Sterling Weather Records (SF001406160)

Record envelope, standing records and threshold days for Sterling (SF001406160), South Africa, with 112 years of record.

Key Facts for Sterling

Sterling (SF001406160) is a weather station in South Africa at -31.27 latitude and 22.85 longitude, 1,280 m (4,199 ft) above sea level.
The station reports from 1878 to 1989, 112 years of record.
0 records set at Sterling still stand.
Records are tracked for prcp: an element needs 30 years of data to be eligible.
Sterling set a daily record precipitation of 38.0 mm (1.5 in) on 17 December 1988.

About the Station

Location: South Africa, -31.27 latitude, 22.85 longitude.
Elevation: 1,280 m (4,199 ft).
Period of record: 1878 to 1989, 112 years.
Eligible elements: prcp.

Daily Record Envelope and 2026

0 days at or beyond a record

The band shows the record high and record low for each calendar day at Sterling. The lines show the 2026 daily maximum and minimum. 0 days in 2026 matched or passed a record. Temperatures are in degrees Celsius.

Daily record high and record low at Sterling, with 2026 drawn through them
Month	Highest record high	Lowest record low	2026 highest maximum	2026 lowest minimum
Jan	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
Feb	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
Mar	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
Apr	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
May	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
Jun	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
Jul	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
Aug	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
Sep	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
Oct	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
Nov	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
Dec	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a

Which Years Hold Standing Records

0 standing records

0 records at Sterling still stand.

Wettest Day of Each Month

Feb: 88.9 mm (3.5 in)

The wettest day on record for each calendar month at Sterling. The most was 88.9 mm (3.5 in) on 19 February 1893.

Record daily precipitation for each month at Sterling
Month	Record daily precipitation (mm)	Date
Jan	45.7 mm (1.8 in)	11 January 1922
Feb	88.9 mm (3.5 in)	19 February 1893
Mar	57.2 mm (2.3 in)	14 March 1918
Apr	45.2 mm (1.8 in)	24 April 1883
May	39.1 mm (1.5 in)	16 May 1906
Jun	25.4 mm (1.0 in)	13 June 1896
Jul	33.3 mm (1.3 in)	11 July 1945
Aug	34.5 mm (1.4 in)	21 August 1939
Sep	46.0 mm (1.8 in)	16 September 1901
Oct	30.5 mm (1.2 in)	24 October 1920
Nov	57.2 mm (2.3 in)	8 November 1921
Dec	55.0 mm (2.2 in)	3 December 1959

Latest Records

Latest records at Sterling
Date	Station	Record	Value	Beat old record by	Old record stood	Significance
17 December 1988	Sterling, ZA	daily rain	38.0 mm (1.5 in)	34.3 mm (1.4 in)	33 years	53 of 100 (Notable)
14 October 1988	Sterling, ZA	daily rain	20.0 mm (0.8 in)	11.9 mm (0.5 in)	49 years	20 of 100 (Routine)
13 September 1988	Sterling, ZA	daily rain	20.0 mm (0.8 in)	8.1 mm (0.32 in)	86 years	20 of 100 (Routine)
24 August 1988	Sterling, ZA	daily rain	2.0 mm (0.08 in)	1.2 mm (0.05 in)	74 years	20 of 100 (Routine)
2 July 1988	Sterling, ZA	daily rain	6.5 mm (0.26 in)	4.0 mm (0.16 in)	49 years	20 of 100 (Routine)
8 May 1988	Sterling, ZA	daily rain	17.0 mm (0.7 in)	8.4 mm (0.33 in)	38 years	20 of 100 (Routine)
12 April 1988	Sterling, ZA	daily rain	29.0 mm (1.1 in)	0.3 mm (0.01 in)	101 years	40 of 100 (Notable)
1 March 1988	Sterling, ZA	daily rain	23.0 mm (0.9 in)	6.5 mm (0.26 in)	36 years	20 of 100 (Routine)
29 February 1988	Sterling, ZA	daily rain	16.5 mm (0.6 in)	7.1 mm (0.28 in)	48 years	20 of 100 (Routine)
27 February 1988	Sterling, ZA	daily rain	33.5 mm (1.3 in)	4.3 mm (0.17 in)	107 years	44 of 100 (Notable)
17 February 1988	Sterling, ZA	daily rain	57.0 mm (2.2 in)	16.1 mm (0.6 in)	86 years	51 of 100 (Notable)
12 November 1987	Sterling, ZA	daily rain	26.0 mm (1.0 in)	10.0 mm (0.4 in)	44 years	35 of 100 (Notable)
22 September 1987	Sterling, ZA	daily rain	16.0 mm (0.6 in)	12.2 mm (0.5 in)	95 years	20 of 100 (Routine)
19 September 1987	Sterling, ZA	daily rain	9.0 mm (0.35 in)	5.7 mm (0.22 in)	73 years	20 of 100 (Routine)
10 May 1987	Sterling, ZA	daily rain	24.5 mm (1.0 in)	8.5 mm (0.33 in)	107 years	20 of 100 (Routine)
1 September 1968	Sterling, ZA	daily rain	8.5 mm (0.33 in)	1.4 mm (0.06 in)	82 years	20 of 100 (Routine)
15 April 1968	Sterling, ZA	daily rain	20.0 mm (0.8 in)	5.0 mm (0.20 in)	3 years	15 of 100 (Routine)
21 March 1968	Sterling, ZA	daily rain	43.0 mm (1.7 in)	18.4 mm (0.7 in)	67 years	47 of 100 (Notable)
9 June 1967	Sterling, ZA	daily rain	7.5 mm (0.30 in)	2.7 mm (0.11 in)	28 years	20 of 100 (Routine)
29 May 1967	Sterling, ZA	daily rain	11.5 mm (0.5 in)	5.4 mm (0.21 in)	57 years	20 of 100 (Routine)

Extremes by Year

1878 to 1989

Yearly extremes at Sterling: the record and the median year
Measure	Record	Year of the record	Median year	Years with a value
Wettest day (Rx1day)	88.9 mm (3.5 in)	1893	30.0 mm (1.2 in)	79
Wettest five days (Rx5day)	135.4 mm (5.3 in)	1918	45.5 mm (1.8 in)	79
Longest dry spell (CDD)	188 days	1919	68 days	79

Wettest day (Rx1day)

The wettest day of the year at Sterling, 1878 to 1989. The record is 88.9 mm (3.5 in) in 1893, marked on the chart; the median year is 30.0 mm (1.2 in).

Wettest day (Rx1day) at Sterling by year
Year	Wettest day (Rx1day)
1878	19.6 mm (0.8 in)
1879	42.2 mm (1.7 in)
1880	29.2 mm (1.1 in)
1881	38.6 mm (1.5 in)
1882	30.5 mm (1.2 in)
1883	45.2 mm (1.8 in)
1884	44.5 mm (1.8 in)
1885	42.4 mm (1.7 in)
1886	28.7 mm (1.1 in)
1887	16.5 mm (0.6 in)
1888	30.0 mm (1.2 in)
1889	54.9 mm (2.2 in)
1890	41.1 mm (1.6 in)
1891	55.9 mm (2.2 in)
1892	16.5 mm (0.6 in)
1893	88.9 mm (3.5 in)
1894	64.5 mm (2.5 in)
1895	21.6 mm (0.9 in)
1896	25.4 mm (1.0 in)
1897	26.4 mm (1.0 in)
1898	30.5 mm (1.2 in)
1899	38.9 mm (1.5 in)
1900	47.0 mm (1.9 in)
1901	46.0 mm (1.8 in)
1902	25.7 mm (1.0 in)
1903	17.8 mm (0.7 in)
1904	20.6 mm (0.8 in)
1905	33.0 mm (1.3 in)
1906	39.1 mm (1.5 in)
1907	24.6 mm (1.0 in)
1908	23.4 mm (0.9 in)
1909	51.6 mm (2.0 in)
1910	23.1 mm (0.9 in)
1911	34.8 mm (1.4 in)
1912	30.5 mm (1.2 in)
1913	25.4 mm (1.0 in)
1914	34.3 mm (1.4 in)
1915	48.3 mm (1.9 in)
1916	25.9 mm (1.0 in)
1917	45.7 mm (1.8 in)
1918	57.2 mm (2.3 in)
1919	35.6 mm (1.4 in)
1920	45.7 mm (1.8 in)
1921	57.2 mm (2.3 in)
1922	45.7 mm (1.8 in)
1938	27.9 mm (1.1 in)
1939	34.5 mm (1.4 in)
1940	23.1 mm (0.9 in)
1941	26.4 mm (1.0 in)
1942	24.6 mm (1.0 in)
1943	22.9 mm (0.9 in)
1944	28.7 mm (1.1 in)
1945	33.8 mm (1.3 in)
1946	27.7 mm (1.1 in)
1947	29.7 mm (1.2 in)
1948	27.9 mm (1.1 in)
1949	23.9 mm (0.9 in)
1950	31.0 mm (1.2 in)
1951	13.2 mm (0.5 in)
1952	19.1 mm (0.8 in)
1953	28.0 mm (1.1 in)
1954	57.0 mm (2.2 in)
1955	21.0 mm (0.8 in)
1956	28.0 mm (1.1 in)
1957	28.0 mm (1.1 in)
1958	29.5 mm (1.2 in)
1959	55.0 mm (2.2 in)
1960	15.0 mm (0.6 in)
1961	30.0 mm (1.2 in)
1962	13.5 mm (0.5 in)
1963	25.5 mm (1.0 in)
1964	35.0 mm (1.4 in)
1965	22.5 mm (0.9 in)
1966	31.0 mm (1.2 in)
1967	54.0 mm (2.1 in)
1968	43.0 mm (1.7 in)
1987	26.0 mm (1.0 in)
1988	57.0 mm (2.2 in)
1989	34.5 mm (1.4 in)

Wettest five days (Rx5day)

The wettest five days of the year at Sterling, 1878 to 1989. The record is 135.4 mm (5.3 in) in 1918, marked on the chart; the median year is 45.5 mm (1.8 in).

Wettest five days (Rx5day) at Sterling by year
Year	Wettest five days (Rx5day)
1878	29.5 mm (1.2 in)
1879	44.5 mm (1.8 in)
1880	62.7 mm (2.5 in)
1881	38.6 mm (1.5 in)
1882	41.4 mm (1.6 in)
1883	60.5 mm (2.4 in)
1884	64.3 mm (2.5 in)
1885	54.8 mm (2.2 in)
1886	44.2 mm (1.7 in)
1887	22.9 mm (0.9 in)
1888	32.0 mm (1.3 in)
1889	92.6 mm (3.6 in)
1890	41.1 mm (1.6 in)
1891	55.9 mm (2.2 in)
1892	26.2 mm (1.0 in)
1893	88.9 mm (3.5 in)
1894	68.1 mm (2.7 in)
1895	46.7 mm (1.8 in)
1896	44.4 mm (1.7 in)
1897	31.4 mm (1.2 in)
1898	72.4 mm (2.9 in)
1899	56.5 mm (2.2 in)
1900	94.0 mm (3.7 in)
1901	90.3 mm (3.6 in)
1902	25.7 mm (1.0 in)
1903	25.2 mm (1.0 in)
1904	22.1 mm (0.9 in)
1905	33.8 mm (1.3 in)
1906	63.0 mm (2.5 in)
1907	41.1 mm (1.6 in)
1908	30.8 mm (1.2 in)
1909	80.0 mm (3.1 in)
1910	45.5 mm (1.8 in)
1911	83.8 mm (3.3 in)
1912	30.5 mm (1.2 in)
1913	53.8 mm (2.1 in)
1914	67.3 mm (2.6 in)
1915	56.6 mm (2.2 in)
1916	56.6 mm (2.2 in)
1917	90.1 mm (3.5 in)
1918	135.4 mm (5.3 in)
1919	48.8 mm (1.9 in)
1920	81.0 mm (3.2 in)
1921	125.4 mm (4.9 in)
1922	53.3 mm (2.1 in)
1938	40.1 mm (1.6 in)
1939	58.1 mm (2.3 in)
1940	49.3 mm (1.9 in)
1941	45.5 mm (1.8 in)
1942	27.2 mm (1.1 in)
1943	65.5 mm (2.6 in)
1944	34.8 mm (1.4 in)
1945	38.4 mm (1.5 in)
1946	36.6 mm (1.4 in)
1947	37.1 mm (1.5 in)
1948	75.4 mm (3.0 in)
1949	23.9 mm (0.9 in)
1950	43.5 mm (1.7 in)
1951	26.4 mm (1.0 in)
1952	38.2 mm (1.5 in)
1953	33.6 mm (1.3 in)
1954	67.4 mm (2.7 in)
1955	41.5 mm (1.6 in)
1956	54.0 mm (2.1 in)
1957	36.0 mm (1.4 in)
1958	39.5 mm (1.6 in)
1959	55.0 mm (2.2 in)
1960	19.0 mm (0.7 in)
1961	53.0 mm (2.1 in)
1962	28.0 mm (1.1 in)
1963	39.3 mm (1.5 in)
1964	54.0 mm (2.1 in)
1965	38.7 mm (1.5 in)
1966	47.5 mm (1.9 in)
1967	68.5 mm (2.7 in)
1968	43.5 mm (1.7 in)
1987	31.0 mm (1.2 in)
1988	110.0 mm (4.3 in)
1989	34.5 mm (1.4 in)

Longest dry spell (CDD)

The longest dry spell of the year at Sterling, 1878 to 1989. The record is 188 days in 1919, marked on the chart; the median year is 68 days.

Longest dry spell (CDD) at Sterling by year
Year	Longest dry spell (CDD)
1878	40 days
1879	89 days
1880	77 days
1881	102 days
1882	57 days
1883	40 days
1884	97 days
1885	89 days
1886	48 days
1887	54 days
1888	52 days
1889	69 days
1890	85 days
1891	36 days
1892	40 days
1893	40 days
1894	62 days
1895	116 days
1896	52 days
1897	98 days
1898	96 days
1899	81 days
1900	63 days
1901	74 days
1902	103 days
1903	48 days
1904	60 days
1905	49 days
1906	92 days
1907	74 days
1908	82 days
1909	107 days
1910	62 days
1911	56 days
1912	156 days
1913	97 days
1914	86 days
1915	69 days
1916	56 days
1917	56 days
1918	49 days
1919	188 days
1920	124 days
1921	90 days
1922	108 days
1938	76 days
1939	49 days
1940	86 days
1941	51 days
1942	52 days
1943	59 days
1944	69 days
1945	129 days
1946	68 days
1947	65 days
1948	57 days
1949	90 days
1950	44 days
1951	71 days
1952	40 days
1953	36 days
1954	107 days
1955	81 days
1956	72 days
1957	43 days
1958	110 days
1959	55 days
1960	60 days
1961	66 days
1962	86 days
1963	39 days
1964	61 days
1965	49 days
1966	63 days
1967	76 days
1968	81 days
1987	94 days
1988	53 days
1989	28 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

74 years, 1878 to 1988

A day with at least 31.8 mm (1.3 in) of rain is expected about once in 2 years. A day with at least 81.6 mm (3.2 in) of rain is expected about once in 100 years.

Rainfall return levels at Sterling: the daily rain expected about once in a given number of years
Expected about once in	A day with at least	Note
2 years	31.8 mm (1.3 in)
5 years	43.8 mm (1.7 in)
10 years	52.3 mm (2.1 in)
25 years	63.6 mm (2.5 in)
50 years	72.4 mm (2.9 in)
100 years	81.6 mm (3.2 in)	Longer than the 74 years of record

The levels come from a generalised extreme value (GEV) distribution fitted by L-moments to the wettest-day total of each year, 74 years of values from 1878 to 1988.

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: 88.9 mm (3.5 in) in 1893; 64.5 mm (2.5 in) in 1894; 57.2 mm (2.3 in) in 1918.

Download the Data

Data for Sterling standing records by year: CSV or JSON. Field meanings are on the data page.
Data for Sterling 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 2026-10-14 (14 October 2026). Records are computed by this site and are not official.

Data as of 2025-12-31. Last revised 31 December 2025 (2025-12-31).

Month	Highest record high	Lowest record low	2026 highest maximum	2026 lowest minimum
Jan	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
Feb	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
Mar	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
Apr	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
May	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
Jun	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
Jul	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
Aug	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
Sep	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
Oct	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
Nov	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
Dec	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a

Month	Highest record high	Lowest record low	2026 highest maximum	2026 lowest minimum
Jan	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
Feb	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
Mar	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
Apr	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
May	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
Jun	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
Jul	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
Aug	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
Sep	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
Oct	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
Nov	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
Dec	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a