.5 F)
Sep	36.0 C (96.8 F)	1.3 C (34.3 F)	n/a	n/a
Oct	39.9 C (103.8 F)	3.7 C (38.7 F)	n/a	n/a
Nov	40.1 C (104.2 F)	4.2 C (39.6 F)	n/a	n/a
Dec	39.9 C (103.8 F)	5.7 C (42.3 F)	n/a	n/a

Which Years Hold Standing Records

1,464 standing records

1,464 records at Grahamstown still stand. 2025 holds the most, with 74.

Standing records at Grahamstown by the year they were set
Year set	Standing records
1998	43
1999	65
2000	47
2001	47
2002	62
2003	65
2004	55
2005	43
2006	47
2007	61
2008	50
2009	28
2010	64
2011	13
2012	15
2013	45
2014	63
2015	51
2016	43
2017	49
2018	52
2019	54
2020	61
2021	53
2022	54
2023	48
2024	48
2025	74
2026	64

All-Time Record Progression

1 new records

1 all-time records were set at Grahamstown between 24 May 1910 and 24 May 1910. Each dot is a new record.

Wettest Day of Each Month

May: 184.9 mm (7.3 in)

The wettest day on record for each calendar month at Grahamstown. The most was 184.9 mm (7.3 in) on 24 May 1910.

Record daily precipitation for each month at Grahamstown
Month	Record daily precipitation (mm)	Date
Jan	106.7 mm (4.2 in)	11 January 1951
Feb	70.0 mm (2.8 in)	28 February 1995
Mar	113.0 mm (4.4 in)	7 March 1963
Apr	129.0 mm (5.1 in)	19 April 1948
May	184.9 mm (7.3 in)	24 May 1910
Jun	66.8 mm (2.6 in)	14 June 1922
Jul	155.0 mm (6.1 in)	25 July 1983
Aug	175.0 mm (6.9 in)	20 August 1979
Sep	141.5 mm (5.6 in)	14 September 1879
Oct	124.5 mm (4.9 in)	30 October 1941
Nov	101.6 mm (4.0 in)	4 November 1922
Dec	149.9 mm (5.9 in)	19 December 1889

Period of Record Coverage

1998 to 2026

29 years of record at Grahamstown, 1998 to 2026. 21 years have data for under 90 percent of days and are left out of rankings: 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 and others.

Days with data per year at Grahamstown
Year	Days with data	Share of year	Complete
1998	245	67%	No
1999	301	82%	No
2000	313	86%	No
2001	279	76%	No
2002	278	76%	No
2003	263	72%	No
2004	306	84%	No
2005	324	89%	No
2006	310	85%	No
2007	322	88%	No
2008	284	78%	No
2009	235	64%	No
2010	279	76%	No
2011	128	35%	No
2012	142	39%	No
2013	268	73%	No
2014	355	97%	Yes
2015	351	96%	Yes
2016	354	97%	Yes
2017	305	84%	No
2018	350	96%	Yes
2019	348	95%	Yes
2020	350	96%	Yes
2021	346	95%	Yes
2022	357	98%	Yes
2023	317	87%	No
2024	296	81%	No
2025	286	78%	No
2026	173	47%	No

Latest Records

Latest records at Grahamstown
Date	Station	Record	Value	Beat old record by	Old record stood	Significance
28 July 2026	Grahamstown, ZA	daily rain	40.2 mm (1.6 in)	22.2 mm (0.9 in)	27 years	35 of 100 (Notable)
22 October 2024	Grahamstown, ZA	daily rain	56.9 mm (2.2 in)	1.0 mm (0.04 in)	74 years	32 of 100 (Routine)
10 April 2024	Grahamstown, ZA	daily rain	31.0 mm (1.2 in)	3.6 mm (0.14 in)	127 years	43 of 100 (Notable)
6 January 2023	Grahamstown, ZA	daily rain	19.1 mm (0.8 in)	1.1 mm (0.04 in)	112 years	20 of 100 (Routine)
8 February 2020	Grahamstown, ZA	daily rain	33.0 mm (1.3 in)	10.9 mm (0.4 in)	2 years	21 of 100 (Routine)
15 February 2018	Grahamstown, ZA	daily rain	41.9 mm (1.6 in)	13.5 mm (0.5 in)	133 years	54 of 100 (Notable)
8 February 2017	Grahamstown, ZA	daily rain	22.1 mm (0.9 in)	0.8 mm (0.03 in)	126 years	20 of 100 (Routine)
26 July 2016	Grahamstown, ZA	daily rain	54.1 mm (2.1 in)	12.7 mm (0.5 in)	134 years	49 of 100 (Notable)
8 March 2016	Grahamstown, ZA	daily rain	32.0 mm (1.3 in)	6.6 mm (0.26 in)	91 years	42 of 100 (Notable)
22 July 2015	Grahamstown, ZA	daily rain	36.1 mm (1.4 in)	24.6 mm (1.0 in)	40 years	40 of 100 (Notable)
5 June 2015	Grahamstown, ZA	daily rain	23.9 mm (0.9 in)	12.4 mm (0.5 in)	28 years	20 of 100 (Routine)
4 June 2015	Grahamstown, ZA	daily rain	23.1 mm (0.9 in)	15.1 mm (0.6 in)	28 years	20 of 100 (Routine)
2 June 2015	Grahamstown, ZA	daily rain	18.0 mm (0.7 in)	9.0 mm (0.35 in)	40 years	20 of 100 (Routine)
24 November 2014	Grahamstown, ZA	daily rain	87.1 mm (3.4 in)	53.8 mm (2.1 in)	40 years	62 of 100 (Major)
24 April 2014	Grahamstown, ZA	daily rain	52.1 mm (2.1 in)	16.1 mm (0.6 in)	36 years	36 of 100 (Notable)
23 April 2014	Grahamstown, ZA	daily rain	39.9 mm (1.6 in)	7.9 mm (0.31 in)	16 years	22 of 100 (Routine)
31 March 2013	Grahamstown, ZA	daily rain	19.6 mm (0.8 in)	0.3 mm (0.01 in)	120 years	20 of 100 (Routine)
18 October 2012	Grahamstown, ZA	daily rain	57.9 mm (2.3 in)	12.2 mm (0.5 in)	93 years	47 of 100 (Notable)
28 November 2011	Grahamstown, ZA	daily rain	42.9 mm (1.7 in)	8.9 mm (0.35 in)	26 years	25 of 100 (Routine)
9 June 2010	Grahamstown, ZA	daily rain	26.9 mm (1.1 in)	13.2 mm (0.5 in)	122 years	53 of 100 (Notable)

Climate Trend

14 complete years, 1999 to 2022

One stripe for each of 14 complete years at Grahamstown, 1999 to 2022. Blue stripes are years cooler than the station's own mean of 17.9 C (64.3 F); red stripes are warmer. The coolest year was 2015, at 17.4 C (63.3 F), and the warmest was 1999, at 19.0 C (66.2 F). The strongest colour marks a difference of 1.1 C (2.0 F).

Annual mean temperature at Grahamstown as warming stripes, 1999 to 2022
Year	Annual mean temperature	Difference from the station mean
1999	19.0 C	+1.05 C
2000	17.8 C	-0.11 C
2004	18.7 C	+0.76 C
2005	17.8 C	-0.13 C
2006	17.8 C	-0.13 C
2007	17.8 C	-0.09 C
2014	17.7 C	-0.28 C
2015	17.4 C	-0.55 C
2016	18.1 C	+0.14 C
2018	17.5 C	-0.41 C
2019	18.3 C	+0.39 C
2020	17.7 C	-0.22 C
2021	17.6 C	-0.34 C
2022	17.9 C	-0.04 C

This station does not have enough complete years (30 are needed) to fit a temperature trend.

A year is complete when all 12 months have at least 20 days of both daily maximum and daily minimum readings. The annual mean is the mean of the monthly means. The trend describes this one station over this period; it does not say what caused the change.

Extremes by Year

1877 to 2026

Yearly extremes at Grahamstown: the record and the median year
Measure	Record	Year of the record	Median year	Years with a value
Hottest day (TXx)	40.7 C (105.3 F)	2019	38.5 C (101.3 F)	29
Coldest night (TNn)	-1.7 C (28.9 F)	2014	0.8 C (33.4 F)	29
Wettest day (Rx1day)	184.9 mm (7.3 in)	1910	55.0 mm (2.2 in)	149
Wettest five days (Rx5day)	287.4 mm (11.3 in)	1979	88.2 mm (3.5 in)	148
Longest dry spell (CDD)	103 days	1949	26 days	149

Hottest day (TXx)

The hottest day of the year at Grahamstown, 1877 to 2026. The record is 40.7 C (105.3 F) in 2019, marked on the chart; the median year is 38.5 C (101.3 F).

Hottest day (TXx) at Grahamstown by year
Year	Hottest day (TXx)
1877	n/a
1878	n/a
1879	n/a
1880	n/a
1881	n/a
1882	n/a
1883	n/a
1884	n/a
1885	n/a
1886	n/a
1887	n/a
1888	n/a
1889	n/a
1890	n/a
1891	n/a
1892	n/a
1893	n/a
1894	n/a
1895	n/a
1896	n/a
1897	n/a
1898	n/a
1899	n/a
1900	n/a
1901	n/a
1902	n/a
1903	n/a
1904	n/a
1905	n/a
1906	n/a
1907	n/a
1908	n/a
1909	n/a
1910	n/a
1911	n/a
1912	n/a
1913	n/a
1914	n/a
1915	n/a
1916	n/a
1917	n/a
1918	n/a
1919	n/a
1920	n/a
1921	n/a
1922	n/a
1923	n/a
1924	n/a
1925	n/a
1926	n/a
1927	n/a
1928	n/a
1929	n/a
1930	n/a
1931	n/a
1932	n/a
1933	n/a
1934	n/a
1935	n/a
1936	n/a
1937	n/a
1938	n/a
1939	n/a
1940	n/a
1941	n/a
1942	n/a
1943	n/a
1944	n/a
1945	n/a
1946	n/a
1947	n/a
1948	n/a
1949	n/a
1950	n/a
1951	n/a
1952	n/a
1953	n/a
1954	n/a
1955	n/a
1956	n/a
1957	n/a
1958	n/a
1959	n/a
1960	n/a
1961	n/a
1962	n/a
1963	n/a
1964	n/a
1965	n/a
1966	n/a
1967	n/a
1968	n/a
1969	n/a
1970	n/a
1971	n/a
1972	n/a
1973	n/a
1974	n/a
1975	n/a
1976	n/a
1977	n/a
1978	n/a
1979	n/a
1980	n/a
1981	n/a
1982	n/a
1983	n/a
1984	n/a
1985	n/a
1986	n/a
1987	n/a
1988	n/a
1989	n/a
1990	n/a
1991	n/a
1992	n/a
1993	n/a
1994	n/a
1995	n/a
1996	n/a
1997	n/a
1998	40.1 C (104.2 F)
1999	40.0 C (104.0 F)
2000	36.6 C (97.9 F)
2001	39.0 C (102.2 F)
2002	38.5 C (101.3 F)
2003	39.3 C (102.7 F)
2004	40.3 C (104.5 F)
2005	36.2 C (97.2 F)
2006	37.2 C (99.0 F)
2007	38.6 C (101.5 F)
2008	39.8 C (103.6 F)
2009	39.9 C (103.8 F)
2010	40.3 C (104.5 F)
2011	36.8 C (98.2 F)
2012	36.9 C (98.4 F)
2013	36.8 C (98.2 F)
2014	36.8 C (98.2 F)
2015	38.4 C (101.1 F)
2016	39.5 C (103.1 F)
2017	38.9 C (102.0 F)
2018	39.5 C (103.1 F)
2019	40.7 C (105.3 F)
2020	37.9 C (100.2 F)
2021	40.4 C (104.7 F)
2022	36.6 C (97.9 F)
2023	37.1 C (98.8 F)
2024	38.4 C (101.1 F)
2025	34.4 C (93.9 F)
2026	36.6 C (97.9 F)

Coldest night (TNn)

The coldest night of the year at Grahamstown, 1877 to 2026. The record is -1.7 C (28.9 F) in 2014, marked on the chart; the median year is 0.8 C (33.4 F).

Coldest night (TNn) at Grahamstown by year
Year	Coldest night (TNn)
1877	n/a
1878	n/a
1879	n/a
1880	n/a
1881	n/a
1882	n/a
1883	n/a
1884	n/a
1885	n/a
1886	n/a
1887	n/a
1888	n/a
1889	n/a
1890	n/a
1891	n/a
1892	n/a
1893	n/a
1894	n/a
1895	n/a
1896	n/a
1897	n/a
1898	n/a
1899	n/a
1900	n/a
1901	n/a
1902	n/a
1903	n/a
1904	n/a
1905	n/a
1906	n/a
1907	n/a
1908	n/a
1909	n/a
1910	n/a
1911	n/a
1912	n/a
1913	n/a
1914	n/a
1915	n/a
1916	n/a
1917	n/a
1918	n/a
1919	n/a
1920	n/a
1921	n/a
1922	n/a
1923	n/a
1924	n/a
1925	n/a
1926	n/a
1927	n/a
1928	n/a
1929	n/a
1930	n/a
1931	n/a
1932	n/a
1933	n/a
1934	n/a
1935	n/a
1936	n/a
1937	n/a
1938	n/a
1939	n/a
1940	n/a
1941	n/a
1942	n/a
1943	n/a
1944	n/a
1945	n/a
1946	n/a
1947	n/a
1948	n/a
1949	n/a
1950	n/a
1951	n/a
1952	n/a
1953	n/a
1954	n/a
1955	n/a
1956	n/a
1957	n/a
1958	n/a
1959	n/a
1960	n/a
1961	n/a
1962	n/a
1963	n/a
1964	n/a
1965	n/a
1966	n/a
1967	n/a
1968	n/a
1969	n/a
1970	n/a
1971	n/a
1972	n/a
1973	n/a
1974	n/a
1975	n/a
1976	n/a
1977	n/a
1978	n/a
1979	n/a
1980	n/a
1981	n/a
1982	n/a
1983	n/a
1984	n/a
1985	n/a
1986	n/a
1987	n/a
1988	n/a
1989	n/a
1990	n/a
1991	n/a
1992	n/a
1993	n/a
1994	n/a
1995	n/a
1996	n/a
1997	n/a
1998	0.6 C (33.1 F)
1999	2.0 C (35.6 F)
2000	1.3 C (34.3 F)
2001	2.0 C (35.6 F)
2002	0.6 C (33.1 F)
2003	0.4 C (32.7 F)
2004	1.0 C (33.8 F)
2005	0.2 C (32.4 F)
2006	0.4 C (32.7 F)
2007	1.2 C (34.2 F)
2008	0.0 C (32.0 F)
2009	2.2 C (36.0 F)
2010	-0.5 C (31.1 F)
2011	2.7 C (36.9 F)
2012	2.1 C (35.8 F)
2013	1.7 C (35.1 F)
2014	-1.7 C (28.9 F)
2015	1.1 C (34.0 F)
2016	-0.1 C (31.8 F)
2017	0.4 C (32.7 F)
2018	0.9 C (33.6 F)
2019	0.4 C (32.7 F)
2020	0.2 C (32.4 F)
2021	-0.4 C (31.3 F)
2022	0.8 C (33.4 F)
2023	1.7 C (35.1 F)
2024	0.8 C (33.4 F)
2025	3.7 C (38.7 F)
2026	0.0 C (32.0 F)

Wettest day (Rx1day)

The wettest day of the year at Grahamstown, 1877 to 2026. The record is 184.9 mm (7.3 in) in 1910, marked on the chart; the median year is 55.0 mm (2.2 in).

Wettest day (Rx1day) at Grahamstown by year
Year	Wettest day (Rx1day)
1877	8.4 mm (0.33 in)
1878	26.4 mm (1.0 in)
1879	141.5 mm (5.6 in)
1880	79.0 mm (3.1 in)
1881	45.2 mm (1.8 in)
1882	35.6 mm (1.4 in)
1883	35.3 mm (1.4 in)
1884	31.8 mm (1.3 in)
1885	84.3 mm (3.3 in)
1886	92.5 mm (3.6 in)
1887	72.9 mm (2.9 in)
1888	83.8 mm (3.3 in)
1889	149.9 mm (5.9 in)
1890	48.8 mm (1.9 in)
1891	46.7 mm (1.8 in)
1892	86.4 mm (3.4 in)
1893	62.2 mm (2.4 in)
1894	67.6 mm (2.7 in)
1895	32.3 mm (1.3 in)
1896	91.4 mm (3.6 in)
1897	70.1 mm (2.8 in)
1898	51.3 mm (2.0 in)
1899	26.7 mm (1.1 in)
1900	54.9 mm (2.2 in)
1901	33.5 mm (1.3 in)
1902	63.5 mm (2.5 in)
1903	73.7 mm (2.9 in)
1904	45.5 mm (1.8 in)
1905	101.3 mm (4.0 in)
1906	70.9 mm (2.8 in)
1907	33.0 mm (1.3 in)
1908	92.7 mm (3.6 in)
1909	51.6 mm (2.0 in)
1910	184.9 mm (7.3 in)
1911	61.0 mm (2.4 in)
1912	57.2 mm (2.3 in)
1913	79.5 mm (3.1 in)
1914	35.6 mm (1.4 in)
1915	36.6 mm (1.4 in)
1916	38.9 mm (1.5 in)
1917	91.9 mm (3.6 in)
1918	68.1 mm (2.7 in)
1919	45.7 mm (1.8 in)
1920	43.2 mm (1.7 in)
1921	62.2 mm (2.4 in)
1922	101.6 mm (4.0 in)
1923	54.6 mm (2.1 in)
1924	27.9 mm (1.1 in)
1925	41.9 mm (1.6 in)
1926	55.4 mm (2.2 in)
1927	33.0 mm (1.3 in)
1928	71.4 mm (2.8 in)
1929	72.4 mm (2.9 in)
1930	48.3 mm (1.9 in)
1931	58.9 mm (2.3 in)
1932	84.1 mm (3.3 in)
1933	75.2 mm (3.0 in)
1934	45.7 mm (1.8 in)
1935	57.2 mm (2.3 in)
1936	66.0 mm (2.6 in)
1937	46.2 mm (1.8 in)
1938	53.6 mm (2.1 in)
1939	72.4 mm (2.9 in)
1940	63.0 mm (2.5 in)
1941	124.5 mm (4.9 in)
1942	28.4 mm (1.1 in)
1943	48.5 mm (1.9 in)
1944	79.5 mm (3.1 in)
1945	58.7 mm (2.3 in)
1946	39.1 mm (1.5 in)
1947	57.2 mm (2.3 in)
1948	129.0 mm (5.1 in)
1949	53.3 mm (2.1 in)
1950	55.9 mm (2.2 in)
1951	106.7 mm (4.2 in)
1952	80.8 mm (3.2 in)
1953	96.0 mm (3.8 in)
1954	41.5 mm (1.6 in)
1955	34.0 mm (1.3 in)
1956	78.0 mm (3.1 in)
1957	58.2 mm (2.3 in)
1958	52.5 mm (2.1 in)
1959	48.5 mm (1.9 in)
1960	27.5 mm (1.1 in)
1961	40.0 mm (1.6 in)
1962	71.0 mm (2.8 in)
1963	113.0 mm (4.4 in)
1964	69.5 mm (2.7 in)
1965	54.0 mm (2.1 in)
1966	70.0 mm (2.8 in)
1967	91.5 mm (3.6 in)
1968	54.5 mm (2.1 in)
1969	60.3 mm (2.4 in)
1970	128.7 mm (5.1 in)
1971	145.0 mm (5.7 in)
1972	50.7 mm (2.0 in)
1973	33.3 mm (1.3 in)
1974	90.5 mm (3.6 in)
1975	89.0 mm (3.5 in)
1976	62.0 mm (2.4 in)
1977	95.0 mm (3.7 in)
1978	61.4 mm (2.4 in)
1979	175.0 mm (6.9 in)
1980	35.5 mm (1.4 in)
1981	77.5 mm (3.1 in)
1982	40.0 mm (1.6 in)
1983	155.0 mm (6.1 in)
1984	50.0 mm (2.0 in)
1985	99.0 mm (3.9 in)
1986	52.5 mm (2.1 in)
1987	41.2 mm (1.6 in)
1988	39.0 mm (1.5 in)
1989	120.8 mm (4.8 in)
1990	55.0 mm (2.2 in)
1991	32.0 mm (1.3 in)
1992	35.0 mm (1.4 in)
1993	133.0 mm (5.2 in)
1994	78.0 mm (3.1 in)
1995	70.0 mm (2.8 in)
1996	53.0 mm (2.1 in)
1997	58.0 mm (2.3 in)
1998	28.2 mm (1.1 in)
1999	18.0 mm (0.7 in)
2000	17.5 mm (0.7 in)
2001	27.2 mm (1.1 in)
2002	56.9 mm (2.2 in)
2003	130.6 mm (5.1 in)
2004	56.9 mm (2.2 in)
2005	28.2 mm (1.1 in)
2006	47.0 mm (1.9 in)
2007	24.9 mm (1.0 in)
2008	18.3 mm (0.7 in)
2009	27.7 mm (1.1 in)
2010	26.9 mm (1.1 in)
2011	42.9 mm (1.7 in)
2012	57.9 mm (2.3 in)
2013	35.1 mm (1.4 in)
2014	87.1 mm (3.4 in)
2015	53.1 mm (2.1 in)
2016	54.1 mm (2.1 in)
2017	36.1 mm (1.4 in)
2018	41.9 mm (1.6 in)
2019	25.9 mm (1.0 in)
2020	39.9 mm (1.6 in)
2021	41.9 mm (1.6 in)
2022	32.0 mm (1.3 in)
2023	49.0 mm (1.9 in)
2024	56.9 mm (2.2 in)
2025	n/a
2026	40.2 mm (1.6 in)

Wettest five days (Rx5day)

The wettest five days of the year at Grahamstown, 1877 to 2026. The record is 287.4 mm (11.3 in) in 1979, marked on the chart; the median year is 88.2 mm (3.5 in).

Wettest five days (Rx5day) at Grahamstown by year
Year	Wettest five days (Rx5day)
1877	16.0 mm (0.6 in)
1878	39.4 mm (1.6 in)
1879	147.4 mm (5.8 in)
1880	110.3 mm (4.3 in)
1881	92.2 mm (3.6 in)
1882	58.7 mm (2.3 in)
1883	70.3 mm (2.8 in)
1884	69.1 mm (2.7 in)
1885	103.1 mm (4.1 in)
1886	155.0 mm (6.1 in)
1887	94.5 mm (3.7 in)
1888	154.2 mm (6.1 in)
1889	238.8 mm (9.4 in)
1890	84.9 mm (3.3 in)
1891	116.5 mm (4.6 in)
1892	170.6 mm (6.7 in)
1893	204.7 mm (8.1 in)
1894	106.4 mm (4.2 in)
1895	57.2 mm (2.3 in)
1896	162.0 mm (6.4 in)
1897	116.0 mm (4.6 in)
1898	69.8 mm (2.7 in)
1899	59.9 mm (2.4 in)
1900	92.9 mm (3.7 in)
1901	54.1 mm (2.1 in)
1902	110.7 mm (4.4 in)
1903	171.2 mm (6.7 in)
1904	75.4 mm (3.0 in)
1905	172.1 mm (6.8 in)
1906	103.9 mm (4.1 in)
1907	59.1 mm (2.3 in)
1908	94.7 mm (3.7 in)
1909	86.6 mm (3.4 in)
1910	210.6 mm (8.3 in)
1911	102.1 mm (4.0 in)
1912	82.1 mm (3.2 in)
1913	89.1 mm (3.5 in)
1914	60.0 mm (2.4 in)
1915	66.8 mm (2.6 in)
1916	87.4 mm (3.4 in)
1917	106.4 mm (4.2 in)
1918	78.5 mm (3.1 in)
1919	70.6 mm (2.8 in)
1920	51.3 mm (2.0 in)
1921	142.2 mm (5.6 in)
1922	251.4 mm (9.9 in)
1923	86.3 mm (3.4 in)
1924	41.9 mm (1.6 in)
1925	66.2 mm (2.6 in)
1926	67.3 mm (2.6 in)
1927	54.6 mm (2.1 in)
1928	176.8 mm (7.0 in)
1929	110.8 mm (4.4 in)
1930	90.1 mm (3.5 in)
1931	125.5 mm (4.9 in)
1932	209.6 mm (8.3 in)
1933	108.7 mm (4.3 in)
1934	68.9 mm (2.7 in)
1935	114.6 mm (4.5 in)
1936	86.1 mm (3.4 in)
1937	77.4 mm (3.0 in)
1938	108.0 mm (4.3 in)
1939	93.5 mm (3.7 in)
1940	111.5 mm (4.4 in)
1941	160.8 mm (6.3 in)
1942	66.0 mm (2.6 in)
1943	82.3 mm (3.2 in)
1944	113.6 mm (4.5 in)
1945	70.1 mm (2.8 in)
1946	70.9 mm (2.8 in)
1947	71.4 mm (2.8 in)
1948	161.8 mm (6.4 in)
1949	118.4 mm (4.7 in)
1950	118.8 mm (4.7 in)
1951	174.0 mm (6.9 in)
1952	116.6 mm (4.6 in)
1953	203.5 mm (8.0 in)
1954	98.0 mm (3.9 in)
1955	62.0 mm (2.4 in)
1956	150.0 mm (5.9 in)
1957	87.3 mm (3.4 in)
1958	84.0 mm (3.3 in)
1959	81.0 mm (3.2 in)
1960	41.0 mm (1.6 in)
1961	55.0 mm (2.2 in)
1962	95.8 mm (3.8 in)
1963	166.5 mm (6.6 in)
1964	104.5 mm (4.1 in)
1965	89.6 mm (3.5 in)
1966	90.2 mm (3.6 in)
1967	123.4 mm (4.9 in)
1968	85.0 mm (3.3 in)
1969	75.2 mm (3.0 in)
1970	225.7 mm (8.9 in)
1971	190.7 mm (7.5 in)
1972	75.9 mm (3.0 in)
1973	74.0 mm (2.9 in)
1974	151.8 mm (6.0 in)
1975	159.4 mm (6.3 in)
1976	111.6 mm (4.4 in)
1977	148.5 mm (5.8 in)
1978	148.9 mm (5.9 in)
1979	287.4 mm (11.3 in)
1980	69.9 mm (2.8 in)
1981	142.8 mm (5.6 in)
1982	49.8 mm (2.0 in)
1983	227.4 mm (9.0 in)
1984	62.2 mm (2.4 in)
1985	199.7 mm (7.9 in)
1986	72.0 mm (2.8 in)
1987	69.2 mm (2.7 in)
1988	93.1 mm (3.7 in)
1989	150.4 mm (5.9 in)
1990	65.0 mm (2.6 in)
1991	62.7 mm (2.5 in)
1992	47.8 mm (1.9 in)
1993	158.0 mm (6.2 in)
1994	244.5 mm (9.6 in)
1995	75.0 mm (3.0 in)
1996	97.7 mm (3.8 in)
1997	92.5 mm (3.6 in)
1998	51.8 mm (2.0 in)
1999	47.8 mm (1.9 in)
2000	30.7 mm (1.2 in)
2001	33.0 mm (1.3 in)
2002	32.6 mm (1.3 in)
2003	130.9 mm (5.2 in)
2004	100.6 mm (4.0 in)
2005	86.6 mm (3.4 in)
2006	68.3 mm (2.7 in)
2007	39.6 mm (1.6 in)
2008	9.4 mm (0.37 in)
2009	32.0 mm (1.3 in)
2010	39.9 mm (1.6 in)
2011	65.5 mm (2.6 in)
2012	144.7 mm (5.7 in)
2013	38.4 mm (1.5 in)
2014	28.1 mm (1.1 in)
2015	68.1 mm (2.7 in)
2016	65.0 mm (2.6 in)
2017	54.4 mm (2.1 in)
2018	48.8 mm (1.9 in)
2019	73.8 mm (2.9 in)
2020	96.0 mm (3.8 in)
2021	56.8 mm (2.2 in)
2022	30.2 mm (1.2 in)
2023	88.9 mm (3.5 in)
2024	78.0 mm (3.1 in)
2025	n/a
2026	n/a

Longest dry spell (CDD)

The longest dry spell of the year at Grahamstown, 1877 to 2026. The record is 103 days in 1949, marked on the chart; the median year is 26 days.

Longest dry spell (CDD) at Grahamstown by year
Year	Longest dry spell (CDD)
1877	20 days
1878	21 days
1879	20 days
1880	43 days
1881	21 days
1882	26 days
1883	27 days
1884	20 days
1885	30 days
1886	55 days
1887	21 days
1888	25 days
1889	26 days
1890	39 days
1891	19 days
1892	44 days
1893	20 days
1894	25 days
1895	43 days
1896	24 days
1897	17 days
1898	20 days
1899	21 days
1900	26 days
1901	24 days
1902	29 days
1903	24 days
1904	41 days
1905	38 days
1906	43 days
1907	28 days
1908	22 days
1909	55 days
1910	31 days
1911	30 days
1912	35 days
1913	22 days
1914	33 days
1915	24 days
1916	27 days
1917	27 days
1918	17 days
1919	20 days
1920	25 days
1921	22 days
1922	21 days
1923	16 days
1924	26 days
1925	21 days
1926	29 days
1927	45 days
1928	38 days
1929	18 days
1930	18 days
1931	27 days
1932	25 days
1933	28 days
1934	30 days
1935	16 days
1936	34 days
1937	28 days
1938	35 days
1939	30 days
1940	32 days
1941	41 days
1942	32 days
1943	58 days
1944	40 days
1945	35 days
1946	31 days
1947	20 days
1948	34 days
1949	103 days
1950	40 days
1951	36 days
1952	30 days
1953	27 days
1954	27 days
1955	31 days
1956	28 days
1957	29 days
1958	25 days
1959	28 days
1960	27 days
1961	22 days
1962	37 days
1963	25 days
1964	23 days
1965	23 days
1966	22 days
1967	26 days
1968	29 days
1969	31 days
1970	21 days
1971	46 days
1972	22 days
1973	33 days
1974	32 days
1975	38 days
1976	21 days
1977	33 days
1978	24 days
1979	22 days
1980	28 days
1981	39 days
1982	24 days
1983	25 days
1984	30 days
1985	23 days
1986	42 days
1987	23 days
1988	29 days
1989	82 days
1990	47 days
1991	75 days
1992	29 days
1993	29 days
1994	36 days
1995	53 days
1996	41 days
1997	30 days
1998	12 days
1999	7 days
2000	3 days
2001	3 days
2002	6 days
2003	13 days
2004	14 days
2005	15 days
2006	4 days
2007	5 days
2008	3 days
2009	3 days
2010	2 days
2011	3 days
2012	4 days
2013	5 days
2014	4 days
2015	3 days
2016	5 days
2017	3 days
2018	4 days
2019	5 days
2020	3 days
2021	4 days
2022	6 days
2023	4 days
2024	3 days
2025	n/a
2026	2 days

Each chart shows one value per year; the dot marks the record year. TXx is the hottest daily maximum, TNn the coldest daily minimum, Rx1day and Rx5day the largest one-day and five-day rain totals, and CDD the longest run of days with less than 1 mm of rain. A year with missing days can understate an extreme.

Rainfall Return Levels

113 years, 1878 to 1997

A day with at least 60.8 mm (2.4 in) of rain is expected about once in 2 years. A day with at least 187.3 mm (7.4 in) of rain is expected about once in 100 years.

Rainfall return levels at Grahamstown: the daily rain expected about once in a given number of years
Expected about once in	A day with at least	Note
2 years	60.8 mm (2.4 in)
5 years	88.6 mm (3.5 in)
10 years	109.1 mm (4.3 in)
25 years	138.0 mm (5.4 in)
50 years	161.7 mm (6.4 in)
100 years	187.3 mm (7.4 in)

The levels come from a generalised extreme value (GEV) distribution fitted by L-moments to the wettest-day total of each year, 113 years of values from 1878 to 1997.

A return level is an estimate. It is least reliable for the long periods, 50 and 100 years, and for any period longer than the record behind the fit, where the fit has to reach past the largest day actually observed. It is not a forecast.

The largest wettest-day totals in the fit: 184.9 mm (7.3 in) in 1910; 175.0 mm (6.9 in) in 1979; 155.0 mm (6.1 in) in 1983.

Download the Data

Data for Grahamstown standing records by year: CSV or JSON. Field meanings are on the data page.
Data for Grahamstown threshold days by year: CSV or JSON. Field meanings are on the data page.

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)) Data as of 2026-10-13 (13 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).