Potchefstroom Upper Weather Records (SF004371000)

Record envelope, standing records and threshold days for Potchefstroom Upper (SF004371000), South Africa, with 80 years of record.

Key Facts for Potchefstroom Upper

Potchefstroom Upper (SF004371000) is a weather station in South Africa at -26.67 latitude and 27.10 longitude, 1,372 m (4,501 ft) above sea level.
The station reports from 1918 to 1997, 80 years of record.
1,460 records set at Potchefstroom Upper still stand.
Records are tracked for prcp: an element needs 30 years of data to be eligible.
Potchefstroom Upper set a daily record precipitation of 32.0 mm (1.3 in) on 28 November 1997.

About the Station

Location: South Africa, -26.67 latitude, 27.10 longitude.
Elevation: 1,372 m (4,501 ft).
Period of record: 1918 to 1997, 80 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 Potchefstroom Upper. 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 Potchefstroom Upper, with 2026 drawn through them
Month	Highest record high	Lowest record low	2026 highest maximum	2026 lowest minimum
Jan	38.8 C (101.8 F)	12.5 C (54.5 F)	n/a	n/a
Feb	37.0 C (98.6 F)	9.4 C (48.9 F)	n/a	n/a
Mar	35.6 C (96.1 F)	5.7 C (42.3 F)	n/a	n/a
Apr	33.1 C (91.6 F)	0.0 C (32.0 F)	n/a	n/a
May	29.1 C (84.4 F)	-2.0 C (28.4 F)	n/a	n/a
Jun	25.6 C (78.1 F)	-6.5 C (20.3 F)	n/a	n/a
Jul	26.7 C (80.1 F)	-5.0 C (23.0 F)	n/a	n/a
Aug	30.6 C (87.1 F)	-5.0 C (23.0 F)	n/a	n/a
Sep	34.3 C (93.7 F)	0.0 C (32.0 F)	n/a	n/a
Oct	35.1 C (95.2 F)	4.0 C (39.2 F)	n/a	n/a
Nov	35.0 C (95.0 F)	7.9 C (46.2 F)	n/a	n/a
Dec	35.7 C (96.3 F)	9.5 C (49.1 F)	n/a	n/a

Which Years Hold Standing Records

1,460 standing records

1,460 records at Potchefstroom Upper still stand. 1983 holds the most, with 295.

Wettest Day of Each Month

Dec: 185.7 mm (7.3 in)

The wettest day on record for each calendar month at Potchefstroom Upper. The most was 185.7 mm (7.3 in) on 11 December 1943.

Record daily precipitation for each month at Potchefstroom Upper
Month	Record daily precipitation (mm)	Date
Jan	83.1 mm (3.3 in)	10 January 1947
Feb	144.8 mm (5.7 in)	20 February 1923
Mar	77.0 mm (3.0 in)	11 March 1988
Apr	72.5 mm (2.9 in)	25 April 1962
May	50.8 mm (2.0 in)	23 May 1936
Jun	54.9 mm (2.2 in)	12 June 1944
Jul	45.7 mm (1.8 in)	15 July 1939
Aug	51.0 mm (2.0 in)	29 August 1986
Sep	47.0 mm (1.9 in)	1 September 1918
Oct	75.7 mm (3.0 in)	29 October 1995
Nov	76.2 mm (3.0 in)	7 November 1931
Dec	185.7 mm (7.3 in)	11 December 1943

Period of Record Coverage

1982 to 1988

7 years of record at Potchefstroom Upper, 1982 to 1988. 7 years have data for under 90 percent of days and are left out of rankings: 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988.

Latest Records

Latest records at Potchefstroom Upper
Date	Station	Record	Value	Beat old record by	Old record stood	Significance
28 November 1997	Potchefstroom Upper, ZA	daily rain	32.0 mm (1.3 in)	1.8 mm (0.07 in)	16 years	14 of 100 (Routine)
10 September 1997	Potchefstroom Upper, ZA	daily rain	6.0 mm (0.24 in)	1.5 mm (0.06 in)	40 years	20 of 100 (Routine)
9 September 1997	Potchefstroom Upper, ZA	daily rain	18.0 mm (0.7 in)	0.2 mm (0.01 in)	76 years	20 of 100 (Routine)
27 July 1997	Potchefstroom Upper, ZA	daily rain	1.7 mm (0.07 in)	1.7 mm (0.07 in)	79 years	20 of 100 (Routine)
25 May 1997	Potchefstroom Upper, ZA	daily rain	49.0 mm (1.9 in)	40.5 mm (1.6 in)	40 years	60 of 100 (Major)
4 December 1996	Potchefstroom Upper, ZA	daily rain	45.0 mm (1.8 in)	13.5 mm (0.5 in)	49 years	30 of 100 (Routine)
16 November 1996	Potchefstroom Upper, ZA	daily rain	44.5 mm (1.8 in)	19.1 mm (0.8 in)	63 years	43 of 100 (Notable)
23 July 1996	Potchefstroom Upper, ZA	daily rain	7.5 mm (0.30 in)	1.1 mm (0.04 in)	44 years	20 of 100 (Routine)
17 April 1996	Potchefstroom Upper, ZA	daily rain	28.5 mm (1.1 in)	13.3 mm (0.5 in)	65 years	37 of 100 (Notable)
5 April 1996	Potchefstroom Upper, ZA	daily rain	42.0 mm (1.7 in)	10.5 mm (0.4 in)	35 years	26 of 100 (Routine)
21 February 1996	Potchefstroom Upper, ZA	daily rain	33.5 mm (1.3 in)	4.5 mm (0.18 in)	8 years	11 of 100 (Routine)
15 February 1996	Potchefstroom Upper, ZA	daily rain (Tie)	50.0 mm (2.0 in)	tie	4 years	2 of 100 (Routine)
25 January 1996	Potchefstroom Upper, ZA	daily rain	39.0 mm (1.5 in)	13.6 mm (0.5 in)	22 years	22 of 100 (Routine)
17 December 1995	Potchefstroom Upper, ZA	daily rain	31.3 mm (1.2 in)	8.4 mm (0.33 in)	58 years	30 of 100 (Routine)
8 December 1995	Potchefstroom Upper, ZA	daily rain	50.5 mm (2.0 in)	17.0 mm (0.7 in)	73 years	41 of 100 (Notable)
29 October 1995	Potchefstroom Upper, ZA	monthly rain	75.7 mm (3.0 in)	6.9 mm (0.27 in)	52 years	39 of 100 (Notable)
14 September 1995	Potchefstroom Upper, ZA	daily rain	34.0 mm (1.3 in)	25.4 mm (1.0 in)	69 years	54 of 100 (Notable)
8 May 1994	Potchefstroom Upper, ZA	daily rain	0.8 mm (0.03 in)	0.8 mm (0.03 in)	76 years	20 of 100 (Routine)
5 February 1994	Potchefstroom Upper, ZA	daily rain	118.0 mm (4.6 in)	83.7 mm (3.3 in)	20 years	53 of 100 (Notable)
20 January 1994	Potchefstroom Upper, ZA	daily rain	34.0 mm (1.3 in)	1.5 mm (0.06 in)	62 years	26 of 100 (Routine)

Extremes by Year

1918 to 1997

Yearly extremes at Potchefstroom Upper: the record and the median year
Measure	Record	Year of the record	Median year	Years with a value
Hottest day (TXx)	38.8 C (101.8 F)	1986	35.8 C (96.4 F)	7
Coldest night (TNn)	-6.5 C (20.3 F)	1982	-3.2 C (26.2 F)	9
Wettest day (Rx1day)	185.7 mm (7.3 in)	1943	51.3 mm (2.0 in)	80
Wettest five days (Rx5day)	220.5 mm (8.7 in)	1966	83.5 mm (3.3 in)	80
Longest dry spell (CDD)	187 days	1941	85 days	80

Hottest day (TXx)

The hottest day of the year at Potchefstroom Upper, 1918 to 1997. The record is 38.8 C (101.8 F) in 1986, marked on the chart; the median year is 35.8 C (96.4 F).

Hottest day (TXx) at Potchefstroom Upper by year
Year	Hottest day (TXx)
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	35.7 C (96.3 F)
1983	37.0 C (98.6 F)
1984	36.9 C (98.4 F)
1985	35.3 C (95.5 F)
1986	38.8 C (101.8 F)
1987	34.8 C (94.6 F)
1988	35.8 C (96.4 F)
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

Coldest night (TNn)

The coldest night of the year at Potchefstroom Upper, 1918 to 1997. The record is -6.5 C (20.3 F) in 1982, marked on the chart; the median year is -3.2 C (26.2 F).

Coldest night (TNn) at Potchefstroom Upper by year
Year	Coldest night (TNn)
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	-5.0 C (23.0 F)
1981	-5.0 C (23.0 F)
1982	-6.5 C (20.3 F)
1983	-2.5 C (27.5 F)
1984	-2.7 C (27.1 F)
1985	-2.3 C (27.9 F)
1986	-3.1 C (26.4 F)
1987	-3.2 C (26.2 F)
1988	-4.0 C (24.8 F)
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

Wettest day (Rx1day)

The wettest day of the year at Potchefstroom Upper, 1918 to 1997. The record is 185.7 mm (7.3 in) in 1943, marked on the chart; the median year is 51.3 mm (2.0 in).

Wettest day (Rx1day) at Potchefstroom Upper by year
Year	Wettest day (Rx1day)
1918	47.0 mm (1.9 in)
1919	36.3 mm (1.4 in)
1920	51.1 mm (2.0 in)
1921	68.6 mm (2.7 in)
1922	78.2 mm (3.1 in)
1923	144.8 mm (5.7 in)
1924	38.1 mm (1.5 in)
1925	48.3 mm (1.9 in)
1926	44.5 mm (1.8 in)
1927	30.5 mm (1.2 in)
1928	68.6 mm (2.7 in)
1929	71.9 mm (2.8 in)
1930	61.2 mm (2.4 in)
1931	76.2 mm (3.0 in)
1932	33.5 mm (1.3 in)
1933	55.9 mm (2.2 in)
1934	78.7 mm (3.1 in)
1935	46.5 mm (1.8 in)
1936	50.8 mm (2.0 in)
1937	68.1 mm (2.7 in)
1938	66.0 mm (2.6 in)
1939	63.8 mm (2.5 in)
1940	55.4 mm (2.2 in)
1941	38.9 mm (1.5 in)
1942	71.4 mm (2.8 in)
1943	185.7 mm (7.3 in)
1944	54.9 mm (2.2 in)
1945	64.3 mm (2.5 in)
1946	53.1 mm (2.1 in)
1947	83.1 mm (3.3 in)
1948	39.9 mm (1.6 in)
1949	47.0 mm (1.9 in)
1950	50.8 mm (2.0 in)
1951	41.9 mm (1.6 in)
1952	82.6 mm (3.3 in)
1953	58.4 mm (2.3 in)
1954	31.0 mm (1.2 in)
1955	63.5 mm (2.5 in)
1956	26.5 mm (1.0 in)
1957	44.0 mm (1.7 in)
1958	33.5 mm (1.3 in)
1959	36.0 mm (1.4 in)
1960	61.5 mm (2.4 in)
1961	76.5 mm (3.0 in)
1962	72.5 mm (2.9 in)
1963	42.0 mm (1.7 in)
1964	50.0 mm (2.0 in)
1965	40.0 mm (1.6 in)
1966	112.0 mm (4.4 in)
1967	55.0 mm (2.2 in)
1968	34.0 mm (1.3 in)
1969	62.0 mm (2.4 in)
1970	43.0 mm (1.7 in)
1971	48.0 mm (1.9 in)
1972	31.0 mm (1.2 in)
1973	62.5 mm (2.5 in)
1974	50.8 mm (2.0 in)
1975	76.2 mm (3.0 in)
1976	66.0 mm (2.6 in)
1977	90.0 mm (3.5 in)
1978	51.5 mm (2.0 in)
1979	43.0 mm (1.7 in)
1980	69.5 mm (2.7 in)
1981	45.0 mm (1.8 in)
1982	50.0 mm (2.0 in)
1983	65.0 mm (2.6 in)
1984	48.0 mm (1.9 in)
1985	57.0 mm (2.2 in)
1986	51.0 mm (2.0 in)
1987	57.0 mm (2.2 in)
1988	77.0 mm (3.0 in)
1989	47.0 mm (1.9 in)
1990	41.0 mm (1.6 in)
1991	50.0 mm (2.0 in)
1992	45.0 mm (1.8 in)
1993	44.0 mm (1.7 in)
1994	118.0 mm (4.6 in)
1995	75.7 mm (3.0 in)
1996	50.0 mm (2.0 in)
1997	49.0 mm (1.9 in)

Wettest five days (Rx5day)

The wettest five days of the year at Potchefstroom Upper, 1918 to 1997. The record is 220.5 mm (8.7 in) in 1966, marked on the chart; the median year is 83.5 mm (3.3 in).

Wettest five days (Rx5day) at Potchefstroom Upper by year
Year	Wettest five days (Rx5day)
1918	111.0 mm (4.4 in)
1919	46.6 mm (1.8 in)
1920	74.4 mm (2.9 in)
1921	142.8 mm (5.6 in)
1922	96.5 mm (3.8 in)
1923	150.4 mm (5.9 in)
1924	68.1 mm (2.7 in)
1925	61.0 mm (2.4 in)
1926	80.5 mm (3.2 in)
1927	55.9 mm (2.2 in)
1928	94.7 mm (3.7 in)
1929	104.2 mm (4.1 in)
1930	97.7 mm (3.8 in)
1931	123.9 mm (4.9 in)
1932	65.8 mm (2.6 in)
1933	84.0 mm (3.3 in)
1934	95.0 mm (3.7 in)
1935	86.3 mm (3.4 in)
1936	70.8 mm (2.8 in)
1937	68.1 mm (2.7 in)
1938	86.3 mm (3.4 in)
1939	82.9 mm (3.3 in)
1940	103.7 mm (4.1 in)
1941	64.3 mm (2.5 in)
1942	101.6 mm (4.0 in)
1943	188.5 mm (7.4 in)
1944	202.7 mm (8.0 in)
1945	72.4 mm (2.9 in)
1946	100.4 mm (4.0 in)
1947	113.3 mm (4.5 in)
1948	90.9 mm (3.6 in)
1949	65.7 mm (2.6 in)
1950	66.5 mm (2.6 in)
1951	66.8 mm (2.6 in)
1952	150.4 mm (5.9 in)
1953	82.0 mm (3.2 in)
1954	53.0 mm (2.1 in)
1955	128.7 mm (5.1 in)
1956	58.1 mm (2.3 in)
1957	68.3 mm (2.7 in)
1958	64.5 mm (2.5 in)
1959	61.8 mm (2.4 in)
1960	91.1 mm (3.6 in)
1961	79.0 mm (3.1 in)
1962	76.0 mm (3.0 in)
1963	61.1 mm (2.4 in)
1964	55.5 mm (2.2 in)
1965	88.0 mm (3.5 in)
1966	220.5 mm (8.7 in)
1967	110.0 mm (4.3 in)
1968	75.5 mm (3.0 in)
1969	75.1 mm (3.0 in)
1970	61.2 mm (2.4 in)
1971	118.5 mm (4.7 in)
1972	67.5 mm (2.7 in)
1973	131.5 mm (5.2 in)
1974	66.5 mm (2.6 in)
1975	88.9 mm (3.5 in)
1976	107.0 mm (4.2 in)
1977	182.0 mm (7.2 in)
1978	98.1 mm (3.9 in)
1979	70.5 mm (2.8 in)
1980	94.5 mm (3.7 in)
1981	83.0 mm (3.3 in)
1982	121.5 mm (4.8 in)
1983	65.0 mm (2.6 in)
1984	72.0 mm (2.8 in)
1985	105.0 mm (4.1 in)
1986	72.5 mm (2.9 in)
1987	84.0 mm (3.3 in)
1988	93.5 mm (3.7 in)
1989	98.5 mm (3.9 in)
1990	69.0 mm (2.7 in)
1991	80.0 mm (3.1 in)
1992	78.0 mm (3.1 in)
1993	78.5 mm (3.1 in)
1994	137.0 mm (5.4 in)
1995	87.6 mm (3.4 in)
1996	77.0 mm (3.0 in)
1997	103.3 mm (4.1 in)

Longest dry spell (CDD)

The longest dry spell of the year at Potchefstroom Upper, 1918 to 1997. The record is 187 days in 1941, marked on the chart; the median year is 85 days.

Longest dry spell (CDD) at Potchefstroom Upper by year
Year	Longest dry spell (CDD)
1918	61 days
1919	116 days
1920	113 days
1921	85 days
1922	69 days
1923	45 days
1924	84 days
1925	51 days
1926	54 days
1927	115 days
1928	119 days
1929	63 days
1930	57 days
1931	85 days
1932	103 days
1933	130 days
1934	51 days
1935	110 days
1936	142 days
1937	177 days
1938	69 days
1939	42 days
1940	25 days
1941	187 days
1942	67 days
1943	40 days
1944	96 days
1945	146 days
1946	62 days
1947	120 days
1948	126 days
1949	53 days
1950	79 days
1951	53 days
1952	86 days
1953	143 days
1954	89 days
1955	72 days
1956	109 days
1957	44 days
1958	84 days
1959	33 days
1960	52 days
1961	61 days
1962	109 days
1963	61 days
1964	68 days
1965	70 days
1966	81 days
1967	76 days
1968	91 days
1969	121 days
1970	73 days
1971	171 days
1972	185 days
1973	113 days
1974	131 days
1975	100 days
1976	103 days
1977	141 days
1978	116 days
1979	40 days
1980	138 days
1981	148 days
1982	65 days
1983	72 days
1984	47 days
1985	137 days
1986	50 days
1987	140 days
1988	61 days
1989	82 days
1990	150 days
1991	95 days
1992	75 days
1993	134 days
1994	86 days
1995	101 days
1996	41 days
1997	59 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

78 years, 1919 to 1997

A day with at least 53.5 mm (2.1 in) of rain is expected about once in 2 years. A day with at least 146.9 mm (5.8 in) of rain is expected about once in 100 years.

Rainfall return levels at Potchefstroom Upper: the daily rain expected about once in a given number of years
Expected about once in	A day with at least	Note
2 years	53.5 mm (2.1 in)
5 years	72.4 mm (2.9 in)
10 years	87.1 mm (3.4 in)
25 years	108.4 mm (4.3 in)
50 years	126.6 mm (5.0 in)
100 years	146.9 mm (5.8 in)	Longer than the 78 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, 78 years of values from 1919 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: 185.7 mm (7.3 in) in 1943; 144.8 mm (5.7 in) in 1923; 118.0 mm (4.6 in) in 1994.

Download the Data

Data for Potchefstroom Upper standing records by year: CSV or JSON. Field meanings are on the data page.
Data for Potchefstroom Upper 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 2026-10-16 (16 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).

Days with data per year at Potchefstroom Upper
Year	Days with data	Share of year	Complete
1982	275	75%	No
1983	265	73%	No
1984	228	62%	No
1985	120	33%	No
1986	153	42%	No
1987	87	24%	No
1988	98	27%	No