Mondy 3 April 2006 SYDNEY MONTHLY CLIMATE SUMMARY - NSW REGIONAL OFFICE Warmest March on record in Sydney March 2006 - Main Points: Warmest March on record - average maximum 27.1°C, average minimum 19.6°C. 12th consecutive month with above average temperatures. Record number of warm nights. 16 nights above 20°C (historic average 4 nights). 10 consecutive nights above 20°C, longest on record for March. Well below average rainfall. Temperatures: Following Sydney's 3rd warmest summer, average temperatures during March were the highest on record (records since 1859). The well above average temperatures in Sydney are consistent with the current world trend of warmer than average temperatures. The average monthly temperature of 23.3°C (the average of daytime and night-time temperatures) was well above the historic average of 21.6°C. The previous warmest March was in 1998 (average temperature 23.1°C). It is the 12th consecutive month with above average temperatures in Sydney. Both the average maximum and average minimum temperatures set new March records. The average maximum temperature was 27.1°C (1.9°C above historic average), exceeding the previous highest of 27.0°C in 1998. The average minimum was 19.6°C (1.6°C above historic average) exceeding the previous highest of 19.3°C set in 1956, 1968 and 1983. Night-time temperatures were particularly mild with Sydney (Observatory Hill) experiencing 16 warm nights when the temperature did not fall below 20°C, a new record for March and four times the historic average of 4 nights. The previous highest was 15 nights above 20°C in 1980. Sydney also experienced 10 consecutive nights above 20°C (7th to 16th) exceeding the previous March record of 9 consecutive nights in 1903 and 1983. The highest temperature at Sydney (Observatory Hill) during March was 34.7°C on the 6th while the lowest was 15.7°C on the 26th. Corresponding extremes across the Sydney metropolitan area ranged from 37.8°C at Penrith and Richmond on the 13th to 10°C at Camden on the 27th. Rainfall: Sydney's total rainfall of 40.2mm was in the lowest 20% of all March totals (decile 2) and well below the historic March average of 131mm. Most of the rain occurred as light showers and drizzle mainly during the second half of the month. There were 17 rain days against an historic average of 13 rain days. One thunderstorm occurred during the month on the 30th. Below average rainfall extended throughout Metropolitan Sydney during March, ranging from 85mm at Avalon on Sydney's northern beaches to only 10mm at St Clair in the western suburbs. Rainfall over the Warragamba Dam catchment area was also light and patchy. March totals ranged from 20-30mm in the lower catchment to only 10-15mm in the upper catchment. Recent rainfall over Sydney's catchments can be found on the Sydney Catchment Authority web site http://www.sca.nsw.gov.au/dams/rainfall.html

Mondy 3 April 2006

SYDNEY MONTHLY CLIMATE SUMMARY - NSW REGIONAL OFFICE

Warmest March on record in Sydney

March 2006 - Main Points:

Warmest March on record - average maximum 27.1°C, average minimum 19.6°C.
12th consecutive month with above average temperatures.
Record number of warm nights. 16 nights above 20°C (historic average 4 nights).
10 consecutive nights above 20°C, longest on record for March.
Well below average rainfall.

Temperatures: Following Sydney's 3rd warmest summer, average temperatures during March were the highest on record (records since 1859). The well above average temperatures in Sydney are consistent with the current world trend of warmer than average temperatures. The average monthly temperature of 23.3°C (the average of daytime and night-time temperatures) was well above the historic average of 21.6°C. The previous warmest March was in 1998 (average temperature 23.1°C). It is the 12th consecutive month with above average temperatures in Sydney.

Both the average maximum and average minimum temperatures set new March records. The average maximum temperature was 27.1°C (1.9°C above historic average), exceeding the previous highest of 27.0°C in 1998. The average minimum was 19.6°C (1.6°C above historic average) exceeding the previous highest of 19.3°C set in 1956, 1968 and 1983. Night-time temperatures were particularly mild with Sydney (Observatory Hill) experiencing 16 warm nights when the temperature did not fall below 20°C, a new record for March and four times the historic average of 4 nights. The previous highest was 15 nights above 20°C in 1980. Sydney also experienced 10 consecutive nights above 20°C (7th to 16th) exceeding the previous March record of 9 consecutive nights in 1903 and 1983.

The highest temperature at Sydney (Observatory Hill) during March was 34.7°C on the 6th while the lowest was 15.7°C on the 26th. Corresponding extremes across the Sydney metropolitan area ranged from 37.8°C at Penrith and Richmond on the 13th to 10°C at Camden on the 27th.

Rainfall: Sydney's total rainfall of 40.2mm was in the lowest 20% of all March totals (decile 2) and well below the historic March average of 131mm. Most of the rain occurred as light showers and drizzle mainly during the second half of the month. There were 17 rain days against an historic average of 13 rain days. One thunderstorm occurred during the month on the 30th. Below average rainfall extended throughout Metropolitan Sydney during March, ranging from 85mm at Avalon on Sydney's northern beaches to only 10mm at St Clair in the western suburbs.

Rainfall over the Warragamba Dam catchment area was also light and patchy. March totals ranged from 20-30mm in the lower catchment to only 10-15mm in the upper catchment. Recent rainfall over Sydney's catchments can be found on the Sydney Catchment Authority web site http://www.sca.nsw.gov.au/dams/rainfall.html

Climate summary for Sydney, March 2006

	March
	2006	Average	2005
Average maximum temperature (°C)	27.1	25.2	24.3
Average minimum temperature (°C)	19.6	18.0	16.9
Mean temperature (°C)	23.3	21.6	20.6
Rain (mm)	40.2	131.3#	153.6
Number of rain days	17	13	12
Average daily sunshine (hours)	6.5	6.8	6.7

# Median March rainfall is 101mm

Climate averages for Sydney are available, here.

March 2006 Daily Extremes
Element	March 2006	Date	Extreme	Date
Highest daily maximum (°C)	34.7	06/03/2006	39.8	09/03/1983
Lowest daily minimum (°C)	15.7	26/03/2006	9.3	14/03/1886
Wettest 24 hours (mm)	15.2	24/03/2006	280.7	28/03/1942
Maximum Wind Gust (km/h)	S @ 65*	06/03/2006	SSE @ 93**	19/03/1942

* recorded at Sydney Airport **recorded at Observatory Hill.

This statement has been prepared based on information available at noon on 1/3/06. Although every effort has been made to check them, it is possible that results may change as new information becomes available.

A note about deciles: Deciles are used to give an element (in this case rainfall or temperature) a ranking. Deciles are calculated by arranging the totals in ascending order (from lowest to highest) then splitting them into 10 equal groups (thus the groups are called deciles). The first group would be in decile range one, the second group in decile range two, etc up to the highest annual totals (highest 10 per cent) being in decile range 10.

Averages: Historic average temperatures are based on the period 1961 to 1990 which is a convention of the World Meteorological Organisation.

Further information: Contact Mike De Salis 02 9296 1542, email: reqnsw@bom.gov.au

A directory of Bureau services is available on poll fax: 1800 630 100

The latest rainfall and temperature maps are available here
Climate averages for New South Wales localities are available here
Daily Weather Observations for selected New South Wales localities are available here