Sydney Climate Summary - NSW Regional Office 

2004 warmest year on record for Sydney

Year 2004  

Temperatures:   During 2004 Sydney experienced its warmest year in 146 years of record with official records dating back to 1858.  The average annual maximum daytime temperature of 23.4 deg was nearly 2 deg above the historic average for the year and the highest on record.  The previous highest was 23.1 deg in 2001 and 2002.   The average annual minimum overnight temperature of 14.7 deg was equal 4th highest on record and among the top 5% of historical averages.  This gives an average annual temperature for 2004 of 19.1 deg which is the highest ever recorded in Sydney.   The previous warmest year was in 1988 when the annual average was 19.0 deg.  During the summer months hot days were frequent.  There were 27 days during 2004 when the temperature reached 30 deg or higher at Observatory Hill.   The last time this figure was exceeded was in 1940 when there were 28 days above 30 deg.  The historic average is only 15 days.   Sydney Observatory Hill's highest daily maximum temperature for 2004 was 40 deg on the 1 December while the highest in Sydney's western suburbs was 45 deg at Penrith on 21 February.  The lowest overnight minimum for the year at Observatory Hill was 6 deg on 18 July. In the western suburbs, Richmond recorded a low for the year of minus 3 deg on 28 June.

Rainfall:  The annual rainfall total of 995mm for 2004 was well below the historic annual average of 1221mm. This places it in the lowest 25% of rainfall totals in a history totaling 146 years. The wettest months were October with 234mm, followed by August with 153mm. However, all other months were near or well below their respective monthly averages. Only 8mm was recorded in May, the lowest May total for 47 years.  Rain days were also well below average for the year. Only 107 rain days were recorded in Sydney  (historical average 136 days). This is the 5th lowest number of rain days on record and the lowest since 1980 when 102 days was recorded.  The lowest ever recorded was 95 rain days in 1862.   Suburban rainfall totals for 2004 ranged from 1084mm at Belrose in Sydney's north to less than 600mm in some western suburbs.

Sunshine:     There was plentiful sunshine during 2004 with an average of 7.6 hours per day.  It was the sunniest year since 1991 when an average of 7.7 hours per day was recorded.  The historic average is 7.2 hours per day.

December 2004

Temperatures:    During December temperatures were close to average. Both the monthly average maximum and minimum temperatures were both only slightly above the historic averages.    Two very hot days were recorded at Observatory Hill (the official site) on the 1st (40 deg) and on the 19th (38 deg), otherwise daily temperatures were near the historic average of 25.6 deg.  An equal lowest minimum temperature of 13 deg was recorded on both the 28th and 29th.  The highest temperature in the Sydney metropolitan area during December was 42 deg at Sydney airport on the 1st while the lowest overnight minimum was 8 deg at Camden on the 29th.

Rainfall:  Sydney's December rainfall of 75.8mm was also close to the long term average of  78.1mm. The wettest day was the 11th with 27.4mm.  Rain fell on 13 days compared to the historic average of 11 days. There were 5 thunderstorms during the month, one with hail on the 13th. The historic average is 3 storms.   Suburban rainfall totals for December ranged from 106mm at Berowra in Sydney's north to only 56mm at Parramatta.

Further information:
Mike De Salis, Climate and Consultancy Section, tel: (02) 9296 1555, e-mail: reqnsw@bom.gov.au

Climate summary for Sydney,  December 2004 and Year 2004 

	December			Year
	2004	Average	2003	2004	Average	2003
Average maximum temperature (°C)	25.6	25.2*	26.0	23.4	21.6*	22.7
Average minimum temperature (°C)	18.1	17.8*	18.9	14.7	13.7*	14.5
Mean temperature (°C)	21.9	21.5*	22.4	19.1	17.7*	18.6
Rain (mm)	75.8	78.1#	59.6	995.2	1220.9+	1200.4
Number of rain days	13	11	9	107	138	135
Average daily sunshine (hours)	7.9	7.9	6.3	7.6	7.2	7.1

* Long-term temperature averages calculated since 1947.
# Median December rainfall is 58mm.
+ Median yearly rainfall is 1170mm

Climate averages for Sydney are available, here. 

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NSW Daily Rainfall Bulletin 1902 935 223

Bureau's web site:   www.bom.gov.au