Thursday, 10 January 2019 - Annual Climate Summary for Greater Sydney - Product code IDCKGC55L0

Greater Sydney in 2018: warm and generally drier than normal

Greater Sydney was warmer than average during 2018 for both daytime and overnight temperatures. The annual mean maximum temperature at Observatory Hill was within the top five warmest years on record. Total rainfall across most sites was generally below average to average for the year.

The Australian annual climate statement provides a comprehensive summary of Australia's climate during 2018. Information about changes and long-term trends in Australia's climate can be found in State of the Climate 2018.

Below average to average rainfall, with some days of localised heavy rainfall

• Rainfall across the two day period from 28 to 29 November resulted in many sites recording one of these days as their wettest day of the year across Greater Sydney
• Above average rainfall was recorded during June, October, November and December, with most other months recording average or below average rainfall
• Total rainfall for the year was below average at most sites

A warm year

• On 7 January, four Greater Sydney sites recorded their hottest day on record
• On the same day, Penrith recorded 47.3°C, the highest temperature observed in the Sydney region since 1939
• During July and August, three sites had their lowest temperature on record
• Mean maximum temperatures were above average across Sydney, typically by 0.5 to 1.5°C
• Mean minimum temperatures were above average at most sites, mostly by less than half a degree
• Three sites with a relatively short period of observations equalled their highest annual mean temperature on record

Sydney (Observatory Hill)

• Total rainfall for Sydney (Observatory Hill) was 1000.2 mm; slightly below the long-term annual average of 1215.7 mm
• Totals of 25 mm or more occurred on 10 days, below the average of 13 days. Four of these days occurred in October and November
• The wettest day at Observatory Hill was on 28 November, resulting in 105.6 mm, when an intense low pressure system brought severe thunderstorms and heavy rainfall
• Observatory Hill recorded rainfall in the lowest 10 per cent of records during April, July and August, but in the highest 10 per cent of records during November
• 2018 was the fifth warmest year on record for maximum temperature and tenth warmest for minimum temperature
• On 9 April, Observatory Hill recorded its warmest April day on record; the month was also the warmest April on record
• September recorded the lowest mean daily minimum temperature since 1994 at Observatory Hill
• The mean daily maximum temperature for Sydney (Observatory Hill) was 23.4 °C, which is 1.7 °C above the long-term average of 21.7 °C. The warmest day was 43.4 °C on 7 January, and the coolest day was on 27 August when the temperature reached 14.5 °C
• The mean daily minimum temperature for Sydney (Observatory Hill) was 14.9 °C, which is 1.1 °C above the long-term average of 13.8 °C. The coldest morning was 4.6 °C on 16 July, and the warmest morning was on 28 January when the minimum temperature was 24.0 °C

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

* note: there are gaps in the historical record at this site, so it is possible a lower value has gone unreported

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top