Highlands Weather Records (SF003314740)

Record envelope, standing records and threshold days for Highlands (SF003314740), South Africa, with 71 years of record.

Key Facts for Highlands

Highlands (SF003314740) is a weather station in South Africa at -28.40 latitude and 28.27 longitude, 1,890 m (6,201 ft) above sea level.
The station reports from 1927 to 1997, 71 years of record.
0 records set at Highlands still stand.
Records are tracked for prcp: an element needs 30 years of data to be eligible.
Highlands set a daily record precipitation of 46.0 mm (1.8 in) on 8 September 1997.

About the Station

Location: South Africa, -28.40 latitude, 28.27 longitude.
Elevation: 1,890 m (6,201 ft).
Period of record: 1927 to 1997, 71 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 Highlands. 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 Highlands, 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 Highlands still stand.

All-Time Record Progression

1 new records

1 all-time records were set at Highlands between 16 January 1972 and 16 January 1972. Each dot is a new record.

Wettest Day of Each Month

Jan: 81.5 mm (3.2 in)

The wettest day on record for each calendar month at Highlands. The most was 81.5 mm (3.2 in) on 16 January 1972.

Record daily precipitation for each month at Highlands
Month	Record daily precipitation (mm)	Date
Jan	81.5 mm (3.2 in)	16 January 1972
Feb	78.0 mm (3.1 in)	14 February 1962
Mar	69.9 mm (2.8 in)	29 March 1947
Apr	61.6 mm (2.4 in)	26 April 1962
May	54.0 mm (2.1 in)	20 May 1969
Jun	61.5 mm (2.4 in)	20 June 1964
Jul	56.1 mm (2.2 in)	16 July 1939
Aug	64.5 mm (2.5 in)	2 August 1938
Sep	75.0 mm (3.0 in)	13 September 1986
Oct	80.3 mm (3.2 in)	13 October 1943
Nov	76.2 mm (3.0 in)	3 November 1939
Dec	70.0 mm (2.8 in)	28 December 1964

Latest Records

Latest records at Highlands
Date	Station	Record	Value	Beat old record by	Old record stood	Significance
8 September 1997	Highlands, ZA	daily rain	46.0 mm (1.8 in)	41.0 mm (1.6 in)	10 years	43 of 100 (Notable)
10 June 1997	Highlands, ZA	daily rain	13.0 mm (0.5 in)	10.6 mm (0.4 in)	36 years	20 of 100 (Routine)
22 April 1997	Highlands, ZA	daily rain	34.0 mm (1.3 in)	18.0 mm (0.7 in)	2 years	22 of 100 (Routine)
29 October 1996	Highlands, ZA	daily rain	24.0 mm (0.9 in)	3.8 mm (0.15 in)	19 years	15 of 100 (Routine)
27 August 1996	Highlands, ZA	daily rain	28.0 mm (1.1 in)	7.0 mm (0.28 in)	4 years	13 of 100 (Routine)
8 August 1996	Highlands, ZA	daily rain	9.0 mm (0.35 in)	7.2 mm (0.28 in)	54 years	20 of 100 (Routine)
27 July 1996	Highlands, ZA	daily rain	28.0 mm (1.1 in)	18.6 mm (0.7 in)	69 years	43 of 100 (Notable)
15 January 1996	Highlands, ZA	daily rain	39.0 mm (1.5 in)	1.4 mm (0.06 in)	56 years	24 of 100 (Routine)
20 November 1995	Highlands, ZA	daily rain	26.0 mm (1.0 in)	1.0 mm (0.04 in)	16 years	10 of 100 (Routine)
16 October 1995	Highlands, ZA	daily rain	32.0 mm (1.3 in)	0.2 mm (0.01 in)	20 years	12 of 100 (Routine)
16 August 1995	Highlands, ZA	daily rain	8.0 mm (0.31 in)	1.1 mm (0.04 in)	44 years	19 of 100 (Routine)
15 June 1995	Highlands, ZA	daily rain	3.0 mm (0.12 in)	3.0 mm (0.12 in)	68 years	20 of 100 (Routine)
5 May 1995	Highlands, ZA	daily rain (Tie)	20.0 mm (0.8 in)	tie	20 years	3 of 100 (Routine)
22 April 1995	Highlands, ZA	daily rain	16.0 mm (0.6 in)	0.3 mm (0.01 in)	52 years	20 of 100 (Routine)
21 April 1995	Highlands, ZA	daily rain	14.0 mm (0.6 in)	4.9 mm (0.19 in)	60 years	20 of 100 (Routine)
18 April 1994	Highlands, ZA	daily rain	26.0 mm (1.0 in)	4.2 mm (0.17 in)	52 years	24 of 100 (Routine)
1 October 1993	Highlands, ZA	daily rain	34.0 mm (1.3 in)	20.4 mm (0.8 in)	16 years	27 of 100 (Routine)
10 April 1993	Highlands, ZA	daily rain	36.0 mm (1.4 in)	5.5 mm (0.22 in)	24 years	17 of 100 (Routine)
22 February 1993	Highlands, ZA	daily rain	37.0 mm (1.5 in)	13.9 mm (0.5 in)	64 years	36 of 100 (Notable)
22 January 1993	Highlands, ZA	daily rain	44.0 mm (1.7 in)	16.6 mm (0.7 in)	58 years	37 of 100 (Notable)

Extremes by Year

1927 to 1997

Yearly extremes at Highlands: the record and the median year
Measure	Record	Year of the record	Median year	Years with a value
Wettest day (Rx1day)	81.5 mm (3.2 in)	1972	49.2 mm (1.9 in)	66
Wettest five days (Rx5day)	183.3 mm (7.2 in)	1957	84.1 mm (3.3 in)	66
Longest dry spell (CDD)	215 days	1945	88 days	66

Wettest day (Rx1day)

The wettest day of the year at Highlands, 1927 to 1997. The record is 81.5 mm (3.2 in) in 1972, marked on the chart; the median year is 49.2 mm (1.9 in).

Wettest day (Rx1day) at Highlands by year
Year	Wettest day (Rx1day)
1927	36.8 mm (1.4 in)
1928	49.8 mm (2.0 in)
1929	39.6 mm (1.6 in)
1933	39.1 mm (1.5 in)
1934	59.7 mm (2.4 in)
1935	29.0 mm (1.1 in)
1936	54.4 mm (2.1 in)
1937	55.1 mm (2.2 in)
1938	64.5 mm (2.5 in)
1939	76.2 mm (3.0 in)
1940	49.5 mm (1.9 in)
1941	49.5 mm (1.9 in)
1942	41.7 mm (1.6 in)
1943	80.3 mm (3.2 in)
1944	50.8 mm (2.0 in)
1945	47.0 mm (1.9 in)
1946	59.7 mm (2.4 in)
1947	69.9 mm (2.8 in)
1948	46.2 mm (1.8 in)
1949	46.2 mm (1.8 in)
1950	42.9 mm (1.7 in)
1951	52.8 mm (2.1 in)
1952	21.8 mm (0.9 in)
1955	29.0 mm (1.1 in)
1956	51.7 mm (2.0 in)
1957	57.0 mm (2.2 in)
1958	60.0 mm (2.4 in)
1959	40.5 mm (1.6 in)
1960	62.0 mm (2.4 in)
1961	48.5 mm (1.9 in)
1962	78.0 mm (3.1 in)
1963	67.0 mm (2.6 in)
1964	70.0 mm (2.8 in)
1965	38.5 mm (1.5 in)
1966	65.0 mm (2.6 in)
1967	43.5 mm (1.7 in)
1968	30.5 mm (1.2 in)
1969	62.5 mm (2.5 in)
1970	48.8 mm (1.9 in)
1971	43.0 mm (1.7 in)
1972	81.5 mm (3.2 in)
1973	33.2 mm (1.3 in)
1974	50.2 mm (2.0 in)
1975	53.0 mm (2.1 in)
1976	75.0 mm (3.0 in)
1977	48.0 mm (1.9 in)
1978	36.0 mm (1.4 in)
1979	34.8 mm (1.4 in)
1980	40.3 mm (1.6 in)
1981	50.0 mm (2.0 in)
1982	54.0 mm (2.1 in)
1983	70.0 mm (2.8 in)
1984	50.0 mm (2.0 in)
1985	27.0 mm (1.1 in)
1986	75.0 mm (3.0 in)
1987	37.0 mm (1.5 in)
1988	46.0 mm (1.8 in)
1989	55.0 mm (2.2 in)
1990	22.0 mm (0.9 in)
1991	48.0 mm (1.9 in)
1992	50.0 mm (2.0 in)
1993	44.0 mm (1.7 in)
1994	39.0 mm (1.5 in)
1995	34.0 mm (1.3 in)
1996	39.0 mm (1.5 in)
1997	46.0 mm (1.8 in)

Wettest five days (Rx5day)

The wettest five days of the year at Highlands, 1927 to 1997. The record is 183.3 mm (7.2 in) in 1957, marked on the chart; the median year is 84.1 mm (3.3 in).

Wettest five days (Rx5day) at Highlands by year
Year	Wettest five days (Rx5day)
1927	70.8 mm (2.8 in)
1928	66.5 mm (2.6 in)
1929	79.0 mm (3.1 in)
1933	89.9 mm (3.5 in)
1934	88.9 mm (3.5 in)
1935	37.4 mm (1.5 in)
1936	129.3 mm (5.1 in)
1937	95.5 mm (3.8 in)
1938	64.8 mm (2.6 in)
1939	102.7 mm (4.0 in)
1940	77.7 mm (3.1 in)
1941	53.1 mm (2.1 in)
1942	97.9 mm (3.9 in)
1943	115.3 mm (4.5 in)
1944	123.5 mm (4.9 in)
1945	109.9 mm (4.3 in)
1946	152.9 mm (6.0 in)
1947	84.1 mm (3.3 in)
1948	72.3 mm (2.8 in)
1949	64.5 mm (2.5 in)
1950	89.2 mm (3.5 in)
1951	79.0 mm (3.1 in)
1952	21.8 mm (0.9 in)
1955	73.9 mm (2.9 in)
1956	67.0 mm (2.6 in)
1957	183.3 mm (7.2 in)
1958	70.8 mm (2.8 in)
1959	109.5 mm (4.3 in)
1960	147.8 mm (5.8 in)
1961	99.8 mm (3.9 in)
1962	137.0 mm (5.4 in)
1963	110.0 mm (4.3 in)
1964	101.5 mm (4.0 in)
1965	101.5 mm (4.0 in)
1966	102.1 mm (4.0 in)
1967	124.3 mm (4.9 in)
1968	75.0 mm (3.0 in)
1969	75.7 mm (3.0 in)
1970	78.0 mm (3.1 in)
1971	81.4 mm (3.2 in)
1972	100.5 mm (4.0 in)
1973	72.0 mm (2.8 in)
1974	117.7 mm (4.6 in)
1975	140.8 mm (5.5 in)
1976	168.1 mm (6.6 in)
1977	76.1 mm (3.0 in)
1978	55.0 mm (2.2 in)
1979	95.2 mm (3.7 in)
1980	70.3 mm (2.8 in)
1981	109.5 mm (4.3 in)
1982	89.0 mm (3.5 in)
1983	88.5 mm (3.5 in)
1984	68.0 mm (2.7 in)
1985	61.5 mm (2.4 in)
1986	82.5 mm (3.2 in)
1987	80.0 mm (3.1 in)
1988	99.0 mm (3.9 in)
1989	84.0 mm (3.3 in)
1990	53.0 mm (2.1 in)
1991	75.0 mm (3.0 in)
1992	70.0 mm (2.8 in)
1993	132.0 mm (5.2 in)
1994	79.0 mm (3.1 in)
1995	89.0 mm (3.5 in)
1996	73.0 mm (2.9 in)
1997	60.0 mm (2.4 in)

Longest dry spell (CDD)

The longest dry spell of the year at Highlands, 1927 to 1997. The record is 215 days in 1945, marked on the chart; the median year is 88 days.

Longest dry spell (CDD) at Highlands by year
Year	Longest dry spell (CDD)
1927	68 days
1928	68 days
1929	45 days
1933	9 days
1934	52 days
1935	94 days
1936	128 days
1937	128 days
1938	29 days
1939	60 days
1940	80 days
1941	85 days
1942	72 days
1943	39 days
1944	94 days
1945	215 days
1946	129 days
1947	131 days
1948	126 days
1949	143 days
1950	47 days
1951	31 days
1952	82 days
1955	124 days
1956	123 days
1957	53 days
1958	99 days
1959	86 days
1960	60 days
1961	50 days
1962	156 days
1963	83 days
1964	80 days
1965	52 days
1966	102 days
1967	87 days
1968	68 days
1969	111 days
1970	88 days
1971	120 days
1972	155 days
1973	117 days
1974	103 days
1975	165 days
1976	145 days
1977	140 days
1978	128 days
1979	32 days
1980	129 days
1981	71 days
1982	40 days
1983	93 days
1984	66 days
1985	174 days
1986	122 days
1987	109 days
1988	46 days
1989	144 days
1990	69 days
1991	89 days
1992	117 days
1993	87 days
1994	94 days
1995	61 days
1996	49 days
1997	30 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

59 years, 1928 to 1997

A day with at least 50.3 mm (2.0 in) of rain is expected about once in 2 years. A day with at least 88.7 mm (3.5 in) of rain is expected about once in 100 years.

Rainfall return levels at Highlands: the daily rain expected about once in a given number of years
Expected about once in	A day with at least	Note
2 years	50.3 mm (2.0 in)
5 years	63.0 mm (2.5 in)
10 years	70.3 mm (2.8 in)
25 years	78.5 mm (3.1 in)
50 years	83.9 mm (3.3 in)
100 years	88.7 mm (3.5 in)	Longer than the 59 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, 59 years of values from 1928 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: 81.5 mm (3.2 in) in 1972; 80.3 mm (3.2 in) in 1943; 78.0 mm (3.1 in) in 1962.

Download the Data

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