Tuesday, 9 January 2018 - Annual Climate Summary for Greater Sydney - Product code IDCKGC55L0

Greater Sydney in 2017: another warm year with a dry winter

Greater Sydney was warmer than average during 2017 for both daytime and overnight temperatures. The mean temperature at Observatory Hill was the second-warmest on record, behind 2016. Rainfall was average for the year, despite a dry winter and the driest September on record.

Average rainfall overall, but dry in the cooler months

• Observatory Hill received slightly below average rainfall overall, with very dry conditions occurring over winter and early spring
• Around 1075 mm was recorded at Observatory Hill, 89% of the long-term average
• Rain fell on around 123 days, below the average of 141 days
• Totals of 25 mm or more occurred on 17 days, above the average of 13 days; seven of these wet days occurred in March
• The wettest day at Observatory Hill was recorded on 7 February when thunderstorms brought 85.0 mm in the 24 hours to 9 am on the 8th, including 31.4 mm in 30 minutes on the morning of the 7th
• The wettest day across Greater Sydney was 7 June: a number of stations in the northwest received over 90 mm to in the 24 hours to 9am on the 8th
• Above average rainfall was recorded in February, March and June, but the remaining months received average or below average totals
• Observatory Hill had its driest September since observations began there in 1858, and the second driest July–September period

A hot start sets up a very warm year

• Mean temperatures were above average across Greater Sydney; Observatory Hill had a mean annual temperature of 19.5 °C, 1.7 °C above average and the second-warmest on record behind 2016
• The mean maximum at Observatory Hill was 23.7 °C, 2.0 °C above average and the equal second-warmest on record (tied with 2013 and behind 2016)
• January 2017 was Sydney's warmest month ever recorded
• Several stations set new records for warmest maxima and minima during January and February as part of several heatwaves that affected New South Wales
• Several stations in Greater Sydney recorded temperatures over 45 °C on 11 February, including 47.0 °C at Richmond
• Observatory Hill recorded 12 days of 35 °C or more, equalling the record set in 1926; several sites in the west reported a record number of days above 40 °C, including Richmond (15 days) and Parramatta North (12 days)
• The annual mean minimum temperature at Observatory Hill was 15.2 °C; 1.4 °C above average; 2016 is the only year that has been warmer than this, and 2007, 2009 and 2014 were equally warm
• A record number of 82 nights failed to drop below 20 °C at Observatory Hill, surpassing the previous record of 71 nights set in 2016

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

* One day of rainfall data is missing, so the actual total might be slightly higher.

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

* Rainfall data are missing for two days in October at Observatory Hill. Data from neighbouring sites suggest that the annual rainfall total might be 3 to 5 mm greater.

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top