Tuesday, 31st December 2002
Sydney Yearly Climate Summary - NSW REGIONAL OFFICE
Weather diary for year 2002 in Sydney
January began with a renewed bushfire crisis fanned by dry westerly winds.
With temperatures in the high 30's and humidities in the single digits,
fires raced through the Lane Cove National Park. Thunderstorms with
moderate rains eased the fire
situation on the 6th. Sydney finished the month with above average
temperatures and sunshine, and average rainfall.
February began with rain, the likes of which Sydney would not see for the
rest of 2002, with most of the months total falling in the first week.
Cronulla recorded 223mm in one day. It was the wettest February since
1992. A severe storm on the 16th tracked from Liverpool to Gosford
and left a trail of destruction caused by severe wind gusts and violent
rainfall. Many homes in western Sydney were out of power for a few
days. For the month, temperatures were below average, and rainfall
was 3 times the average.
March ended with thunderstorms tracking across the state and delivering
substantial rainfall to inland NSW and western Sydney. Falls of over
100mm were recorded in western Sydney while only 50mm fell on the coast.
Sydney recorded its hottest March day since 1985 on the 17th with a maximum
temperature of 36°C. For the month, temperatures were slightly
above average, and rain was 35% of the average.
Sydney recorded its 3rd warmest April and warmest April since 1968.
The top temperature for the month was 27°C on the 19th and 20th.
Only one day below 20. Sunshine was above average. Rainfall was 55%
of the average with 68mm, most of this fell in a few hours on the 17th.
The first two weeks of May were the warmest start to a May since 1990 with
temperatures hovering 3°C above average. For the remainder of
the month, a series of cold fronts brought cold temperatures and rain systems
to Sydney. Two spectacular thunderstorms on the 16th and 28th brought
small hail both times. The El Nino pattern in the Pacific Ocean begins
to develop. Rainfall was 75% of the average.
June was dominated by persistent dry westerly winds that prohibited any
substantial rainfall developing. Sunshine was above average as Sydney
awoke to clear day after clear day. Temperatures plunged to below
zero with frosts in the outer western suburbs on the 27th. For the
month, temperatures were above average, and rainfall was 22% of the average.
No rain was recorded after the 20th.
By the 24th, it had been 34 days without rain resulting in Sydney recording
its second longest dry
spell on record. The longest dry spell is 47 days in August 1995.
Rain fell on only 3 days and the total was 25% of the average. Average
maximum temperatures were the highest since 1988. It was the sunniest
July since 1978.
August began with 11 consecutive days above 19°C. This has happened
on only 4 other occassions, the last being in 1995. On the 12th,
Sydney recorded its 6th warmest August night ever with an overnight low
of 18.3°C. For the month, temperatures were above average, rainfall
was 24% of the average and sunshine above average.
September in Sydney was the 4th warmest on record and warmest since 1980.
There were 10 days above 25°C, the highest number ever for September.
A severe thunderstorm tracked along the Sydney coast producing large hail
and heavy rain. On the 18th, gale force winds affected the South
Coast and Sydney Metro area with widespread damage reported. For
the month, rainfall was 31% of the average, and sunshine was above average.
Sydney was drought declared by NSW Agriculture after serious rainfall deficiencies
affected the area between April and September. Sydney recieved only
5.8mm of rain during October, the 4th driest on record. There were
13 days above 26°C for the month, equal highest with 1988. It
was the 4th warmest October. A thick fog on the 7th reduced visibility
to 300m. On the 8th, the humidity fell to 5% as fires burned in the
South of the city. A dust
storm was observed on the 23rd over NSW with Sydney affected by the
fringes. Rainfall was 7% of the average.
November was warm in Sydney and was the 5th warmest on record. On
the 25th and 26th the maximum temperature reached 37.9°C 2 days in
a row. This was the highest temperature reached consecutively on
2 days by a 6 degree margin. Temperatures on the 25th got up to 42°C
in the west of Sydney, a record for November. Rainfall from thunderstorms
on the last days of the month brought the total rain to 31mm, 38% of the
average. Dust was reported in Sydney on the 13th.
Substantial rains fell over the greater Sydney area in December with one
memorable daily total of 50mm on the 11th. Best rains since early
February. Only one thunderstorm on the 22nd. The hottest day
was 35.7°C on the 4th, as fires raged around the city. The coldest
day was on the 10th, when the temperature reached a chilly 16.1°C,
the coldest December day in 78 years, and the 8th coldest December day
on record. For the month, temperatures were above average, sunshine
and rainfall were average.
Further information:
Neal Moodie, Climate and Consultancy Section, tel: (02) 9296 1555,
e-mail: reqnsw@bom.gov.au |
