Friday 01 December 2006 - Monthly Climate Summary for Sydney - Product code IDCKGC15L0
Warm days with below average rainfall in Sydney during November
Summary: A month of contrasts. Cool during first half of month followed by heatwave conditions. Rainfall was below average.
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Details
- Average maximum temperature was 0.7°C above the historic average.
- There were 3 days when temperature exceeded 30°C (normally 2 days).
- Mild nights on coast but cool in western suburbs.
- Below average rainfall but close to average sunshine.
Rainfall November 2006
The total monthly rainfall of 44.6 mm was below the historic November average of 83.3 mm. There were 12 rain days, which was slightly above the historic average of 11 rain days. Much of the rain fell during the first half of the month. While some northern suburbs received falls of 60−70 mm, several far western suburbs recorded less than 20 mm. Metropolitan rainfall totals ranged from 74 mm at Turramurra in Sydney's north to only 16.8 mm at Penrith in the far west.
Rainfall in the Warragamba Dam catchment area during November was mostly light with totals generally less than 50 mm. Recent rainfall in Sydney's catchments can be found on the Sydney Catchment Authority web site at: http://www.sca.nsw.gov.au/dams/rainfall.html
Temperatures November 2006
Temperatures varied considerably during November; they were below average during the first half of the month but well above average toward the end of the month with several very hot days recorded. The average maximum temperature at Observatory Hill was 24.3°C, a little above the historic average1 of 23.7°C. There were 3 hot days (temperature exceeding 30°C) compared to the historic average of 2 hot days. Far western suburbs recorded average maximum temperatures 3−4°C warmer than Sydney Observatory Hill with an average of 28.2°C at Richmond and Camden. The western suburbs recorded 10 hot days compared to the historic average of 8 days.
Although nights were cool early in the month, milder conditions followed, with the average minimum temperature at Observatory Hill of 16.5°C being 0.9°C above the historic average. However, in far western suburbs, nights were significantly cooler and below the November average. At Camden the average minimum of 12.3°C was 0.4°C below the historic average and more than 4°C lower than coastal suburbs. Following a significant cold change on the 16th, Sydney's minimum of 8.3°C was the lowest temperature in November since 1905.
The highest temperature at Sydney Observatory Hill during November was 38.4°C on the 22nd while the lowest was 8.3°C on the 16th. Corresponding extremes across the Sydney metropolitan area ranged from 40.9°C at Penrith on the 21st to 5.7°C at Badgerys Creek on the 17th.
Wind
November was a windy month with 9 strong wind days recorded at Sydney Airport (historic average 7). However, wind speeds were lower in the western suburbs with Richmond recording 4 windy days (historic average 1 day). The highest wind gust in the Metro area was 85 km/h (from the NW) at Badgerys Creek on the 22nd
Other phenomena
Sunshine hours were close to average. There was 1 thunderstorm at Observatory Hill during November. Thick smoke haze from bushfires in the Blue Mountains reduced visibility to around 5−10km over Sydney from 20th to 22nd. A sea fog occurred in coastal suburbs on the 29th reducing visibility to less than 1 km at times.
Further information
Mike De SalisNSW Climate Services Centre
Bureau of Meteorology
Phone (02) 9296 1542
Email reqnsw@bom.gov.au
Summaries for November 2006
| Summary statistics for November 2006 | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum temperatures for November (°C) |
Minimum temperatures for November (°C) |
Rainfall for November (millimetres) |
||||||||||
| Mean for November 2006 |
Diff from normal |
Highest for November 2006 |
Mean for November 2006 |
Diff from normal |
Lowest for November 2006 |
Total for November 2006 |
Normal for November |
Rank of November 2006 |
Fraction of November normal |
|||
| Sydney (Observatory Hill) | 24.3 | +0.6 | 38.4 | 22nd | 16.5 | +0.9 | 8.3 | 16th | 44.6 | 83.3 | normal | 53% |
| Camden | 28.2 | +2.3 | 40.0 | 28th | 12.3 | −0.4 | 5.5 | 15th |
22.6 |
73.7 |
low |
31% |
| Parramatta | 26.7 | +1.1 | 38.5 | 21st | 14.3 | +0.3 | 7.4 | 17th | 45.6 | 85.1 | normal | 54% |
| Richmond | 28.2 | +1.7 | 39.3 | 22nd | 13.4 | −0.4 | 6.6 | 17th | 28.4 | 76.1 | low | 37% |
| Springwood | 26.5 | 37.0 | 21st | 12.8 | 6.7 | 17th | 42.8 | 95.5 | low | 45% | ||
| Terrey Hills | 24.1 | 36.8 | 22nd | 14.8 | 5.8 | 16th | 56.2 | |||||
Extremes for November 2006
| Hottest day Highest temperature | 40.9°C at Penrith on the 21st |
|---|---|
| Warmest days on average Highest mean daily maximum temperature | 28.2°C at Richmond and Camden |
| Coolest days on average Lowest mean daily maximum temperature | 24.1°C at Terrey Hills |
| Coldest day Lowest daily maximum temperature | 15.0°C at Terrey Hills on the 16th |
| Coldest night Lowest temperature | 5.7°C at Badgerys Creeks on the 17th |
| Coolest nights on average Lowest mean daily minimum temperature | 12.3°C at Camden |
| Warmest nights on average Highest mean daily minimum temperature | 16.5°C at Sydney (Observatory Hill) |
| Warmest night Highest daily minimum temperature | 27.2°C at Terrey Hills on the 22nd |
| Wettest overall Highest total rainfall | 74.0 mm at Turramurra |
| Driest overall Lowest total rainfall |
16.8 mm at Penrith |
| Highest wind gust | 85 km/h at Badgerys Creek on the 22nd |
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| Summary phenomena for Sydney for November 2006 | ||
|---|---|---|
| November 2006 |
Normal for November |
|
| Number of rain days |
12 |
11 |
| Average sunshine hours per day* |
7.4 |
7.7 |
| Average humidity at 3pm (%) |
56 |
58 |
| Number of thunderstorms |
1 |
4 |
| Number of windy days* |
9 |
7 |
* recorded at Sydney Airport. Windy day defined as average speed of 40km/h or more at synoptic times.
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Notes
This statement has been prepared based on information available at 2 pm on Friday 01 December 2006. Some checks have been made on the data, but it is possible that results will change as new information becomes available.
1Averages: Historic average temperatures for Observatory Hill and Richmond are based on the period 1961 to 1990 which is a convention of the World Meteorological Organisation. Average temperatures for Parramatta are based on all available data, 1968 - 2005 and Camden 1972 - 2005. Rainfall averages and extremes for Observatory Hill are based on all years of record 1859 - 2005.
The Rank indicates about where rainfall this time ranks in the climate record for the site.
Further information
Mike De SalisNSW Climate Services Centre
Bureau of Meteorology
Phone (02) 9296 1542
Email reqnsw@bom.gov.au