Monday, 1 February 2010 - Monthly Climate Summary for Sydney - Greater Sydney - Product code IDCKGC25L0

Hot nights continue in Sydney during January

• Well above average maximum temperatures, equal 5th highest on record
• Well above average minimum temperatures, 2nd highest on record
• Numerous hot nights, 19 nights with minimum greater than 20 °C
• Below average rainfall
• Below average sunshine

Details Extremes Records Summaries Important notes the top

Rainfall

Following near average rainfall in December, Sydney returned to dry conditions in January with well below average rainfall. Observatory Hill had a total rainfall of 36.0 mm, which is well below the historical average of 101.5 mm or only 35% of the normal monthly rainfall. Most of the rain was recorded during thunderstorms on the 2nd, 13th and 23rd. The rain fell on 13 days, which is close to the January average. The entire metropolitan area recorded below average rainfall with most totals being less than 50 mm. The highest monthly total in metropolitan Sydney was 61.4 mm at Turramurra, although Valley Heights in the lower Blue Mountains recorded 115.8 mm where thunderstorms were more active. The lowest total was 18 mm at Box Hill in the northwest. Thunderstorms on the 2nd produced 29.6 mm at Turramurra, the highest daily fall in metropolitan Sydney during January, although 39.0 mm was recorded at Valley Heights in the lower Blue Mountains on the 6th.

Persistent high pressure systems over NSW and weak cold fronts contributed towards the dry conditions in Sydney for much of the month.

Below average rainfall occurred over the Warragamba Dam catchment with totals from 40 to 80 mm for the month. The below average rainfall caused Sydney's storage levels to fall by 2% during January and is currently around 51% of capacity. Recent rainfall and current levels in Sydney's water catchments can be found on the Sydney Catchment Authority web site http://www.sca.nsw.gov.au/dams/rainfall.html

Temperatures

Warm, dry days prevailed in Sydney during January with the occasional hot day. The average maximum temperature at Observatory Hill was 27.6 °C, which is +1.7 °C above the historical December average. This is equal 5th highest on record for Observatory Hill. It was up to 4 °C hotter in Sydney's western suburbs with an average maximum of 31.7 °C at Penrith.

Sydney Observatory Hill recorded 7 hot days (temperature over 30 °C) during the month, more than twice the historical average of 3 hot days for January. Prevailing NE winds with occasional NW winds and mostly sunny skies contributed towards the warm conditions.

Very warm nights were also experienced throughout the metropolitan area during January. The average minimum at Observatory Hill of 20.7 °C was +2.0 °C above the historic average and the 2nd highest on record. The highest was 21.0 °C in January 1991. Warm nights were common during January with 19 nights recording a minimum greater than 20 °C. The normal frequency for January is 8 nights above 20 °C. Although minimums were slightly cooler in the western suburbs, monthly averages were still around 1 to 2 °C above the historical average.

There was significant variation in temperatures over the Sydney region during January, with extremes ranging from a high of 43.3 °C at Richmond Airport on the 23rd to a low of 9.7 °C at Richmond Airport on the 19th. The warmest night was 25.8 °C at Sydney Airport on the 23rd, which is the hottest night ever recorded at the airport for any month.

Some sites had their warmest January night (highest daily minimum temperature) on record. Some sites had their highest January mean daily minimum temperature on record.

Wind

Coastal Sydney experienced prevailing E-NE winds during January, with a frequency of 51% from this direction at 3pm which is average for January. The highest wind gust was 87 km/h from the south at Sydney Airport on the 23rd during the passage of a strong southerly change.

Other phenomena

Sydney Airport recorded 6 thunderstorms during the month, on the 2nd, 12th, 13th, 14th, 23rd and 28th. The historical average is 3 storms for January. There was a slightly higher incidence of thunderstorms in far western Sydney and the lower Blue Mountains with Springwood recording 7 storms during the month. Sunshine averaged 7.0 hours per day, which is below the average for January of 7.6 hours per day.

Further information

Media

media@bom.gov.au (03) 9669 4057

Enquiries

helpdesk.climate@bom.gov.au

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Extremes in January 2010
Hottest day	43.3 °C at Richmond RAAF on the 23rd
Warmest days on average	31.7 °C at Penrith Lakes AWS
Coolest days on average	27.2 °C at Terrey Hills AWS
Coldest day	18.2 °C at Springwood on the 3rd
Coldest night	9.7 °C at Richmond RAAF on the 19th
Coolest nights on average	17.8 °C at Campbelltown (Mount Annan) and at Springwood
Warmest nights on average	20.7 °C at Sydney (Observatory Hill)
Warmest night	25.8 °C at Sydney Airport on the 23rd
Wettest overall	115.8 mm at Valley Heights (Lower Blue Mtns) 114.0 mm at Springwood 61.4 mm at Turramurra
Driest overall	18.0 mm at Box Hill and at Concord
Wettest day	39.0 mm at Valley Heights on the 6th 36.6 mm at Springwood on the 6th 29.6 mm at Turramurra on the 3rd
Highest wind gust	87 km/h at Sydney Airport on the 23rd

Details Extremes Records Summaries Important notes the top




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Record highest January daily minimum temperature
	Highest daily minimum temperature in January 2010 (°C)		Previous highest for January		Years of record	Average for January
Sydney Airport	25.8*	on the 23rd	25.7	on the 15th in 1978	71	18.7

* this is also the hottest night at the airport for any month.

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Record highest January mean daily minimum temperature
	Mean daily minimum temperature for January 2010 (°C)	Previous highest for January		Years of record	Average for January
Parramatta North	19.1	18.9	in 2006	42	17.5





Details Extremes Records Summaries Important notes the top

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Summary statistics for January 2010
	Maximum temperatures for January (°C)				Minimum temperatures for January (°C)				Rainfall for January (millimetres)
	Mean for January 2010	Diff from average	Highest for January 2010		Mean for January 2010	Diff from average	Lowest for January 2010		Total for January 2010	Average for January	Rank of January 2010	Fraction of January average
Sydney (Observatory Hill)	27.6	+1.7	41.3	23rd	20.7	+2.0	15.6	19th	36.0	101.5	low	35%
Bankstown Airport AWS	29.6	+1.5	42.8	23rd	19.3	+1.3	12.2	20th	42.2	92.1	low	46%
Camden Airport AWS	31.4	+2.0	42.6	23rd	18.0	+1.3	10.6	19th	29.4	74.7	low	39%
Parramatta North	30.0	+1.7	42.3	23rd	19.1	+1.6	12.5	20th	30.4	101.7	low	30%
Penrith Lakes AWS	31.7		42.9	23rd	19.0		12.2	19th	43.6
Prospect Reservoir	30.6	+2.3	42.5	23rd	19.0	+1.4	13.4	18th	34.1	93.9	low	36%
Richmond RAAF	31.6	+2.0	43.3	23rd	18.5	+1.1	9.7	19th	22.4	93.3	low	24%
Springwood	29.6		40.3	23rd	17.8		10.1	19th	114.0	124.9	average	91%
Terrey Hills AWS	27.2		40.3	23rd	18.9		13.8	19th	44.2

Details Extremes Records Summaries Important notes the top

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Daily rainfall

Most values are the precipitation in the 24 hours to 9 am on the day indicated. Days marked with »» are part of a longer accumulation, which is marked like this on the final day. Values over 100 mm have been rounded to the nearest whole millimetre. Days marked with - have a rainfall report of zero; days left blank have no rainfall report (which often indicates no rain fell).
This table is very wide; you may have to scroll sideways to see all the days, and you may need to set the paper to 'landscape' to print.

Hunter (61)	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26	27	28	29	30	31
Webbs Ck-Wisemans Ferry (Hawkesbury Rive	0.8	1.4	23.8	2.8	-	0.4	-	3.0	-	-	-	-	-	15.2	1.2	0.4	-	0.8	-	-	-	-	-	2.4	0.2	0.8	-	1.4	24.0	-	0.4
Central Tablelands (South) (63)	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26	27	28	29	30	31
Sackville Ferry (Hawkesbury River)	0.2	4.2	7.4	3.6	-	8.8	-	2.2	-	-	-	-	1.0	27.8	2.2	-	-	2.0	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1.2	-	2.6
Springwood Bowling Club	1.2	2.0	22.2	9.4	-	36.6	1.4	1.8	-	-	-	-	-	14.6	2.8	0.4	0.8	1.6	-	-	-	-	-	0.2	1.4	-	-	5.4	10.4	0.2	1.6
Valley Heights (Sun Valley Rd)	2.0	2.2	22.0	9.8		39.0	1.2	2.4		-	-	-		12.6	3.0	1.4	1.2				-	-		0.4	»»	1.4		8.4	8.0		0.8
Metropolitan (East) (66)	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26	27	28	29	30	31
Abbotsford (Blackwall Point Rd)			11.0	1.4				1.4																5.1					3.0	1.0
Auburn (Rosnay Golf Club)	-	-	9.0	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	7.0	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1.0	-	-	-	-	5.0	-	1.0
Audley (Royal National Park)	-	-	10.0	1.0	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	15.0	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1.0	3.0	-	-	-	-	2.0	-	1.0
Avalon (Wollstonecraft Ave)	-	1.0	20.0	4.0	-	-	-	5.0	-	-	-	-	-	24.0	2.0	-	-	1.0	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Bankstown Airport AWS	0.2	-	15.2	0.2	-	-	-	0.4	-	-	-	-	-	8.2	-	-	-	0.2	-	-		-	-	3.2	-	-	-	0.8	13.4	0.4	-
Belrose (Evelyn Place)	0.2	0.4	18.4	3.0				1.6					0.2	8.8	1.4									3.4	0.8	0.2		0.4	2.8	3.0	1.2
Campbelltown (Ingleburn (Long Point))	-	-	10.0	1.0	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	13.0	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	10.0	16.0	1.0	2.0
Canterbury Racecourse AWS	-	-	6.0	1.6			-	0.4	-	-	-	-	-	9.8	-		-	-	-	-		-		2.2		-	-	0.4	2.2	1.0	3.8
Castle Cove (Rosebridge Ave)			11.0	4.5				1.0						18.0	1.0									3.0						4.0
Chatswood Bowling Club	-	-	13.0	1.0	1.0	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	6.0	11.0	1.0	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	4.0	-	-	-	-	2.0	4.0	-
Collaroy (Long Reef Golf Club)			15.0	0.6				1.4						9.2	-													0.2	2.6	1.4
Concord Golf Club			7.6	0.8										9.2			0.4
Cronulla South Bowling Club														18.0									2.2	»»	7.6				2.0	1.8
Guildford (Woodville Golf Club)	-	1.0	11.0	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	9.0	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1.0	4.0	-	-
Holsworthy Control Range	0.6	-	11.6	1.4	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	21.0	0.2	-	-	-	-	-	-		-	0.6	-	-	-	3.8	18.8	0.2	0.4
Lidcombe (Carnarvon Golf Club)	-	-	6.0	1.0	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	6.0	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	6.0	-	-
Liverpool-Scrivener St (Georges River)	-	-	11.0	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	8.0	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1.0	-	-	-	1.0	11.0	-	-
Manley / Warringah (Allambie)	0.5	-	21.5	2.0	-	-	-	3.5	-	-	-	-	3.0	9.0	1.0	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	2.5	-	0.5	-	0.5	2.5	4.5	0.5
Manley / Warringah (Belrose)	0.5	-	14.5	3.5	-	-	-	1.0	-	-	-	-	-	8.5	1.5	0.5	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	2.5	0.5	-	-	-	3.0	2.0	2.0
Marrickville Golf Club	-	-	6.0	1.0	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	9.0	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	3.0	-	-	-	1.0	2.0	-	2.0
Milperra Bridge (Georges River)	-	-	12.0	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	6.0	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Mona Vale Golf Club	-	0.8	14.6	1.2	-	-	-	1.4	-	-	-	-	-	7.6	1.2	-	-	1.2	-	-	-	-	-	0.8	-	-	-	0.2	3.0	5.4	0.2
Parramatta (Erts)	-	-	5.5	1.0	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	8.5	-	0.5	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	2.5	0.5	-	-	-	2.0	0.5	-
Parramatta North (Masons Drive)	-	-	4.6	2.2	-	0.2	-	0.2	-	-	-	-	-	12.2	0.6	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	2.8	2.2	-	-	0.2	2.6	0.6	2.0
Peakhurst Golf Club	-	-	9.0	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	7.0	-	-	1.0	-	-	-	-	-	-	1.0	-	-	-	1.0	3.0	-	-
Randwick Bowling Club			10.6	0.4										11.2										5.2	0.2				2.8	3.0	1.0
Riverview Observatory	2.6	0.4	4.6	2.0	»»	0.4	-	1.1	-		-	-	2.0	14.2	1.0	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	3.2	-	-	-	0.6	2.6	2.4	-
Rose Bay (Royal Sydney Golf Club)		4.0	14.4	0.8		0.2								15.2	0.6		0.2							5.2	0.2			0.2	3.2
Sans Souci (Public School)	-	-	8.0	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	18.0	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-	-	3.0	2.0	-
St Ives (Richmond Avenue)	1.0	7.8		7.8				1.2						11.8	2.0	0.8	0.2							3.2	1.0	0.2		0.6	3.4	2.0	0.6
Strathfield Golf Club	-	-	10.0	1.0	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	9.0	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1.0	-	-	-	-	4.0	1.0	-
Sydney (Observatory Hill)	0.4	-	8.6	1.0	0.2	-	-	0.4	-	-	-	-	0.2	13.0	0.2	0.2	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	6.2	0.4	-	-	-	2.6	2.6	-
Sydney Airport AMO	-	-	11.4	0.8	0.2	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	6.2	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	3.8	-	-	-	-	1.8	0.2	1.0
Sydney Olympic Park (Sydney Olympic Pk A	0.2	-	11.4	1.6	-	-	-	0.4		-	-	-	-	7.2	0.2	-	-	-		-		-		2.0	0.2	-	-	0.6	6.4		0.4
Terrey Hills AWS	0.2	0.4	9.2	4.4	-	-	-	1.8	0.2	-	-	-	-	11.8	1.4	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	2.8	0.2	0.2	-	0.2	5.4	5.8	0.2
Turramurra (Kissing Point Road)			29.6	6.0		0.4		1.0						9.6	1.6		0.2							3.0	2.2	0.2		0.4	3.8	2.4	1.0
Metropolitan (West) (67)	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26	27	28	29	30	31
Abbotsbury (Fairfield City Farm)	-	-	17.0	1.0	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	12.0	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1.0	5.0	-	-
Badgerys Creek AWS	-	-	7.2	0.8	-	-	-			-	-	-	-	15.4	-	-	6.4	0.2	-	-	-	-	0.4	1.4		-	-	3.0	5.6		0.4
Baulkham Hills (Swimming Pool )	0.5	-	8.0	2.0	-	1.0	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	7.5	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	0.5	0.5	-	-	0.5	5.0	0.5	1.0
Baulkham Hills Eucalyptus Ct	0.5	-	10.0	2.5	0.5	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	12.0	0.5	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1.5	0.5	-	-	-	2.5	-	0.5
Berowra (Goodwyn Road)		0.2	2.0				2.2							7.6	0.4	0.4								1.2	1.0				5.0	1.6	2.0
Blacktown (Dog Pound)	-	-	3.5	0.5	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	11.0	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1.0	0.5	-	-	1.5	1.0	0.5	3.5
Box Hill (Hynds Road)	-	-	7.0	2.0	-	2.0	-	2.0	-	-	-	-	-	4.0	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1.0	-	-
Castle Hill (Kathleen Ave)	0.4		8.0	2.0		1.6	0.1	0.3						7.0	0.3									0.6	0.8			0.2	2.1	0.6	2.8
Glenorie (Old Northern Rd)			9.4	3.0		1.4		4.2						15.0	1.2													1.0	2.0		1.0
Greystanes (Cumberland Golf Club)	-	-	8.5	0.5	0.5	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	9.0	0.5	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	2.0	0.5	-	-	-	1.5	0.5	1.5
Hawkesbury River (Sackville Downstream)	-	4.0	7.0	3.0	-	8.5	-	2.0	-	-	-	-	1.0	26.5	2.0	-	-	2.0	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1.0	5.0	-	-
Horsley Park Equestrian Centre AWS	-	-	8.4	1.2	0.2	-	-	-	0.2	-	-		-	9.4	-	0.2	0.2	-	-	-	-	-	-	0.6	0.2	-	-	1.2		0.2	3.2
Kelso Ck (Kelso Creek U/S Levee (Georges	-	-	11.0	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	8.0	-	-	0.5	-	-	-	-	-	-	3.0	-	-	-	2.5	11.5
Kings Langley (NSW Soccer Federation)	-	0.5	8.0	3.0	-	1.0	-	-	0.5	-	-	-	-	7.5	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	0.5	-	-	-	-	1.0	-	1.0
Kings Langley (Solander Rd)	0.4	0.4	8.6	1.4	-	0.4	-	0.4	-	-	-	-	-	9.0	-	-	0.2	-	-	-	-	-	-	1.6	0.8	-	-	0.8	2.2	0.2	0.2
Liverpool (Michael Wenden Centre)	-	-	12.0	1.2	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	12.4	-	-	0.8	-	-	-	-	-	-	0.8	0.2	-	-	2.8	16.8	-	0.6
Lower Portland (Hawkesbury River)	0.4	2.6	18.6	5.8	0.2	2.8	0.2	1.6	-	-	-	-	0.2	13.4	2.2	-	-	11.6	0.2	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1.2	18.2	-	1.0
Maroota (Tobruk)	0.4	2.0	19.6	5.2	-	1.4	-	1.4	-	-	-	-	-	24.0	2.6	-	-	8.4	-	-	-	-	-	0.4	-	-	-	1.2	22.0	-	1.0
Merrylands (Welsford Street)	2.2		6.4	1.4										8.4										5.4
Merrylands West (Finlayson Creek)	-	-	7.0	1.5	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	11.0	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	5.0	-	-	-	0.5	2.0	-	0.5
North Parramatta (Burnside Homes)	-	-	4.0	2.0	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	11.0	0.5	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	2.5	1.5	-	-	-	2.0	-	1.5
North Rocks (Muirfield Golf Club)	-	-	11.0	2.5	-	-	0.5	-	-	-	-	-	0.5	19.5	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	2.0	1.0	-	-	-	3.5	2.0	-
Northmead Bowling Club	-	-	4.5	2.0	0.5	-	-	-	-	-	0.5	-	-	11.5	0.5	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	2.0	1.0	-	-	-	1.5	0.5	3.5
Parramatta (Baulkham Hills West (Sierra	0.5	-	6.5	2.0	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	8.0	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1.0	-	-	-	0.5	2.5	-	-
Penrith Lakes AWS	-		15.2	4.6	-	8.4	-	3.0	-	-	-		-	9.0	0.2	0.2	0.2	0.2	-	-	-	-	-	-			-	2.2		0.2	0.2
Prospect Reservoir	-	0.1	11.4	2.0	-	-	-	0.2	-	-	-	-	-	11.8	0.2	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	2.8	0.3	-	-	0.8	2.2	0.2	2.1
Richmond RAAF	-	0.8	5.6	2.6	0.2	1.0	0.2	0.6	0.2	-	-	-	-	5.8	1.0	0.2	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-		-	-	1.2	2.8	0.2	-
Seven Hills (Radio FM 103.2)	-	-	4.0	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	12.5	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	0.5	-	-	-	1.5	1.0	-	-
Seven Hills (Collins St)			7.2	1.2										10.8										1.2				1.4
Toongabbie Bowling Club	-	0.5	5.5	1.0	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	10.5	-	-	-	0.5	-	-	-	-	-	0.5	-	-	-	0.5	2.0	-	-
Toongabbie Ck (Redbank Road (Toongabbee	-	-	4.5	2.5	0.5	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	10.0	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1.5	0.5	0.5	-	-	1.5	-	3.0
West Pennant Hills (Cumberland S F Alert	-	-	6.5	1.5	-	1.0	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	10.5	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1.5	1.0	-	-	-	3.5	0.5	0.5
Windsor SWC (Hawkesbury River)	-	-	28.0	2.0	-	1.0	-	2.0	-	-	-	-	-	8.0	2.0	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	3.0	-	1.0
Illawarra (68)	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26	27	28	29	30	31
Camden Airport AWS	-	-	3.6	3.2	-	0.4	-	0.2	-	-	-	-	-		-	-	0.8	-	-	-	-	-	0.4	1.4	0.2	-	-	11.0	6.2	-	2.0
Campbelltown (Kentlyn (Georges River Roa	-	-	10.0	1.0	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	14.0	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1.0	-	-	-	2.0	19.0	-	-
Campbelltown (Mount Annan)	0.4	-	7.0	3.6	-	0.6	-	0.6	-	-	-	-	-	7.6	0.2	-	1.8	-	-	-	-	-	0.2	2.6	-		-	2.4	17.8	-	2.4
Rossmore (South Creek)	-	-	6.0	1.0	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	14.0	-	-	1.0	-	-	-	-	-	-	1.0	-	-	-	4.0	9.0	-	-

Details Extremes Records Summaries Important notes the top

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Notes

The Monthly Climate Summary is prepared to list the main features of the weather in the Greater Sydney area using the most timely and accurate information available on the date of publication; it will generally not be updated. Later information, including data that has had greater opportunity for quality control, will be presented in the Monthly Weather Review, usually published in the fourth week of the month.

This statement has been prepared based on information available at 9 am on Monday 1 February 2010. Some checks have been made on the data, but it is possible that results will change as new information becomes available.

Averages 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 20 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.

Further information

Media

media@bom.gov.au (03) 9669 4057

Enquiries

helpdesk.climate@bom.gov.au

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