Monday 2 April 2007 - Monthly Climate Summary for Sydney - Product code IDCKGC15L0

Sydney has warm and humid March

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Main points:

Temperature

Sydney experienced very warm daytime temperatures during March with extended periods of high humidity. The average maximum (daytime) temperature at Observatory Hill was 26.3°C, or 1.1°C above the historic average¹of 25.2°C.  This ranks 7th highest on record for March.  There were 4 hot days (temperature exceeding 30°C) during March, twice the historic average of 2 hot days. Slightly warmer average daytime temperatures were experienced in the western suburbs where average maximum temperatures were about 1°C higher than coastal suburbs. Prevailing sea-breezes helped to modify temperatures along the coast. Elevated locations such as Springwood recorded daytime temperatures about 1°C cooler than coastal Sydney.

Nights were also very warm and humid during March. The average minimum temperature at Sydney (Observatory Hill) of 19.0°C was 1.0°C above the historic March average¹. This is the 8th highest on record for March with last year recording the highest on record (19.6°C) .  The mild overnight temperatures were due to a combination of high humidity, the persistence of cloudy or partly cloudy nights and the lack of any significant southerly changes. The far west and lower Blue Mountains recorded minimum temperatures about 3−4°C cooler than coastal suburbs.  At Springwood (elevation 362 metres) the average minimum was 15.0°C, the lowest in the Sydney area.  

The highest temperature at Sydney (Observatory Hill) during March was 35.1°C on the 24th.  The lowest temperature was 14.0°C on the 31st.   Corresponding extremes in the Sydney area ranged from 36.7°C at Prospect Dam and Sydney Olympic Park on the 3rd to 7.1°C at Richmond on the 31st.

Rainfall

The total monthly rainfall of 65.4mm at Sydney Observatory Hill was below the historic March average of 130.3 mm.  There were 14 rain days, which is slightly above the historic average for March. Rainfall totals varied greatly over the Metropolitan area during March due mainly to frequent thunderstorm activity. Monthly totals were highest in the northern suburbs and far western suburbs and lowest in the Baulkham Hills area and the south-east.  Totals ranged from 159 mm at Avalon in Sydney's northern beaches and 157.8mm at Badgerys Creek in the far west to a low of 41 mm at Baulkham Hills in the north-west.

Moderate to locally heavy rain in the lower Warragamba Dam catchment during March was mainly from thunderstorm activity with totals ranging from 100 to 160mm for the month. However, the upper catchment received lighter falls with around 50 to 80mm in the Goulburn area.   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

Other phenomena

High humidity at times during March combined with above average temperatures caused periods of uncomfortable weather.   One such period from 17th to 24th saw humidity varying between 70% and 85% and temperatures in the high 20's, making conditions more typical of the northern Queensland coast.   Four thunderstorms were recorded over Sydney metropolitan area with 3 storms at Sydney Observatory Hill (average 2 storms). Thunderstorms with heavy rain affected far western suburbs on the 1st and 5th while the northern beaches were hit by a severe storm on the 20th.  During a thunderstorm at Camden on the 5th, 30 mm fell in just 17 minutes, which has a recurrence interval of about 20−50 years, and strong winds reached 109 km/h.  At Avalon on the northern beaches,  41 mm was recorded in 1 hour during a thunderstorm on the evening of the 20th.  Sunshine hours averaged 6.8 hours per day which is average for March.

Further information

Mike De Salis
NSW Climate Services Centre
Bureau of Meteorology
Phone (02) 9296 1542
Email reqnsw@bom.gov.au

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Extremes for the Sydney area

Hottest day Highest temperature	36.7°C at Prospect Dam and Sydney Olympic Park on the 3rd
Warmest days on average Highest mean daily maximum temperature	27.6°C at Liverpool
Coolest days on average Lowest mean daily maximum temperature	25.1°C at Springwood
Coldest day Lowest daily maximum temperature	17.8°C at Springwood on the 25th
Coldest night Lowest temperature	7.1°C at Richmond on the 31st
Coolest nights on average Lowest mean daily minimum temperature	15.0°C at Springwood
Warmest nights on average Highest mean daily minimum temperature	19.0°C at Sydney (Observatory Hill)
Warmest night Highest daily minimum temperature	23.0°C at Sydney (Observatory Hill) on the 4th
Wettest overall Highest total rainfall	159.0 mm at Avalon
Driest overall Lowest total rainfall	41.0 mm at Baulkham Hills
Wettest day Highest daily rainfall	67 mm at Avalon (24 hours to 9am on 21st)
Highest wind gust	109 km/h at Camden on the 5th

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Summaries

Summary statistics for the Sydney area for March 2007
	Maximum temperatures March 2007 (°C)				Minimum temperatures March 2007 (°C)				Rainfall March 2007 (millimetres)
	Mean for March	Diff from normal	Highest for March		Mean for March	Diff from normal	Lowest for March		Total for March	Normal for March	Rank of March	Fraction of March normal
Sydney (Observatory Hill)	26.3	+1.1	35.1	24th	19.0	+1.0	14.0	31st	65.4	130.3	low	50%
Parramatta	27.5	+1.3	36.5	3rd	16.8	+1.0	9.6	31st	63.4	110.2	low	58%
Richmond	27.2	+0.2	35.9	3rd	16.2	+0.4	7.1	31st	86.6	92.1	normal	94%
Camden	26.5	−0.2	35.4	3rd	15.8	+1.1	8.7	28th	113.0	86.1	high	131%
Terrey Hills*	25.7		33.3	24th	17.0		11.8	31st	68.0
Springwood*	25.1		35.5	3rd	15.0		9.0	31st	94.8	126.2	normal	75%

Summary phenomena for Sydney (Observatory Hill) for March
	March 2007	Normal for March
Number of rain days	14	13
Average sunshine hours per day*	6.8	6.8
Average humidity at 9am (%)	72	74
Number of thunderstorms	3	2
Number of windy days*	8	4

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Notes

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