Record envelope, standing records and threshold days for Bethlehem (SFM00068461), South Africa, with 46 years of record.
Key Facts for Bethlehem
Bethlehem (SFM00068461) is a weather station in South Africa at -28.25 latitude and 28.34 longitude, 1,695 m (5,561 ft) above sea level.
The station reports from 1980 to 2025, 46 years of record.
1,464 records set at Bethlehem still stand.
Records are tracked for tmax, tmin: an element needs 30 years of data to be eligible.
Bethlehem set a monthly record high maximum temperature of 28.8 C (83.8 F) on 14 August 2025.
About the Station
Location: South Africa, -28.25 latitude, 28.34 longitude.
Elevation: 1,695 m (5,561 ft).
Period of record: 1980 to 2025, 46 years.
Eligible elements: tmax, tmin.
Daily Record Envelope and 2026
11 days at or beyond a record
Record highRecord low2026 daily maximum2026 daily minimum
The band shows the record high and record low for each calendar day at Bethlehem. The lines show the 2026 daily maximum and minimum. 11 days in 2026 matched or passed a record. Temperatures are in degrees Celsius.
Daily record high and record low at Bethlehem, with 2026 drawn through them
Month
Highest record high
Lowest record low
2026 highest maximum
2026 lowest minimum
Jan
37.4 C (99.3 F)
3.8 C (38.8 F)
37.2 C (99.0 F)
10.5 C (50.9 F)
Feb
36.8 C (98.2 F)
1.8 C (35.2 F)
n/a
n/a
Mar
36.9 C (98.4 F)
0.0 C (32.0 F)
33.4 C (92.1 F)
10.2 C (50.4 F)
Apr
32.6 C (90.7 F)
-4.0 C (24.8 F)
24.7 C (76.5 F)
2.2 C (36.0 F)
May
32.6 C (90.7 F)
-10.0 C (14.0 F)
32.6 C (90.7 F)
-5.5 C (22.1 F)
Jun
27.9 C (82.2 F)
-9.3 C (15.3 F)
27.9 C (82.2 F)
-7.4 C (18.7 F)
Jul
25.2 C (77.4 F)
-12.5 C (9.5 F)
21.7 C (71.1 F)
-6.2 C (20.8 F)
Aug
28.8 C (83.8 F)
-10.2 C (13.6 F)
28.8 C (83.8 F)
-5.8 C (21.6 F)
Sep
31.3 C (88.3 F)
-6.8 C (19.8 F)
n/a
n/a
Oct
34.5 C (94.1 F)
-2.9 C (26.8 F)
n/a
n/a
Nov
35.7 C (96.3 F)
0.2 C (32.4 F)
n/a
n/a
Dec
40.1 C (104.2 F)
1.1 C (34.0 F)
n/a
n/a
Which Years Hold Standing Records
1,464 standing records
Year with most
1,464 records at Bethlehem still stand. 2024 holds the most, with 115.
Standing records at Bethlehem by the year they were set
Year set
Standing records
1980
3
1981
15
1982
17
1983
23
1984
19
1985
17
1986
21
1987
38
1988
39
1989
21
1990
14
1991
15
1992
37
1993
23
1994
37
1995
38
1996
43
1997
36
1998
44
1999
15
2000
31
2001
33
2002
35
2003
31
2004
24
2005
21
2006
29
2007
38
2008
20
2009
29
2010
32
2011
26
2012
46
2013
28
2014
30
2015
65
2016
47
2017
22
2018
27
2019
39
2020
47
2021
37
2022
43
2023
34
2024
115
2025
20
All-Time Record Progression
6 new records
6 all-time records were set at Bethlehem between 2 December 2015 and 31 December 2024. Each dot is a new record.
When Bethlehem set new all-time records
Date
Kind
Detail
2015-12-02
Record high minimum temperature
Record high minimum temperature 19.0 C (66.2 F)
2016-01-06
Record high maximum temperature
Record high maximum temperature 37.4 C (99.3 F)
2024-12-08
Record high maximum temperature
Record high maximum temperature 38.8 C (101.8 F)
2024-12-09
Record high minimum temperature
Record high minimum temperature 20.5 C (68.9 F)
2024-12-10
Record high maximum temperature
Record high maximum temperature 40.1 C (104.2 F)
2024-12-31
Record high minimum temperature
Record high minimum temperature 20.7 C (69.3 F)
Wettest Day of Each Month
Nov: 115.6 mm (4.6 in)
The wettest day on record for each calendar month at Bethlehem. The most was 115.6 mm (4.6 in) on 9 November 1992.
Record daily precipitation for each month at Bethlehem
Month
Record daily precipitation (mm)
Date
Jan
71.1 mm (2.8 in)
1 January 1998
Feb
101.6 mm (4.0 in)
3 February 1994
Mar
56.9 mm (2.2 in)
11 March 1988
Apr
43.2 mm (1.7 in)
14 April 1990
May
23.9 mm (0.9 in)
11 May 2016
Jun
24.9 mm (1.0 in)
14 June 2002
Jul
46.0 mm (1.8 in)
15 July 1991
Aug
48.8 mm (1.9 in)
30 August 1986
Sep
43.2 mm (1.7 in)
29 September 1987
Oct
64.5 mm (2.5 in)
3 October 1993
Nov
115.6 mm (4.6 in)
9 November 1992
Dec
72.9 mm (2.9 in)
11 December 1990
Period of Record Coverage
1981 to 2025
Complete yearUnder 90 percent of days
45 years of record at Bethlehem, 1981 to 2025. 9 years have data for under 90 percent of days and are left out of rankings: 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992 and others.
Cooler than the station meanWarmer than the station mean
One stripe for each of 31 complete years at Bethlehem, 1986 to 2024. Blue stripes are years cooler than the station's own mean of 15.1 C (59.2 F); red stripes are warmer. The coolest year was 1996, at 13.8 C (56.9 F), and the warmest was 2015, at 16.6 C (61.9 F). The strongest colour marks a difference of 1.5 C (2.7 F).
Annual mean temperature at Bethlehem as warming stripes, 1986 to 2024
Year
Annual mean temperature
Difference from the station mean
1986
14.6 C
-0.50 C
1993
14.7 C
-0.44 C
1994
14.0 C
-1.16 C
1995
14.6 C
-0.57 C
1996
13.8 C
-1.31 C
1997
14.4 C
-0.68 C
1998
15.4 C
+0.29 C
1999
15.2 C
+0.05 C
2000
14.3 C
-0.84 C
2001
14.5 C
-0.64 C
2002
14.6 C
-0.55 C
2003
15.7 C
+0.60 C
2004
15.2 C
+0.07 C
2005
15.1 C
+0.02 C
2006
14.3 C
-0.84 C
2007
15.1 C
-0.04 C
2008
15.0 C
-0.15 C
2009
15.0 C
-0.15 C
2010
15.6 C
+0.43 C
2011
14.7 C
-0.42 C
2012
15.2 C
+0.03 C
2013
15.3 C
+0.15 C
2014
15.4 C
+0.23 C
2015
16.6 C
+1.48 C
2016
16.2 C
+1.12 C
2017
15.4 C
+0.32 C
2018
15.6 C
+0.51 C
2019
16.3 C
+1.20 C
2020
15.5 C
+0.36 C
2021
15.3 C
+0.21 C
2024
16.3 C
+1.15 C
The annual mean temperature here has risen by 0.5 C (0.3 to 0.7) per decade over 1986 to 2024. In Fahrenheit: 0.9 F (0.6 to 1.3) per decade. The slope is a straight line fitted to 31 complete years; the brackets give its 95 percent interval.
Fitted temperature trends per decade at Bethlehem
Measure
Per decade (C)
Per decade (F)
Period
Complete years
Reading
Annual mean temperature
0.5 C (0.3 to 0.7) per decade
0.9 F (0.6 to 1.3) per decade
1986 to 2024
31
Rise
Mean daily maximum
0.6 C (0.3 to 0.9) per decade
1.1 F (0.6 to 1.7) per decade
1986 to 2024
31
Rise
Mean daily minimum
0.4 C (0.2 to 0.6) per decade
0.7 F (0.3 to 1.1) per decade
1986 to 2024
31
Rise
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
1980 to 2025
Yearly extremes at Bethlehem: the record and the median year
Measure
Record
Year of the record
Median year
Years with a value
Hottest day (TXx)
40.1 C (104.2 F)
2024
32.8 C (91.0 F)
45
Coldest night (TNn)
-12.5 C (9.5 F)
1992
-7.8 C (17.9 F)
46
Wettest day (Rx1day)
115.6 mm (4.6 in)
1992
49.7 mm (2.0 in)
46
Wettest five days (Rx5day)
173.0 mm (6.8 in)
1994
82.7 mm (3.3 in)
46
Longest dry spell (CDD)
46 days
1995
10 days
46
Hottest day (TXx)
The hottest day of the year at Bethlehem, 1980 to 2025. The record is 40.1 C (104.2 F) in 2024, marked on the chart; the median year is 32.8 C (91.0 F).
Hottest day (TXx) at Bethlehem by year
Year
Hottest day (TXx)
1980
n/a
1981
30.0 C (86.0 F)
1982
32.0 C (89.6 F)
1983
33.4 C (92.1 F)
1984
32.0 C (89.6 F)
1985
32.8 C (91.0 F)
1986
31.5 C (88.7 F)
1987
32.8 C (91.0 F)
1988
35.7 C (96.3 F)
1989
30.8 C (87.4 F)
1990
31.5 C (88.7 F)
1991
31.6 C (88.9 F)
1992
33.4 C (92.1 F)
1993
34.8 C (94.6 F)
1994
33.0 C (91.4 F)
1995
34.3 C (93.7 F)
1996
31.9 C (89.4 F)
1997
31.9 C (89.4 F)
1998
34.1 C (93.4 F)
1999
32.0 C (89.6 F)
2000
29.0 C (84.2 F)
2001
32.5 C (90.5 F)
2002
31.2 C (88.2 F)
2003
36.4 C (97.5 F)
2004
32.8 C (91.0 F)
2005
33.2 C (91.8 F)
2006
30.3 C (86.5 F)
2007
32.8 C (91.0 F)
2008
31.9 C (89.4 F)
2009
36.3 C (97.3 F)
2010
31.8 C (89.2 F)
2011
32.7 C (90.9 F)
2012
32.4 C (90.3 F)
2013
31.7 C (89.1 F)
2014
31.0 C (87.8 F)
2015
36.2 C (97.2 F)
2016
37.4 C (99.3 F)
2017
32.3 C (90.1 F)
2018
34.5 C (94.1 F)
2019
34.3 C (93.7 F)
2020
33.9 C (93.0 F)
2021
35.1 C (95.2 F)
2022
31.4 C (88.5 F)
2023
33.6 C (92.5 F)
2024
40.1 C (104.2 F)
2025
37.2 C (99.0 F)
Coldest night (TNn)
The coldest night of the year at Bethlehem, 1980 to 2025. The record is -12.5 C (9.5 F) in 1992, marked on the chart; the median year is -7.8 C (17.9 F).
Coldest night (TNn) at Bethlehem by year
Year
Coldest night (TNn)
1980
-10.0 C (14.0 F)
1981
-7.0 C (19.4 F)
1982
-7.0 C (19.4 F)
1983
-7.2 C (19.0 F)
1984
-6.6 C (20.1 F)
1985
-9.4 C (15.1 F)
1986
-6.8 C (19.8 F)
1987
-9.3 C (15.3 F)
1988
-7.0 C (19.4 F)
1989
-8.5 C (16.7 F)
1990
-9.0 C (15.8 F)
1991
-7.0 C (19.4 F)
1992
-12.5 C (9.5 F)
1993
-7.1 C (19.2 F)
1994
-9.5 C (14.9 F)
1995
-8.9 C (16.0 F)
1996
-8.3 C (17.1 F)
1997
-6.1 C (21.0 F)
1998
-6.5 C (20.3 F)
1999
-8.4 C (16.9 F)
2000
-10.2 C (13.6 F)
2001
-9.5 C (14.9 F)
2002
-6.8 C (19.8 F)
2003
-10.2 C (13.6 F)
2004
-6.5 C (20.3 F)
2005
-6.5 C (20.3 F)
2006
-8.1 C (17.4 F)
2007
-10.0 C (14.0 F)
2008
-7.8 C (18.0 F)
2009
-9.5 C (14.9 F)
2010
-9.0 C (15.8 F)
2011
-7.1 C (19.2 F)
2012
-8.7 C (16.3 F)
2013
-6.1 C (21.0 F)
2014
-9.9 C (14.2 F)
2015
-5.9 C (21.4 F)
2016
-4.1 C (24.6 F)
2017
-5.1 C (22.8 F)
2018
-5.5 C (22.1 F)
2019
-6.9 C (19.6 F)
2020
-10.0 C (14.0 F)
2021
-7.9 C (17.8 F)
2022
-6.2 C (20.8 F)
2023
-7.9 C (17.8 F)
2024
-8.9 C (16.0 F)
2025
-7.4 C (18.7 F)
Wettest day (Rx1day)
The wettest day of the year at Bethlehem, 1980 to 2025. The record is 115.6 mm (4.6 in) in 1992, marked on the chart; the median year is 49.7 mm (2.0 in).
Wettest day (Rx1day) at Bethlehem by year
Year
Wettest day (Rx1day)
1980
16.0 mm (0.6 in)
1981
29.0 mm (1.1 in)
1982
30.0 mm (1.2 in)
1983
60.7 mm (2.4 in)
1984
39.9 mm (1.6 in)
1985
41.9 mm (1.6 in)
1986
50.8 mm (2.0 in)
1987
57.7 mm (2.3 in)
1988
56.9 mm (2.2 in)
1989
42.9 mm (1.7 in)
1990
72.9 mm (2.9 in)
1991
80.0 mm (3.1 in)
1992
115.6 mm (4.6 in)
1993
72.9 mm (2.9 in)
1994
101.6 mm (4.0 in)
1995
40.4 mm (1.6 in)
1996
57.2 mm (2.3 in)
1997
30.5 mm (1.2 in)
1998
71.1 mm (2.8 in)
1999
58.2 mm (2.3 in)
2000
50.3 mm (2.0 in)
2001
53.1 mm (2.1 in)
2002
36.3 mm (1.4 in)
2003
20.6 mm (0.8 in)
2004
24.4 mm (1.0 in)
2005
58.7 mm (2.3 in)
2006
44.5 mm (1.8 in)
2007
34.5 mm (1.4 in)
2008
54.1 mm (2.1 in)
2009
40.6 mm (1.6 in)
2010
41.4 mm (1.6 in)
2011
34.3 mm (1.4 in)
2012
57.9 mm (2.3 in)
2013
34.0 mm (1.3 in)
2014
53.1 mm (2.1 in)
2015
32.0 mm (1.3 in)
2016
61.0 mm (2.4 in)
2017
70.1 mm (2.8 in)
2018
55.1 mm (2.2 in)
2019
49.0 mm (1.9 in)
2020
37.1 mm (1.5 in)
2021
39.9 mm (1.6 in)
2022
59.9 mm (2.4 in)
2023
42.9 mm (1.7 in)
2024
54.1 mm (2.1 in)
2025
37.1 mm (1.5 in)
Wettest five days (Rx5day)
The wettest five days of the year at Bethlehem, 1980 to 2025. The record is 173.0 mm (6.8 in) in 1994, marked on the chart; the median year is 82.7 mm (3.3 in).
Wettest five days (Rx5day) at Bethlehem by year
Year
Wettest five days (Rx5day)
1980
17.2 mm (0.7 in)
1981
39.2 mm (1.5 in)
1982
74.7 mm (2.9 in)
1983
57.0 mm (2.2 in)
1984
60.8 mm (2.4 in)
1985
84.6 mm (3.3 in)
1986
77.8 mm (3.1 in)
1987
96.3 mm (3.8 in)
1988
86.7 mm (3.4 in)
1989
84.6 mm (3.3 in)
1990
83.3 mm (3.3 in)
1991
102.7 mm (4.0 in)
1992
142.3 mm (5.6 in)
1993
124.7 mm (4.9 in)
1994
173.0 mm (6.8 in)
1995
79.2 mm (3.1 in)
1996
127.8 mm (5.0 in)
1997
51.3 mm (2.0 in)
1998
107.2 mm (4.2 in)
1999
73.0 mm (2.9 in)
2000
92.7 mm (3.6 in)
2001
113.8 mm (4.5 in)
2002
87.1 mm (3.4 in)
2003
48.5 mm (1.9 in)
2004
53.9 mm (2.1 in)
2005
96.5 mm (3.8 in)
2006
100.6 mm (4.0 in)
2007
88.4 mm (3.5 in)
2008
69.4 mm (2.7 in)
2009
85.6 mm (3.4 in)
2010
88.2 mm (3.5 in)
2011
59.5 mm (2.3 in)
2012
158.3 mm (6.2 in)
2013
62.3 mm (2.5 in)
2014
82.0 mm (3.2 in)
2015
48.3 mm (1.9 in)
2016
68.3 mm (2.7 in)
2017
72.1 mm (2.8 in)
2018
91.2 mm (3.6 in)
2019
111.0 mm (4.4 in)
2020
78.0 mm (3.1 in)
2021
79.0 mm (3.1 in)
2022
110.3 mm (4.3 in)
2023
62.8 mm (2.5 in)
2024
62.5 mm (2.5 in)
2025
43.4 mm (1.7 in)
Longest dry spell (CDD)
The longest dry spell of the year at Bethlehem, 1980 to 2025. The record is 46 days in 1995, marked on the chart; the median year is 10 days.
Longest dry spell (CDD) at Bethlehem by year
Year
Longest dry spell (CDD)
1980
12 days
1981
11 days
1982
15 days
1983
15 days
1984
12 days
1985
10 days
1986
25 days
1987
18 days
1988
22 days
1989
12 days
1990
14 days
1991
12 days
1992
19 days
1993
24 days
1994
31 days
1995
46 days
1996
28 days
1997
17 days
1998
24 days
1999
10 days
2000
6 days
2001
4 days
2002
10 days
2003
12 days
2004
28 days
2005
19 days
2006
6 days
2007
3 days
2008
3 days
2009
5 days
2010
3 days
2011
4 days
2012
3 days
2013
4 days
2014
4 days
2015
3 days
2016
4 days
2017
3 days
2018
5 days
2019
3 days
2020
3 days
2021
5 days
2022
6 days
2023
3 days
2024
3 days
2025
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.
Frost Dates and Growing Season
31 years with a frost
Across 31 years with a frost, the median last spring frost at Bethlehem falls on 22 September and the median first autumn frost on 5 May, which leaves a median of 231 days between them.
Fitted over all years, the growing season changes by -0.3 days per decade at this station.
Frost dates and growing season at Bethlehem
Measure
Median, all years
Earliest period
Recent period (1993 to 2024)
Recent against earliest
Fitted trend
Last spring frost
22 September
n/a
23 September
n/a
+4.2 days per decade
First autumn frost
5 May
n/a
5 May
n/a
+3.9 days per decade
Growing days
231 days
n/a
230 days
n/a
-0.3 days per decade
A frost day is a day with a daily minimum at or below 0 C (32 F). The last spring frost and the first autumn frost are the last and first such days of the cold season, and growing days are the days between them. A negative trend for the last spring frost means it comes earlier.
Download the Data
Data for Bethlehem standing records by year: CSV or JSON. Field meanings are on the data page.
Data for Bethlehem 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.