Thursday, 5 January 2017 - Annual Climate Summary for Sydney - Product code IDCKGC55L0
Sydney in 2016: Warmest year on record
2016 was the warmest year on record for Sydney, with both daytime and overnight temperatures persistently warm throughout the year. Rainfall was above average and the wettest for Observatory Hill since 2007, with particularly heavy rain during January and a severe East Coast Low in early June.
Warmest year on record
- 2016 was the warmest year on record for mean temperatures at all Sydney stations, and the 24th consecutive above-average year at Observatory Hill
- At several stations including Observatory Hill it was also the warmest year on record for daytime and overnight temperatures
- Mean maximum temperatures were at least one degree above average at Observatory Hill during every month in 2016, with autumn daytime temperatures the warmest on record across Sydney and notable heatwaves during December
- Temperatures were persistently warm, with only 50 nights below 10 °C, the equal second-fewest on record (average 88)
- 197 nights remained above 15 °C, the second-most on record (average 158 nights), with a record 70 nights above 20 °C (average 26 nights) and the second-warmest night on record on 14 December (27.1 °C)
- 151 days reached at least 25 °C, the most warm days on record (average 89 days), and 28 days reached 30 °C, the equal third-highest number on record and most hot days since 1940 (average 15 days)
- Only 79 days failed to reach 20 °C, the second-fewest on record behind 2013 (average 138 days)
- Sydney Airport recorded a daily average of 7.6 hours of sunshine during 2016, above the historical average of 7.2 hours
Wettest year since 2007
- Rainfall was average to above average across Sydney during 2016; the wettest year at Observatory Hill since 2007
- It was particularly wet during January and June, but relatively dry during May and spring
- There were 129 rain days, below the average of 144 days, but 8 days recorded more than 50 mm at Observatory Hill, twice the historical average
- East Coast Lows caused heavy rain across the city from 4 to 7 January and again from 4 to 6 June, with the latter storm also causing large waves and coastal erosion
- Heavy rain was also recorded from severe thunderstorms in January, as well as when the city was affected by low pressure systems during August
- Thunder was heard at Sydney Airport on 16 days, the fewest stormy days since 2011
Further information
- Media
- media@bom.gov.au (03) 9669 4057
- Enquiries
- helpdesk.climate@bom.gov.au
Extremes Records Summaries Important notes the top
| Extremes in 2016 | |
|---|---|
| Hottest day | 42.2 °C at Penrith Lakes AWS on 25 Feb |
| Warmest days on average | 25.4 °C at Penrith
Lakes AWS 25.4 °C at Richmond RAAF |
| Coolest days on average | 22.6 °C at Terrey Hills AWS |
| Coldest day | 10.8 °C at Terrey
Hills AWS on 27 Jun 10.8 °C at Springwood (Valley Heights) on 24 Aug |
| Coldest night | -2.1 °C at Richmond
RAAF on 30 May -2.1 °C at Camden Airport AWS on 30 Jun |
| Coolest nights on average | 11.0 °C at Camden Airport AWS |
| Warmest nights on average | 15.4 °C at Sydney (Observatory Hill) |
| Warmest night | 27.5 °C at Parramatta
North (Masons Drive) on 14 Dec 27.5 °C at Springwood (Valley Heights) on 14 Dec 27.5 °C at Sydney Airport AMO on 14 Dec |
| Warmest on average overall | 19.7 °C at Sydney Airport AMO |
| Coolest on average overall | 17.9 °C at Camden
Airport AWS 17.9 °C at Springwood (Valley Heights) |
| Wettest overall | 1545.6 mm at Castle Cove (Rosebridge Ave) |
| Driest overall | 796.4 mm at Penrith Lakes AWS |
| Wettest day | 170.0 mm at Turramurra (Kissing Point Road) on 5 Jun |
| Strongest wind gust | 120 km/h at Sydney Airport AMO on 14 Jan |
Extremes Records Summaries Important notes the top
| Record highest daily rainfall | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New record (mm) |
Old record |
Years of record |
||||
| Campbelltown (Kentlyn (Georges River Roa | 154.0 | on 5 Jun | 143.0 | on 16 Apr 1969 | 40 | |
| Ingleburn (Sackville Street) | 140.0 | on 5 Jun | 123.4 | on 25 Sep 1995 | 25 | |
| Record highest annual mean daily maximum temperature | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New record (°C) |
Old record |
Years of record |
Annual average |
||
| Sydney (Observatory Hill) | 23.9 | 23.7 | in 2013 | 157 | 21.7 |
| Sydney Airport AMO | 24.1 | = 24.1 | in 2013 | 76 | 22.3 |
| Prospect Reservoir | 24.6 | = 24.6 | in 2013 | 47 | 23.2 |
| Bankstown Airport AWS | 24.9 | 24.6 | in 2013 | 46 | 23.2 |
| Richmond RAAF | 25.4 | 25.3 | in 2013 | 22 | 24.1 |
| Penrith Lakes AWS | 25.4 | = 25.4 | in 2002 | 20 | 24.6 |
| Highest annual mean daily maximum temperature for at least 20 years | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Observed (°C) |
Most recent higher |
Annual average |
|||
| Parramatta North (Masons Drive) | 24.4 | 24.5 | in 1980 | 23.3 | |
| Camden Airport AWS | 24.8 | 25.1 | in 1980* | 23.7 | |
* note: there are gaps in the historical record at this site, so it is possible a higher value has gone unreported
| Record highest daily minimum temperature | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New record (°C) |
Old record |
Years of record |
Annual average |
|||
| Sydney Airport AMO | 27.5 | on 14 Dec | 26.4 | on 6 Feb 2011 | 78 | 13.5 |
| Record highest annual mean daily minimum temperature | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New record (°C) |
Old record |
Years of record |
Annual average |
||
| Sydney (Observatory Hill) | 15.4 | 15.2 | in 2007 | 157 | 13.8 |
| Sydney Airport AMO | 15.3 | 15.1 | in 2014 | 76 | 13.5 |
| Parramatta North (Masons Drive) | 13.1 | 13.0 | in 1973 | 46 | 12.2 |
| Penrith Lakes AWS | 13.2 | 12.9 | in 1998 | 20 | 12.3 |
| Record highest annual mean temperature | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New record (°C) |
Old record |
Years of record |
Annual average |
||
| Sydney (Observatory Hill) | 19.6 | 19.4 | in 2013 | 157 | 17.8 |
| Sydney Airport AMO | 19.7 | 19.5 | in 2013 | 76 | 17.9 |
| Prospect Reservoir | 18.8 | 18.5 | in 2013 | 47 | 17.7 |
| Bankstown Airport AWS | 18.9 | 18.5 | in 2014 | 46 | 17.6 |
| Parramatta North (Masons Drive) | 18.8 | 18.6 | in 2009 | 45 | 17.8 |
| Camden Airport AWS | 17.9 | 17.7 | in 2014 | 37 | 16.9 |
| Richmond RAAF | 18.6 | 18.2 | in 2014 | 21 | 17.6 |
| Penrith Lakes AWS | 19.3 | 19.0 | in 2014 | 20 | 18.4 |
Extremes Records Summaries Important notes the top
| Summary statistics for 2016 | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum temperatures (°C) |
Minimum temperatures (°C) |
Rainfall (millimetres) |
||||||||||
| Mean for 2016 |
Diff from average |
Highest for 2016 |
Mean for 2016 |
Diff from average |
Lowest for 2016 |
Total for 2016 |
Average annual total |
Rank of 2016 |
Fraction of annual average |
|||
| Bankstown Airport AWS | 24.9 | +1.7 | 40.7 | 25 Feb | 12.9 | +0.9 | 0.5 | 30 Jun | 973.8 | 876.6 | high | 111% |
| Camden Airport AWS | 24.8 | +1.1 | 40.2 | 14 Jan | 11.0 | +0.8 | -2.1 | 30 Jun | 921.4 | 792.4 | high | 116% |
| Campbelltown (Mount Annan) | 24.7 | 39.5 | 25 Feb | 11.3 | -1.0 | 4 Jul | 869.0 | |||||
| Canterbury Racecourse AWS | 23.9 | +0.9 | 39.3 | 14 Jan | 12.8 | +0.5 | 0.7 | 30 Jun | 1155.2 | 970.9 | high | 119% |
| Holsworthy Aerodrome AWS | 24.2 | 40.6 | 14 Jan | 11.9 | -0.6 | 30 Jun | 988.8 | |||||
| Horsley Park Equestrian Centre AWS | 24.6 | +0.9 | 39.8 | 25 Feb | 12.6 | +0.6 | -0.3 | 26 Jun | 892.4 | 769.2 | average | 116% |
| Parramatta North (Masons Drive) | 24.4 | +1.1 | 40.0 | 25 Feb | 13.1 | +0.9 | 1.5 | 30 Jun | 1115.6 | 973.5 | high | 115% |
| Penrith Lakes AWS | 25.4 | +0.8 | 42.2 | 25 Feb | 13.2 | +0.9 | 1.0 | 15 Jul | 796.4 | 731.4 | average | 109% |
| Prospect Reservoir | 24.6 | +1.4 | 41.0 | 25 Feb | 12.9 | +0.6 | 0.4 | 26 Jun | 1052.5 | 875.4 | high | 120% |
| Richmond RAAF | 25.4 | +1.3 | 40.0 | 14 Jan | 11.8 | +0.8 | -2.1 | 30 May | 802.2 | 740.5 | high | 108% |
| Springwood (Valley Heights) | 23.2 | 39.5 | 25 Feb | 12.6 | 2.1 | 14 Jul | 942.1 | 1086.3 | average | 87% | ||
| Sydney (Observatory Hill) | 23.9 | +2.2 | 39.2 | 14 Jan | 15.4 | +1.6 | 5.4 | 30 Jun | 1385.6 | 1215.7 | high | 114% |
| Sydney Airport AMO | 24.1 | +1.8 | 40.6 | 14 Jan | 15.3 | +1.8 | 5.4 | 26 Jun | 1266.4 | 1085.9 | high | 117% |
| Terrey Hills AWS | 22.6 | +0.9 | 38.9 | 14 Jan | 13.8 | +0.6 | 3.1 | 29 Jul | 929.8 | 1089.9 | low | 85% |
Extremes Records Summaries Important notes the top
Notes
The Annual climate summary, generally published on the second working day of the year, lists the main features of the weather in Sydney using the most timely and accurate information available on the date of publication; it will generally not be updated. More extensive discussion of significant weather events, along with later information and data that has had greater opportunity for quality control, will be presented in the Monthly Weather Review.
This statement has been prepared based on information available at 8 am on Tuesday 3 January 2017. Some checks have been made on the data, but it is possible that results will change as new information becomes available.
Averages for individual sites are long-term means based on
observations from all available years of record, which vary widely from
site to site. They are not shown for sites with less than 10 years of
record, as they cannot then be calculated reliably.
The median
is sometimes more representative than the mean
of long-term average rain.
The Rank indicates how rainfall this time compares with the
climate record for the site, based on the decile
ranking (very low rainfall is in decile 1, low in
decile 2 or 3, average in decile 4 to 7, high in decile
8 or 9 and very high is in decile 10).
The Fraction of average shows how much rain has fallen this time
as a percentage
of the long-term mean.
Where temperature area averages are mentioned, they are derived from the ACORN-SAT dataset.
Further information
- Media
- media@bom.gov.au (03) 9669 4057
- Enquiries
- helpdesk.climate@bom.gov.au
