Potchefstroom Weather Records (SF004371040)

Record envelope, standing records and threshold days for Potchefstroom (SF004371040), South Africa, with 124 years of record.

Key Facts for Potchefstroom

Potchefstroom (SF004371040) is a weather station in South Africa at -26.73 latitude and 27.07 longitude, 1,351 m (4,432 ft) above sea level.
The station reports from 1903 to 2026, 124 years of record.
1,464 records set at Potchefstroom still stand.
Records are tracked for prcp: an element needs 30 years of data to be eligible.
Potchefstroom set a daily record precipitation of 26.0 mm (1.0 in) on 4 September 2026 (provisional).

Provisional Records

Records set in the last 60 days are provisional until they clear the revision window.

About the Station

Location: South Africa, -26.73 latitude, 27.07 longitude.
Elevation: 1,351 m (4,432 ft).
Period of record: 1903 to 2026, 124 years.
Eligible elements: prcp.

Daily Record Envelope and 2026

2 days at or beyond a record

The band shows the record high and record low for each calendar day at Potchefstroom. The lines show the 2026 daily maximum and minimum. 2 days in 2026 matched or passed a record. Temperatures are in degrees Celsius.

Daily record high and record low at Potchefstroom, with 2026 drawn through them
Month	Highest record high	Lowest record low	2026 highest maximum	2026 lowest minimum
Jan	40.8 C (105.4 F)	7.3 C (45.1 F)	35.3 C (95.5 F)	12.7 C (54.9 F)
Feb	38.6 C (101.5 F)	8.4 C (47.1 F)	32.7 C (90.9 F)	12.1 C (53.8 F)
Mar	39.5 C (103.1 F)	3.0 C (37.4 F)	29.6 C (85.3 F)	10.7 C (51.3 F)
Apr	35.7 C (96.3 F)	-1.9 C (28.6 F)	26.8 C (80.2 F)	5.0 C (41.0 F)
May	32.1 C (89.8 F)	-7.3 C (18.9 F)	24.5 C (76.1 F)	2.3 C (36.1 F)
Jun	28.1 C (82.6 F)	-9.3 C (15.3 F)	23.1 C (73.6 F)	-0.5 C (31.1 F)
Jul	29.2 C (84.6 F)	-9.2 C (15.4 F)	22.0 C (71.6 F)	-2.6 C (27.3 F)
Aug	33.8 C (92.8 F)	-7.7 C (18.1 F)	28.6 C (83.5 F)	0.6 C (33.1 F)
Sep	35.4 C (95.7 F)	-5.5 C (22.1 F)	28.3 C (82.9 F)	8.6 C (47.5 F)
Oct	41.3 C (106.3 F)	-0.9 C (30.4 F)	30.2 C (86.4 F)	10.1 C (50.2 F)
Nov	41.9 C (107.4 F)	0.0 C (32.0 F)	n/a	n/a
Dec	40.1 C (104.2 F)	7.7 C (45.9 F)	n/a	n/a

Which Years Hold Standing Records

1,464 standing records

1,464 records at Potchefstroom still stand. 2024 holds the most, with 98.

Standing records at Potchefstroom by the year they were set
Year set	Standing records
1980	1
1981	1
1982	2
1984	1
1987	1
1988	4
1989	3
1993	1
1994	2
1995	1
1997	29
1998	47
1999	55
2000	49
2001	80
2002	62
2003	56
2004	44
2005	22
2006	35
2007	37
2008	21
2009	22
2010	31
2011	56
2012	75
2013	67
2014	37
2015	63
2016	45
2017	44
2018	62
2019	46
2020	38
2021	40
2022	24
2023	51
2024	98
2025	60
2026	51

All-Time Record Progression

1 new records

1 all-time records were set at Potchefstroom between 12 December 1943 and 12 December 1943. Each dot is a new record.

Wettest Day of Each Month

Dec: 140.5 mm (5.5 in)

The wettest day on record for each calendar month at Potchefstroom. The most was 140.5 mm (5.5 in) on 12 December 1943.

Record daily precipitation for each month at Potchefstroom
Month	Record daily precipitation (mm)	Date
Jan	81.3 mm (3.2 in)	24 January 1948
Feb	106.2 mm (4.2 in)	14 February 1920
Mar	64.5 mm (2.5 in)	10 March 1921
Apr	73.0 mm (2.9 in)	13 April 1965
May	47.0 mm (1.9 in)	25 May 1997
Jun	61.5 mm (2.4 in)	13 June 1944
Jul	69.1 mm (2.7 in)	23 July 2021
Aug	103.1 mm (4.1 in)	5 August 1998
Sep	53.3 mm (2.1 in)	25 September 1940
Oct	100.0 mm (3.9 in)	29 October 1995
Nov	82.8 mm (3.3 in)	3 November 1939
Dec	140.5 mm (5.5 in)	12 December 1943

Period of Record Coverage

1982 to 2026

42 years of record at Potchefstroom, 1982 to 2026. 24 years have data for under 90 percent of days and are left out of rankings: 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989 and others.

Days with data per year at Potchefstroom
Year	Days with data	Share of year	Complete
1982	20	5%	No
1983	11	3%	No
1984	6	2%	No
1985	7	2%	No
1986	4	1%	No
1987	11	3%	No
1988	21	6%	No
1989	13	4%	No
1990	4	1%	No
1993	1	0%	No
1994	7	2%	No
1995	6	2%	No
1997	174	48%	No
1998	303	83%	No
1999	313	86%	No
2000	299	82%	No
2001	211	58%	No
2002	335	92%	Yes
2003	336	92%	Yes
2004	354	97%	Yes
2005	356	98%	Yes
2006	283	78%	No
2007	329	90%	Yes
2008	348	95%	Yes
2009	289	79%	No
2010	280	77%	No
2011	337	92%	Yes
2012	347	95%	Yes
2013	345	95%	Yes
2014	346	95%	Yes
2015	358	98%	Yes
2016	359	98%	Yes
2017	353	97%	Yes
2018	355	97%	Yes
2019	346	95%	Yes
2020	354	97%	Yes
2021	186	51%	No
2022	214	59%	No
2023	330	90%	Yes
2024	333	91%	Yes
2025	197	54%	No
2026	230	63%	No

Latest Records

Latest records at Potchefstroom
Date	Station	Record	Value	Beat old record by	Old record stood	Significance
4 September 2026	Potchefstroom, ZA	daily rain (Provisional)	26.0 mm (1.0 in)	18.9 mm (0.7 in)	11 years	34 of 100 (Routine)
11 August 2026	Potchefstroom, ZA	daily rain	14.4 mm (0.6 in)	1.2 mm (0.05 in)	84 years	20 of 100 (Routine)
12 November 2024	Potchefstroom, ZA	daily rain	26.9 mm (1.1 in)	1.0 mm (0.04 in)	28 years	19 of 100 (Routine)
8 May 2023	Potchefstroom, ZA	daily rain	10.9 mm (0.4 in)	0.7 mm (0.03 in)	24 years	18 of 100 (Routine)
23 July 2021	Potchefstroom, ZA	monthly rain	69.1 mm (2.7 in)	30.0 mm (1.2 in)	4 years	56 of 100 (Notable)
30 April 2021	Potchefstroom, ZA	daily rain	19.1 mm (0.8 in)	5.1 mm (0.20 in)	26 years	20 of 100 (Routine)
11 November 2020	Potchefstroom, ZA	daily rain	55.9 mm (2.2 in)	31.0 mm (1.2 in)	77 years	64 of 100 (Major)
3 September 2020	Potchefstroom, ZA	daily rain	7.1 mm (0.28 in)	2.9 mm (0.11 in)	30 years	20 of 100 (Routine)
6 April 2019	Potchefstroom, ZA	daily rain	25.9 mm (1.0 in)	11.9 mm (0.5 in)	10 years	25 of 100 (Routine)
22 February 2017	Potchefstroom, ZA	daily rain	58.9 mm (2.3 in)	31.9 mm (1.3 in)	57 years	53 of 100 (Notable)
28 December 2016	Potchefstroom, ZA	daily rain	35.1 mm (1.4 in)	1.6 mm (0.06 in)	80 years	35 of 100 (Notable)
26 July 2016	Potchefstroom, ZA	monthly rain	39.1 mm (1.5 in)	4.8 mm (0.19 in)	97 years	54 of 100 (Notable)
5 September 2015	Potchefstroom, ZA	daily rain	21.1 mm (0.8 in)	16.5 mm (0.6 in)	2 years	20 of 100 (Routine)
4 September 2015	Potchefstroom, ZA	daily rain	7.1 mm (0.28 in)	6.8 mm (0.27 in)	102 years	20 of 100 (Routine)
10 January 2015	Potchefstroom, ZA	daily rain	46.0 mm (1.8 in)	19.1 mm (0.8 in)	8 years	30 of 100 (Routine)
14 December 2014	Potchefstroom, ZA	daily rain	51.1 mm (2.0 in)	17.6 mm (0.7 in)	17 years	30 of 100 (Routine)
24 December 2013	Potchefstroom, ZA	daily rain	50.0 mm (2.0 in)	10.6 mm (0.4 in)	104 years	49 of 100 (Notable)
20 April 2013	Potchefstroom, ZA	daily rain	38.4 mm (1.5 in)	0.9 mm (0.04 in)	52 years	25 of 100 (Routine)
19 April 2013	Potchefstroom, ZA	daily rain	23.1 mm (0.9 in)	5.8 mm (0.23 in)	67 years	20 of 100 (Routine)
26 March 2013	Potchefstroom, ZA	daily rain	36.8 mm (1.4 in)	12.9 mm (0.5 in)	79 years	46 of 100 (Notable)

Climate Trend

14 complete years, 2002 to 2024

One stripe for each of 14 complete years at Potchefstroom, 2002 to 2024. Blue stripes are years cooler than the station's own mean of 19.1 C (66.3 F); red stripes are warmer. The coolest year was 2002, at 17.9 C (64.1 F), and the warmest was 2012, at 19.8 C (67.6 F). The strongest colour marks a difference of 1.3 C (2.3 F).

Annual mean temperature at Potchefstroom as warming stripes, 2002 to 2024
Year	Annual mean temperature	Difference from the station mean
2002	17.9 C	-1.21 C
2003	19.1 C	+0.08 C
2004	18.4 C	-0.71 C
2012	19.8 C	+0.71 C
2013	19.5 C	+0.45 C
2014	18.3 C	-0.75 C
2015	19.2 C	+0.15 C
2016	19.4 C	+0.31 C
2017	18.9 C	-0.14 C
2018	19.4 C	+0.31 C
2019	19.7 C	+0.64 C
2020	18.5 C	-0.56 C
2023	19.2 C	+0.13 C
2024	19.6 C	+0.56 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

1903 to 2026

Yearly extremes at Potchefstroom: the record and the median year
Measure	Record	Year of the record	Median year	Years with a value
Hottest day (TXx)	41.9 C (107.4 F)	2021	35.7 C (96.3 F)	42
Coldest night (TNn)	-9.3 C (15.3 F)	2010	-5.1 C (22.7 F)	44
Wettest day (Rx1day)	140.5 mm (5.5 in)	1943	47.8 mm (1.9 in)	121
Wettest five days (Rx5day)	206.5 mm (8.1 in)	1943	81.7 mm (3.2 in)	112
Longest dry spell (CDD)	166 days	1916	60 days	120

Hottest day (TXx)

The hottest day of the year at Potchefstroom, 1903 to 2026. The record is 41.9 C (107.4 F) in 2021, marked on the chart; the median year is 35.7 C (96.3 F).

Hottest day (TXx) at Potchefstroom by year
Year	Hottest day (TXx)
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
1977	n/a
1978	n/a
1979	n/a
1980	n/a
1981	n/a
1982	34.3 C (93.7 F)
1983	35.2 C (95.4 F)
1984	28.3 C (82.9 F)
1985	34.2 C (93.6 F)
1986	22.3 C (72.1 F)
1987	29.6 C (85.3 F)
1988	35.2 C (95.4 F)
1989	33.6 C (92.5 F)
1990	32.0 C (89.6 F)
1991	n/a
1992	n/a
1993	23.0 C (73.4 F)
1994	31.5 C (88.7 F)
1995	33.5 C (92.3 F)
1996	n/a
1997	36.0 C (96.8 F)
1998	34.8 C (94.6 F)
1999	38.1 C (100.6 F)
2000	34.4 C (93.9 F)
2001	36.9 C (98.4 F)
2002	35.7 C (96.3 F)
2003	41.3 C (106.3 F)
2004	35.7 C (96.3 F)
2005	36.8 C (98.2 F)
2006	31.8 C (89.2 F)
2007	36.4 C (97.5 F)
2008	35.6 C (96.1 F)
2009	35.4 C (95.7 F)
2010	34.3 C (93.7 F)
2011	38.3 C (100.9 F)
2012	39.4 C (102.9 F)
2013	38.6 C (101.5 F)
2014	36.5 C (97.7 F)
2015	39.9 C (103.8 F)
2016	40.8 C (105.4 F)
2017	36.4 C (97.5 F)
2018	40.1 C (104.2 F)
2019	38.5 C (101.3 F)
2020	37.5 C (99.5 F)
2021	41.9 C (107.4 F)
2022	35.8 C (96.4 F)
2023	39.1 C (102.4 F)
2024	39.5 C (103.1 F)
2025	33.6 C (92.5 F)
2026	35.3 C (95.5 F)

Coldest night (TNn)

The coldest night of the year at Potchefstroom, 1903 to 2026. The record is -9.3 C (15.3 F) in 2010, marked on the chart; the median year is -5.1 C (22.7 F).

Coldest night (TNn) at Potchefstroom by year
Year	Coldest night (TNn)
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
1977	n/a
1978	n/a
1979	n/a
1980	-6.0 C (21.2 F)
1981	-3.0 C (26.6 F)
1982	-0.6 C (30.9 F)
1983	-2.0 C (28.4 F)
1984	-3.1 C (26.4 F)
1985	-2.0 C (28.4 F)
1986	-2.0 C (28.4 F)
1987	-0.5 C (31.1 F)
1988	-2.3 C (27.9 F)
1989	-3.4 C (25.9 F)
1990	13.6 C (56.5 F)
1991	n/a
1992	n/a
1993	16.3 C (61.3 F)
1994	-5.3 C (22.5 F)
1995	8.5 C (47.3 F)
1996	n/a
1997	-3.5 C (25.7 F)
1998	-6.8 C (19.8 F)
1999	-5.0 C (23.0 F)
2000	-8.0 C (17.6 F)
2001	-5.0 C (23.0 F)
2002	-7.9 C (17.8 F)
2003	-7.7 C (18.1 F)
2004	-6.8 C (19.8 F)
2005	-6.0 C (21.2 F)
2006	-3.1 C (26.4 F)
2007	-7.3 C (18.9 F)
2008	-8.5 C (16.7 F)
2009	-5.4 C (22.3 F)
2010	-9.3 C (15.3 F)
2011	-7.2 C (19.0 F)
2012	-7.2 C (19.0 F)
2013	-5.5 C (22.1 F)
2014	-9.2 C (15.4 F)
2015	-7.0 C (19.4 F)
2016	-4.3 C (24.3 F)
2017	-4.6 C (23.7 F)
2018	-6.7 C (19.9 F)
2019	-5.2 C (22.6 F)
2020	-7.8 C (18.0 F)
2021	-8.6 C (16.5 F)
2022	-4.0 C (24.8 F)
2023	-5.1 C (22.8 F)
2024	-7.8 C (18.0 F)
2025	-4.0 C (24.8 F)
2026	-2.6 C (27.3 F)

Wettest day (Rx1day)

The wettest day of the year at Potchefstroom, 1903 to 2026. The record is 140.5 mm (5.5 in) in 1943, marked on the chart; the median year is 47.8 mm (1.9 in).

Wettest day (Rx1day) at Potchefstroom by year
Year	Wettest day (Rx1day)
1903	25.4 mm (1.0 in)
1904	52.1 mm (2.1 in)
1905	42.7 mm (1.7 in)
1906	50.5 mm (2.0 in)
1907	56.6 mm (2.2 in)
1908	26.2 mm (1.0 in)
1909	39.4 mm (1.6 in)
1910	48.8 mm (1.9 in)
1911	48.3 mm (1.9 in)
1912	50.3 mm (2.0 in)
1913	75.2 mm (3.0 in)
1914	63.0 mm (2.5 in)
1915	48.3 mm (1.9 in)
1916	27.7 mm (1.1 in)
1917	69.8 mm (2.7 in)
1918	46.7 mm (1.8 in)
1919	37.6 mm (1.5 in)
1920	106.2 mm (4.2 in)
1921	64.5 mm (2.5 in)
1922	73.2 mm (2.9 in)
1923	51.6 mm (2.0 in)
1924	37.6 mm (1.5 in)
1925	47.0 mm (1.9 in)
1926	47.8 mm (1.9 in)
1927	34.0 mm (1.3 in)
1928	43.4 mm (1.7 in)
1929	54.6 mm (2.1 in)
1930	65.0 mm (2.6 in)
1931	52.8 mm (2.1 in)
1932	47.2 mm (1.9 in)
1933	46.0 mm (1.8 in)
1934	48.3 mm (1.9 in)
1935	74.4 mm (2.9 in)
1936	63.8 mm (2.5 in)
1937	35.8 mm (1.4 in)
1938	37.1 mm (1.5 in)
1939	82.8 mm (3.3 in)
1940	57.4 mm (2.3 in)
1941	23.9 mm (0.9 in)
1942	52.1 mm (2.1 in)
1943	140.5 mm (5.5 in)
1944	61.5 mm (2.4 in)
1945	43.7 mm (1.7 in)
1946	62.7 mm (2.5 in)
1947	43.7 mm (1.7 in)
1948	81.3 mm (3.2 in)
1949	45.7 mm (1.8 in)
1950	43.7 mm (1.7 in)
1951	78.5 mm (3.1 in)
1952	62.2 mm (2.4 in)
1953	78.2 mm (3.1 in)
1954	76.5 mm (3.0 in)
1955	64.0 mm (2.5 in)
1956	51.5 mm (2.0 in)
1957	57.9 mm (2.3 in)
1958	37.0 mm (1.5 in)
1959	51.5 mm (2.0 in)
1960	74.0 mm (2.9 in)
1961	72.0 mm (2.8 in)
1962	58.0 mm (2.3 in)
1963	31.2 mm (1.2 in)
1964	46.0 mm (1.8 in)
1965	73.0 mm (2.9 in)
1966	46.2 mm (1.8 in)
1967	25.5 mm (1.0 in)
1968	47.5 mm (1.9 in)
1969	53.5 mm (2.1 in)
1970	35.0 mm (1.4 in)
1971	52.8 mm (2.1 in)
1972	55.0 mm (2.2 in)
1973	57.0 mm (2.2 in)
1974	26.0 mm (1.0 in)
1977	0.0 mm (0.00 in)
1978	23.1 mm (0.9 in)
1979	17.0 mm (0.7 in)
1980	0.0 mm (0.00 in)
1981	2.0 mm (0.08 in)
1982	13.2 mm (0.5 in)
1983	11.9 mm (0.5 in)
1984	56.7 mm (2.2 in)
1985	24.0 mm (0.9 in)
1986	51.8 mm (2.0 in)
1987	26.2 mm (1.0 in)
1988	4.6 mm (0.18 in)
1989	44.0 mm (1.7 in)
1990	57.3 mm (2.3 in)
1991	43.0 mm (1.7 in)
1992	48.8 mm (1.9 in)
1993	26.4 mm (1.0 in)
1994	92.2 mm (3.6 in)
1995	100.0 mm (3.9 in)
1996	64.0 mm (2.5 in)
1997	47.0 mm (1.9 in)
1998	103.1 mm (4.1 in)
1999	15.0 mm (0.6 in)
2000	27.2 mm (1.1 in)
2001	36.6 mm (1.4 in)
2002	67.8 mm (2.7 in)
2003	39.6 mm (1.6 in)
2004	42.4 mm (1.7 in)
2005	41.9 mm (1.6 in)
2006	39.1 mm (1.5 in)
2007	34.3 mm (1.4 in)
2008	33.0 mm (1.3 in)
2009	37.1 mm (1.5 in)
2010	65.5 mm (2.6 in)
2011	64.5 mm (2.5 in)
2012	57.2 mm (2.3 in)
2013	50.0 mm (2.0 in)
2014	51.1 mm (2.0 in)
2015	46.0 mm (1.8 in)
2016	39.9 mm (1.6 in)
2017	58.9 mm (2.3 in)
2018	20.1 mm (0.8 in)
2019	37.1 mm (1.5 in)
2020	55.9 mm (2.2 in)
2021	69.1 mm (2.7 in)
2022	32.0 mm (1.3 in)
2023	25.9 mm (1.0 in)
2024	26.9 mm (1.1 in)
2025	n/a
2026	26.0 mm (1.0 in)

Wettest five days (Rx5day)

The wettest five days of the year at Potchefstroom, 1903 to 2026. The record is 206.5 mm (8.1 in) in 1943, marked on the chart; the median year is 81.7 mm (3.2 in).

Wettest five days (Rx5day) at Potchefstroom by year
Year	Wettest five days (Rx5day)
1903	37.6 mm (1.5 in)
1904	117.4 mm (4.6 in)
1905	70.8 mm (2.8 in)
1906	70.6 mm (2.8 in)
1907	139.7 mm (5.5 in)
1908	42.7 mm (1.7 in)
1909	103.1 mm (4.1 in)
1910	92.5 mm (3.6 in)
1911	94.3 mm (3.7 in)
1912	92.7 mm (3.6 in)
1913	125.6 mm (4.9 in)
1914	106.2 mm (4.2 in)
1915	87.1 mm (3.4 in)
1916	63.8 mm (2.5 in)
1917	117.7 mm (4.6 in)
1918	99.9 mm (3.9 in)
1919	65.8 mm (2.6 in)
1920	113.6 mm (4.5 in)
1921	131.9 mm (5.2 in)
1922	99.7 mm (3.9 in)
1923	81.3 mm (3.2 in)
1924	69.1 mm (2.7 in)
1925	92.7 mm (3.6 in)
1926	77.3 mm (3.0 in)
1927	74.2 mm (2.9 in)
1928	84.1 mm (3.3 in)
1929	94.6 mm (3.7 in)
1930	100.4 mm (4.0 in)
1931	81.3 mm (3.2 in)
1932	78.7 mm (3.1 in)
1933	72.2 mm (2.8 in)
1934	70.4 mm (2.8 in)
1935	85.1 mm (3.4 in)
1936	93.3 mm (3.7 in)
1937	50.0 mm (2.0 in)
1938	63.3 mm (2.5 in)
1939	91.5 mm (3.6 in)
1940	86.9 mm (3.4 in)
1941	55.5 mm (2.2 in)
1942	72.2 mm (2.8 in)
1943	206.5 mm (8.1 in)
1944	154.2 mm (6.1 in)
1945	96.8 mm (3.8 in)
1946	98.0 mm (3.9 in)
1947	72.7 mm (2.9 in)
1948	93.3 mm (3.7 in)
1949	49.8 mm (2.0 in)
1950	91.7 mm (3.6 in)
1951	106.7 mm (4.2 in)
1952	143.4 mm (5.6 in)
1953	101.1 mm (4.0 in)
1954	88.5 mm (3.5 in)
1955	104.0 mm (4.1 in)
1956	83.5 mm (3.3 in)
1957	83.6 mm (3.3 in)
1958	59.0 mm (2.3 in)
1959	68.0 mm (2.7 in)
1960	87.2 mm (3.4 in)
1961	72.0 mm (2.8 in)
1962	63.0 mm (2.5 in)
1963	59.0 mm (2.3 in)
1964	62.6 mm (2.5 in)
1965	93.6 mm (3.7 in)
1966	121.3 mm (4.8 in)
1967	68.8 mm (2.7 in)
1968	83.4 mm (3.3 in)
1969	55.9 mm (2.2 in)
1970	63.6 mm (2.5 in)
1971	92.0 mm (3.6 in)
1972	80.5 mm (3.2 in)
1973	86.5 mm (3.4 in)
1974	54.3 mm (2.1 in)
1977	n/a
1978	n/a
1979	n/a
1980	n/a
1981	n/a
1982	n/a
1983	n/a
1984	61.2 mm (2.4 in)
1985	64.0 mm (2.5 in)
1986	60.8 mm (2.4 in)
1987	n/a
1988	n/a
1989	75.0 mm (3.0 in)
1990	71.3 mm (2.8 in)
1991	66.7 mm (2.6 in)
1992	96.2 mm (3.8 in)
1993	54.9 mm (2.2 in)
1994	111.2 mm (4.4 in)
1995	115.0 mm (4.5 in)
1996	123.8 mm (4.9 in)
1997	104.4 mm (4.1 in)
1998	95.0 mm (3.7 in)
1999	24.7 mm (1.0 in)
2000	73.7 mm (2.9 in)
2001	88.7 mm (3.5 in)
2002	101.6 mm (4.0 in)
2003	75.2 mm (3.0 in)
2004	84.3 mm (3.3 in)
2005	89.7 mm (3.5 in)
2006	95.5 mm (3.8 in)
2007	47.2 mm (1.9 in)
2008	82.1 mm (3.2 in)
2009	56.5 mm (2.2 in)
2010	124.5 mm (4.9 in)
2011	93.7 mm (3.7 in)
2012	30.3 mm (1.2 in)
2013	68.0 mm (2.7 in)
2014	63.0 mm (2.5 in)
2015	47.2 mm (1.9 in)
2016	67.4 mm (2.7 in)
2017	129.3 mm (5.1 in)
2018	49.3 mm (1.9 in)
2019	55.1 mm (2.2 in)
2020	75.2 mm (3.0 in)
2021	29.5 mm (1.2 in)
2022	73.3 mm (2.9 in)
2023	39.2 mm (1.5 in)
2024	76.7 mm (3.0 in)
2025	n/a
2026	51.2 mm (2.0 in)

Longest dry spell (CDD)

The longest dry spell of the year at Potchefstroom, 1903 to 2026. The record is 166 days in 1916, marked on the chart; the median year is 60 days.

Longest dry spell (CDD) at Potchefstroom by year
Year	Longest dry spell (CDD)
1903	112 days
1904	97 days
1905	79 days
1906	152 days
1907	103 days
1908	71 days
1909	44 days
1910	89 days
1911	70 days
1912	58 days
1913	107 days
1914	52 days
1915	53 days
1916	166 days
1917	50 days
1918	61 days
1919	133 days
1920	136 days
1921	123 days
1922	69 days
1923	60 days
1924	84 days
1925	51 days
1926	53 days
1927	115 days
1928	67 days
1929	61 days
1930	52 days
1931	94 days
1932	104 days
1933	130 days
1934	30 days
1935	110 days
1936	140 days
1937	146 days
1938	55 days
1939	44 days
1940	100 days
1941	149 days
1942	55 days
1943	38 days
1944	94 days
1945	87 days
1946	130 days
1947	124 days
1948	127 days
1949	49 days
1950	71 days
1951	52 days
1952	39 days
1953	143 days
1954	88 days
1955	148 days
1956	108 days
1957	43 days
1958	84 days
1959	77 days
1960	76 days
1961	110 days
1962	144 days
1963	72 days
1964	63 days
1965	61 days
1966	83 days
1967	76 days
1968	91 days
1969	59 days
1970	72 days
1971	44 days
1972	116 days
1973	112 days
1974	89 days
1977	1 day
1978	1 day
1979	2 days
1980	1 day
1981	1 day
1982	1 day
1983	1 day
1984	8 days
1985	137 days
1986	49 days
1987	n/a
1988	1 day
1989	66 days
1990	78 days
1991	97 days
1992	53 days
1993	132 days
1994	62 days
1995	102 days
1996	40 days
1997	46 days
1998	13 days
1999	4 days
2000	4 days
2001	2 days
2002	12 days
2003	18 days
2004	25 days
2005	30 days
2006	3 days
2007	3 days
2008	3 days
2009	3 days
2010	3 days
2011	3 days
2012	4 days
2013	3 days
2014	5 days
2015	3 days
2016	4 days
2017	3 days
2018	3 days
2019	4 days
2020	3 days
2021	4 days
2022	3 days
2023	2 days
2024	3 days
2025	n/a
2026	16 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, 1903 to 1996

A day with at least 51.0 mm (2.0 in) of rain is expected about once in 2 years. A day with at least 112.5 mm (4.4 in) of rain is expected about once in 100 years.

Rainfall return levels at Potchefstroom: the daily rain expected about once in a given number of years
Expected about once in	A day with at least	Note
2 years	51.0 mm (2.0 in)
5 years	67.7 mm (2.7 in)
10 years	78.6 mm (3.1 in)
25 years	92.4 mm (3.6 in)
50 years	102.5 mm (4.0 in)
100 years	112.5 mm (4.4 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 1903 to 1996.

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: 140.5 mm (5.5 in) in 1943; 106.2 mm (4.2 in) in 1920; 100.0 mm (3.9 in) in 1995.

Download the Data

Data for Potchefstroom standing records by year: CSV or JSON. Field meanings are on the data page.
Data for Potchefstroom 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 2026-10-14. Last revised 14 October 2026 (2026-10-14).