1894 SA Rainfall - December & July

The paired climatological maps by Alexander Buchan, titled South Africa Rainfall in December from the Averages of Observations 1885–94 and South Africa Rainfall in July from the Averages of Observations 1885–94, present one of the earliest systematic visual analyses of South Africa’s seasonal rainfall patterns based on late 19th-century meteorological records. The December map represents the austral summer wet season, showing high precipitation across the eastern escarpment, KwaZulu-Natal, and the Transvaal plateau — regions influenced by Indian Ocean moisture and convective summer storms — while the western interior and coastal areas around the Cape remain relatively dry. In contrast, the July map depicts the southern winter rainfall regime, with pronounced precipitation confined to the southwestern Cape, reflecting the influence of mid-latitude westerly systems, while the rest of the subcontinent experiences widespread dryness. Together, these two maps capture the bimodal climatic structure of South Africa: a summer-rainfall interior and a winter-rainfall southwestern corner. Compiled from averaged observations between 1885 and 1894, Buchan’s work exemplifies the emerging discipline of scientific climatology within the British Empire, transforming scattered colonial weather data into an empirical depiction of Africa’s regional climate zones and laying foundations for future meteorological and agricultural studies.

This map is a reproduction of a historical map that is now in the public domain. It has been selected for its aesthetic appeal and historical interest and carefully restored and reproduced to preserve its original detail and character.  There may be marks and fold lines visible which add to the authentic look.  The map is printed on 230gsm heavyweight coated paper with a matte finish.  Most old maps were printed on uncoated rag or wood pulp papers and therefore a matte finish best represents the original map.