Friday, 1 February 2013 - Monthly Climate Summary for New South Wales - Product code IDCKGC15R0

New South Wales in January 2013: A month of extremes

  • Third warmest January on record
  • Persistent and widespread heatwave
  • A very dry January for inland NSW
  • Ex-Tropical Cyclone Oswald delivers heavy rain in the northeast

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Rainfall

NSW recorded a statewide average rainfall of 56.19 mm during January, below the historical average of 65.59 mm. Rainfall was above average in northeast and coastal NSW but generally below to very-much-below average across inland NSW. The Murray-Darling Basin recorded 36.49 mm duing January, well below the historical average of 55.14 mm and the driest since 2009.

For much of the month NSW had received little rain, with only light and very patchy rain recoded due to frontal activity. On 26 January ex-TC Oswald had moved far enough south to bring rain to northeast NSW. Widespread heavy fell from 27-29 January as the system moved south across coastal NSW. The rainfall resulted in minor to major flooding aross the Northern Rivers, Mid North Coast and Hunter regions. The highest daily rainfall recroded during the event was 348 mm at Boat Harbour (Rous River) on the 28th, with Uki recording 641 mm in the four days to 29 January. For further information on ex-TC Oswald (see Special Climate Statement 44).

Some sites had their highest total January rainfall on record, while others had their lowest total January rainfall on record.

Temperature

NSW recorded a statewide average maximum temperature of 35.34 °C during January, 3.66 °C above the historical average. This is the third warmest January since records began in 1910, and the warmest for NSW since 1939. Temperatures were above average across the state, with average daytime temperatures more than 3-6 °C above normal across the majority of inland NSW. The extreme heat was the result of a heatwave that affected much of Australia over a prolonged period (see Special Climate Statement 43).

The statewide average minimum temperature was 19.61 °C, 1.92 °C above the historical average. This was the ninth-warmest on record for NSW, and the warmest January since 2006. Nights were particularly warm on the 18th, when much of inland NSW was more than 8 °C above normal with parts of the Hunter and South West Slopes and Plains recording their warmest January nights on record.

The statewide average temperature was consequently 2.82 °C above average, the fifth-warmest January for NSW since records began in 1910 and the warmest January since 2006.

See a list of January temperature records.

Other phenomena

Thunderstorms were prevalent across NSW during January with several periods of intense widespread thunderstorm activity on the 5th to 6th, 12th to 13th, 18 to 24th and 27th to 28th each associated with frontal activity. Most of this thunderstorm activity was associated with little to no rainfall and was responsible for igniting fires in the areas affected. The frontal activity, which triggered the thunderstorms also generated strong winds with 107 km/h at Cabramurra SMHEA AWS on the 8th, with 128 km/h recorded at Narrabri Airport AWS on the 13th and 115 km/h recorded at Kiama (Bombo Headland) on the 18th.

The major feature for January was ex-TC Oswald, which affected the northeast and coastal NSW from the 26th through to the 29th. The system saw winds reach 131 km/h at Byron Bay (Cape Byron AWS) on the 28th and widespread minor to moderate flooding in the Northern Rivers, Mid North Coast and Hunter catchments, with major flooding experienced in the Clarence River catchment. At Grafton (Prince St), the Clarence River reached a new record flood height of 8.1m, surpassing the previous record of 7.9m set in 1890.

Further information

Climate Officer
NSW Climate Services Centre
NSW Regional Office
Bureau of Meteorology
Phone (02) 9296 1555
Email climate.nsw@bom.gov.au
Extremes in January 2013
Hottest day 48.6 °C at Wanaaring Post Office on the 12th
Warmest days on average 40.7 °C at Wanaaring Post Office
Coolest days on average 19.4 °C at Thredbo AWS
Coldest day 8.0 °C at Charlotte Pass (Kosciusko Chalet) on the 13th
Coldest night -2.2 °C at Thredbo AWS on the 14th
Coolest nights on average 7.9 °C at Perisher Valley AWS
Warmest nights on average 24.3 °C at Lightning Ridge Visitors Information Cen
Warmest night 32.2 °C at Broken Hill Airport AWS on the 18th
32.2 °C at Pooncarie Mail Agency on the 18th
32.2 °C at Tibooburra Post Office on the 18th
Warmest on average overall 32.4 °C at Wanaaring Post Office
Coolest on average overall 14.0 °C at Thredbo AWS
Wettest overall 684.0 mm at Boat Harbour (Rous River)
Wettest day 348.0 mm at Boat Harbour (Rous River) on the 28th
Highest wind gust 131 km/h at Byron Bay (Cape Byron AWS) on the 28th

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Maps
ObservedAnomalyDecile rank
Total
rainfall		 Map of Rainfall totals Map of Percentage of normal rainfall Map of Rainfall deciles
Mean
daily
maximum
temperatures		 Map of Mean maximum temperature Map of Anomaly in mean maximum temperature Map of Decile rank of mean maximum temperature
Mean
daily
minimum
temperatures		 Map of Mean minimum temperature Map of Anomaly in mean minimum temperature Map of Decile rank of mean minimum temperature

Click on a map to show it full size in a pop-up window

Record highest total January rainfall
Total rainfall
for January 2013 (mm) 		Previous wettest
for January		 Years of
record		 Average for
January
Forster - Tuncurry Marine Rescue 525.6 404.7 in 1951 117 111.0
Wollombi (Narone Creek Rd) 221.4 218.4 in 1968 44 86.3
Audley (Royal National Park) 185.0 179.8 in 1986 31 83.8

 


Record lowest total January rainfall
Total rainfall
for January 2013 (mm) 		Previous driest
for January		 Years of
record		 Average for
January
Menindee Post Office 0.0 = 0.0 in 2004 134 24.0
Pooncarie Mail Agency 0.0 = 0.0 in 2009 130 23.1
Pooncarie (Karpa Kora Station) 0.0 = 0.0 in 2000 128 22.8
Cobar MO 0.6 1.4 in 2002 51 46.7
Griffith Airport AWS 0.0 = 0.0 in 1994 50 33.0
Narrandera Golf Club 0.4 1.8 in 1987 43 36.8

 



Record highest January temperature
Highest temperature
in January 2013 (°C) 		Previous warmest
for January		 Years of
record		 Average for
January
Sydney (Observatory Hill) 45.8 on the 18th 45.3 on the 14th in 1939 155 25.9
Tibooburra Post Office 47.9 on the 12th 47.6 on the 3rd in 1973 103 36.1
Nyngan Airport 47.0 on the 12th 46.9 on the 15th in 1939 86 34.2
Sydney Airport AMO 46.4 on the 18th 45.2 on the 1st in 2006 74 26.5
Gunnedah Resource Centre 42.3 on the 13th = 42.3 on the 7th in 1964 63 31.9
Williamtown RAAF 44.8 on the 18th 44.4 on the 1st in 2006 63 28.0
Moruya Heads Pilot Station 43.8 on the 18th 43.2 on the 30th in 2003 57 23.9
Hay (Miller Street) 47.7 on the 5th 46.0 on the 23rd in 2001 56 33.0
Newcastle Nobbys Signal Station AWS 42.5 on the 18th 41.4 on the 1st in 2006 56 25.5
Katoomba (Murri St) 36.4 on the 12th 36.2 on the 14th in 2005 51 23.2
Mungindi Post Office 46.8 on the 12th 46.5 on the 4th in 1990 48 35.4
Murrurundi Post Office 40.9 on the 12th 40.2 on the 27th in 1981 48 30.7
Prospect Reservoir 45.1 on the 18th 44.7 on the 15th in 2001 48 28.3
Bathurst Agricultural Station 40.2 on the 12th 39.0 on the 12th in 2007 47 27.9
Peak Hill Post Office 44.5 on the 12th 44.3 on the 3rd in 1973 46 33.1
Quirindi Post Office 42.9 on the 12th 41.4 on the 27th in 2011 46 32.2
Bankstown Airport AWS 46.1 on the 18th 44.8 on the 18th in 2003 45 28.2
Dunedoo Post Office 43.7 on the 12th 43.4 on the 3rd in 1973 45 31.8
Parramatta North (Masons Drive) 45.5 on the 18th 44.8 on the 1st in 2006 45 28.3
Trangie Research Station AWS 46.1 on the 12th 45.0 on the 30th in 2003 45 33.2
Tumbarumba Post Office 40.0 on the 6th 39.8 on the 30th in 2009 45 28.7
Wellington (Agrowplow) 43.7 on the 12th 42.5 on the 15th in 2001 44 32.9
Lostock Dam 43.5 on the 13th 42.4 on the 23rd in 2001 42 29.3
Woolbrook (Danglemah Road) 36.5 on the 12th = 36.5 on the 31st in 2003 41 27.5
Gulgong Post Office 42.0 on the 18th 41.5 on the 15th in 2001 39 30.9
Paterson (Tocal AWS) 44.4 on the 18th 43.7 on the 15th in 2001 39 29.7
Orange Agricultural Institute 37.2 on the 12th 36.7 on the 15th in 2001 38 26.4
Camden Airport AWS 46.4 on the 18th 45.0 on the 30th in 2003 37 29.4
Gosford (Narara Research Station) AWS 44.8 on the 18th 43.8 on the 1st in 2006 30 27.6
Oberon (Springbank) 36.0 on the 18th 35.9 on the 3rd in 1973 30 24.7


Record highest January mean daily maximum temperature
Mean daily maximum
temperature
for January 2013 (°C) 		Previous warmest
for January		 Years of
record		 Average for
January
Nyngan Airport 39.2 38.9 in 1932 90 34.2
Barraba Post Office 35.4 34.7 in 2007 46 31.7
Peak Hill Post Office 37.0 = 37.0 in 1981 45 33.1
Montague Island Lighthouse 24.3 = 24.3 in 1969 41 22.9
Oberon (Springbank) 28.7 = 28.7 in 1952 39 24.7
Orange Agricultural Institute 30.6 29.9 in 2001 37 26.4
Goulburn TAFE 30.9 30.5 in 2009 35 27.7
Thredbo AWS 19.4 19.2 in 2006 32 16.2

 


Record highest January daily minimum temperature
Highest daily minimum
temperature
in January 2013 (°C) 		Previous warmest
for January		 Years of
record		 Average for
January
Hay (Miller Street) 31.0 on the 8th = 31.0 on the 24th in 2001 56 16.6
Scone SCS 29.9 on the 9th 29.4 on the 9th in 1969 49 16.9
Peak Hill Post Office 30.9 on the 18th 29.4 on the 1st in 2006 46 19.2
Trangie Research Station AWS 31.3 on the 18th 28.4 on the 28th in 1981 45 18.4
Lostock Dam 28.5 on the 9th 25.5 on the 31st in 2003 42 17.3
Thredbo Village 21.0 on the 8th 19.2 on the 8th in 1979 42 7.2
Griffith Airport AWS 30.0 on the 8th = 30.0 on the 30th in 2006 38 17.0
Thredbo AWS 17.1 on the 5th 17.0 on the 26th in 2003 33 6.6


Record highest January mean daily minimum temperature
Mean daily minimum
temperature
for January 2013 (°C) 		Previous warmest
for January		 Years of
record		 Average for
January
Woolbrook (Danglemah Road) 14.9 14.8 in 1978 40 12.4


Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Summary statistics for January 2013
Maximum temperatures
for January
(°C)		 Minimum temperatures
for January
(°C)		 Rainfall
for January
(millimetres)
Mean for
January
2013		 Diff
from
average		 Highest for
January
2013		 Mean for
January
2013		 Diff
from
average		 Lowest for
January
2013		 Total for
January
2013		 Average
for
January		 Rank of
January
2013		 Fraction of
January
average
Western (Far Northwest) (district 46)
Fowlers Gap AWS 38.6   46.8 5th 21.2   13.7 31st 2.4
Tibooburra Airport 40.3   47.7 12th 24.0   17.8 31st 1.8
Tibooburra Post Office 40.2 +4.1 47.9 12th 24.1 +2.0 17.9 30th 7.0 28.0 average 25%
White Cliffs AWS 39.3   47.0 5th 22.7   15.3 30th 6.6
Wilcannia (Reid St) 39.4 +4.0 47.5 5th 20.9 +1.1 11.7 30th 18.8 25.9 average 73%
Wilcannia Aerodrome AWS 39.4   47.6 6th 20.5   11.5 30th 13.4
Western (Lower Darling) (district 47)
Broken Hill (Patton Street) 36.4 +3.6 44.8 7th 19.3 +0.8 11.7 14th 0.6 25.2 low 2%
Broken Hill Airport AWS 36.2 +3.0 44.2 5th 18.8 -0.2 11.5 30th 1.2 28.6 low 4%
Lake Victoria Storage 34.4 +2.3 44.7 17th 16.6 +0.1 11.0 14th 0.8 19.5 low 4%
Menindee Post Office 37.8 +3.5 46.0 5th 20.5 +2.0 12.2 14th 0 24.0 lowest 0%
Pooncarie Mail Agency 37.3   47.6 4th 18.7   10.4 14th 0 23.1 lowest 0%
Western (Upper Darling) (district 48)
Bourke Airport AWS 40.6   48.3 12th 22.9   14.5 31st 12.0
Cobar Airport AWS 39.0   46.7 12th 21.7   12.9 30th 4.8
Cobar MO 38.4 +4.4 46.0 12th 22.7 +2.2 15.6 10th 0.6 46.7 lowest 1%
Collarenebri (Albert St) 38.2 +2.6 46.6 12th 23.3 +2.8 16.0 10th 29.0 68.0 average 43%
Lightning Ridge Visitors Information Cen 38.8   47.5 13th 24.3   17.0 10th 14.7
Wanaaring Post Office 40.7 +4.1 48.6 12th 23.8 +2.0 15.4 31st 4.8 35.0 average 14%
Western (Southwest Plains) (district 49)
Ivanhoe Aerodrome AWS 38.0   46.7 5th 20.1   11.4 14th 1.0
Central Western Plains (South) (district 50)
Condobolin Ag Research Stn 37.7 +3.9 44.6 18th 20.1 +1.9 8.6 10th 5.9 46.9 low 13%
Condobolin Airport AWS 37.9   45.9 18th 19.9   9.0 10th 5.6
Peak Hill Post Office 37.0 +3.9 44.5 12th 21.2 +2.0 13.7 10th 9.6 58.4 low 16%
West Wyalong Airport AWS 36.8   44.8 18th 18.0   10.2 10th 9.2
Central Western Plains (North) (district 51)
Coonamble Airport AWS 37.5   46.7 13th 21.0   15.1 10th 7.2
Nyngan Airport 39.2 +5.0 47.0 12th 21.3 +1.8 16.0 31st 5.8 50.8 v low 11%
Trangie Research Station AWS 37.7 +4.5 46.1 12th 21.3 +2.9 14.1 10th 10.4 53.5 low 19%
Northwest Plains (West) (district 52)
Mungindi Post Office 38.8 +3.4 46.8 12th 23.2 +2.7 18.2 10th 37.2 71.1 average 52%
Walgett Airport AWS 38.7   48.5 13th 22.8   12.9 10th 8.2 60.4 v low 14%
Northwest Plains (East) (district 53)
Moree Aero 35.8   42.7 13th 21.8   16.7 10th 170.6
Northwest Slopes (North) (district 54)
Barraba Post Office 35.4 +3.7 41.0 13th 18.7 +2.3 13.5 10th 124.9 88.0 high 142%
Narrabri Airport AWS 36.9   44.2 13th 22.1   17.8 10th 142.4
Northwest Slopes (South) (district 55)
Gunnedah Airport AWS 36.2   42.7 13th 19.5   16.8 15th 101.6
Gunnedah Resource Centre 35.2 +3.3 42.3 13th 21.3 +2.5 16.5 15th 142.2 85.3 high 167%
Quirindi Post Office 35.0 +2.8 42.9 12th 18.6 +2.2 15.0 3rd 170.6 81.1 high 210%
Tamworth Airport AWS 35.6 +3.2 42.5 12th 19.4 +2.1 16.1 4th 85.2 59.9 high 142%
Woolbrook (Danglemah Road) 29.7 +2.2 36.5 12th 14.9 +2.5 9.0 8th 77.6 99.3 average 78%
Northern Tablelands (West) (district 56)
Armidale (Tree Group Nursery) 27.9   34.9 13th 14.8   9.4 8th 162.0
Armidale Airport AWS 27.5   35.3 12th 15.1   10.8 8th 160.6
Glen Innes Ag Research Stn 27.1 +1.8 33.0 19th 15.1 +1.7 9.0 8th 141.0 106.1 high 133%
Glen Innes Airport AWS 27.2   34.1 19th 14.3   9.5 2nd 165.8
Guyra Hospital 25.6 +1.6 32.5 12th 14.0 +2.0 9.8 15th 165.4 119.2 high 139%
Inverell (Raglan St) 32.3   37.7 19th 17.3   11.4 8th 134.4
Inverell Research Centre 31.8 +2.4 37.1 13th 18.2 +1.9 13.7 8th 131.0 99.4 average 132%
Northern Tablelands (East) (district 57)
Tabulam (Muirne) 28.0 +1.0 36.9 13th 18.1 +1.0 14.2 15th 381.0 189.9 high 201%
Upper North Coast (district 58)
Ballina Airport AWS 28.5 +0.3 33.6 12th 21.0 +1.4 15.9 17th 348.6 183.5 high 190%
Byron Bay (Cape Byron AWS) 27.7   32.0 23rd 21.9   18.7 15th 217.6
Casino Airport AWS 30.7   39.0 12th 20.6   16.4 8th 198.8
Evans Head RAAF Bombing Range AWS 29.5   39.8 9th 20.5   17.3 15th 276.0
Grafton Airport AWS 31.0   41.2 12th 19.8   15.1 8th 258.2
Grafton Olympic Pool 31.1 +1.0 40.8 12th 21.0 +1.3 17.6 8th 289.2 146.1 v high 198%
Grafton Research Stn 31.8 +1.9 42.2 12th 20.5 +1.9 16.9 8th 211.4 137.8 high 153%
Lismore (Richmond Hill) 29.5   38.0 12th 20.4   17.0 17th 322.5
Lismore Airport AWS 29.8   39.0 12th 19.6   15.2 5th 278.8
Murwillumbah (Bray Park) 29.7 +0.1 36.0 13th 21.0 +1.3 16.5 17th 479.4 214.5 v high 223%
Yamba Pilot Station 28.0 +1.3 36.7 9th 21.4 +1.2 18.2 15th 238.8 140.6 high 170%
Lower North Coast (district 59)
Coffs Harbour MO 28.1 +1.2 37.7 9th 20.3 +0.9 17.0 16th 487.2 189.2 v high 258%
Dorrigo (Old Coramba Rd) 25.5   36.3 12th 16.3   12.9 16th 441.2
Kempsey (Wide Street) 29.8 +0.6 42.5 12th 19.7 +2.0 16.3 16th 301.1 134.8 v high 223%
Kempsey Airport AWS 30.3   43.9 12th 18.3   13.6 16th 280.0
South West Rocks (Smoky Cape Lighthouse) 27.9 +1.1 31.8 23rd 20.9 +1.4 16.6 15th 239.6 148.1 high 162%
Manning (district 60)
Forster - Tuncurry Marine Rescue 26.6   34.0 12th 20.0   16.0 11th 525.6 111.0 highest 474%
Port Macquarie Airport AWS 28.5   36.4 8th 19.4   15.2 16th 385.2
Taree Airport AWS 29.7   42.9 12th 18.9   14.6 4th 202.4
Yarras (Mount Seaview) 30.3 +1.3 42.0 12th 19.1 +1.7 14.6 8th 622.2 242.3 v high 257%
Hunter (district 61)
Cessnock Airport AWS 31.7 +1.8 45.0 18th 18.2 +1.5 12.9 16th 156.0 72.5 v high 215%
Cooranbong (Lake Macquarie AWS) 29.1   45.2 18th 18.1   12.7 16th 235.4
Gosford (Narara Research Station) AWS 28.5 +0.9 44.8 18th 18.0 +1.2 13.4 16th 312.0 134.7 v high 232%
Maitland Visitors Centre 30.8   44.5 18th 19.7   16.8 15th 141.0
Mangrove Mountain AWS 28.7   43.6 18th 17.6   13.3 15th 231.6
Merriwa (Roscommon) 33.4   43.8 18th 17.4   13.2 11th 115.0 79.0 high 146%
Murrurundi Gap AWS 29.2   38.3 12th 16.7   11.3 15th 163.8
Murrurundi Post Office 31.6 +0.9 40.9 12th 17.3 +2.1 11.4 15th 172.4 91.4 high 189%
Nelson Bay (Nelson Head) 27.7 +0.4 36.5 12th 21.0 +2.4 18.5 16th 200.1 99.8 v high 201%
Newcastle Nobbys Signal Station AWS 26.9 +1.4 42.5 18th 20.8 +1.6 18.5 14th 136.6 88.4 high 155%
Newcastle University 30.1   44.1 18th 20.1   16.2 16th 175.6
Norah Head AWS 27.2   44.0 18th 20.4   17.4 15th 178.2
Paterson (Tocal AWS) 31.3 +1.6 44.4 18th 18.9 +1.3 14.5 16th 140.6 104.1 high 135%
Scone Airport AWS 33.3 +2.1 44.2 12th 18.7 +2.0 14.6 4th 150.4
Singleton STP 32.2   44.6 18th 18.6   13.9 16th 143.0
Williamtown RAAF 29.8 +1.8 44.8 18th 19.1 +1.1 13.4 16th 203.6 97.9 v high 208%
Central Tablelands (North) (district 62)
Gulgong Post Office 33.4 +2.5 42.0 18th 18.1 +1.4 13.1 15th 101.4 70.5 high 144%
Mudgee Airport AWS 33.1 +2.6 41.7 12th 17.3 +1.6 11.8 2nd 87.4
Nullo Mountain AWS 26.4 +2.6 36.4 18th 14.8 +1.4 9.1 15th 226.4
Central Tablelands (South) (district 63)
Bathurst Agricultural Station 31.8 +3.9 40.2 12th 14.4 +1.1 9.3 15th 97.8 68.6 high 143%
Bathurst Airport AWS 31.8 +3.5 40.1 18th 14.5 +1.0 10.3 30th 59.0
Katoomba (Murri St) 26.1 +2.9 36.4 12th 14.5 +1.7 9.7 15th
Lithgow (Cooerwull) 28.2   36.9 18th 14.0   7.6 2nd 113.2 84.0 high 135%
Mount Boyce AWS 26.6 +2.8 36.0 18th 14.3 +1.2 8.8 15th 187.6
Oberon (Springbank) 28.7 +4.0 36.0 18th 12.9 +2.1 8.5 14th 50.2 80.6 low 62%
Orange Agricultural Institute 30.6 +4.2 37.2 12th 15.2 +1.9 9.6 15th 70.0 86.5 average 81%
Orange Airport AWS 30.5   38.1 12th 14.2   8.1 14th 59.2
Springwood (Valley Heights) 29.4   44.1 18th 17.4   13.3 15th 198.5 125.6 high 158%
Central Western Slopes (North) (district 64)
Coonabarabran (Namoi Street) 34.2 +2.5 42.2 12th 16.9 +1.9 12.0 30th 87.2 90.9 average 96%
Coonabarabran Airport AWS 33.2   41.4 12th 19.0   13.5 10th 99.4
Dunedoo Post Office 35.3 +3.5 43.7 12th 19.6 +2.7 15.0 2nd 75.5 69.9 average 108%
Central Western Slopes (South) (district 65)
Cowra Airport AWS 36.1   44.8 18th 17.0   9.8 10th 7.8
Dubbo Airport AWS 36.9 +3.9 45.0 12th 19.7 +1.6 13.5 2nd 63.4
Forbes Airport AWS 37.0   44.3 18th 18.9   10.2 10th 27.6
Parkes Airport AWS 36.3   43.6 12th 18.6   8.3 10th 19.4 61.8 low 31%
Wellington (Agrowplow) 36.0 +3.1 43.7 12th 19.5 +2.6 14.4 10th 84.2 59.2 high 142%
Metropolitan (East) (district 66)
Bankstown Airport AWS 29.6 +1.4 46.1 18th 19.2 +1.1 13.6 15th 129.4 91.7 high 141%
Canterbury Racecourse AWS 28.2   44.6 18th 18.6   13.2 15th 164.2
Holsworthy Aerodrome AWS 29.7   45.8 18th 18.6   12.8 15th 143.6
Holsworthy Control Range 29.9   45.7 18th 18.0   12.4 15th 149.4
Parramatta North (Masons Drive) 29.6 +1.3 45.5 18th 18.3 +0.8 12.2 15th 115.4 102.3 average 113%
Sydney (Observatory Hill) 27.6 +1.7 45.8 18th 20.5 +1.8 16.8 15th 137.8 101.7 high 135%
Sydney Airport AMO 28.2 +1.7 46.4 18th 20.4 +1.6 17.3 14th 138.0 94.5 high 146%
Sydney Harbour (Wedding Cake West) 24.5   39.7 8th 20.4   17.4 14th
Sydney Olympic Park AWS (Archery Centre) 28.9   44.8 18th 19.5   14.0 15th 143.8
Terrey Hills AWS 27.5   43.9 18th 18.9   14.9 14th 217.0
Metropolitan (West) (district 67)
Badgerys Creek AWS 31.1   45.8 18th 18.0   12.9 15th 168.2
Horsley Park Equestrian Centre AWS 30.5   44.9 18th 18.2   13.5 15th 141.6
Penrith Lakes AWS 32.0   46.5 18th 19.3   15.6 15th 149.2
Prospect Reservoir 29.9 +1.6 45.1 18th 18.5 +0.9 13.0 15th 134.9 94.4 high 143%
Richmond RAAF 32.0   46.4 18th 18.4   14.4 4th 155.0
Illawarra (district 68)
Albion Park (Wollongong Airport) 27.6   45.8 18th 17.3   11.4 15th 167.2
Bellambi AWS 25.6   42.4 18th 19.6   15.4 14th 241.0
Bowral (Parry Drive) 27.7 +2.3 39.1 18th 14.9 +1.6 8.4 15th 155.6 83.1 v high 187%
Camden Airport AWS 31.5 +2.1 46.4 18th 17.8 +1.0 11.0 15th 179.4 77.9 v high 230%
Campbelltown (Mount Annan) 30.4   45.0 18th 17.6   11.2 15th 203.0
Jervis Bay (Point Perpendicular AWS) 25.3   40.5 18th 18.6   14.4 14th 228.6
Kiama (Bombo Headland) 25.8   45.0 18th 19.1   14.7 15th 170.8
Moss Vale AWS 27.8   39.7 18th 14.4   7.5 15th 136.8
Nowra RAN Air Station AWS 28.5   45.4 18th 16.8   9.6 15th 131.2
Port Kembla NTC AWS 24.7   42.5 18th 19.8   15.5 14th
South Coast (district 69)
Batemans Bay (Catalina Country Club) 27.0 +1.3 45.6 18th 16.3 +0.7 10.0 15th 139.0 82.3 high 169%
Bega AWS 29.8 +2.8 44.6 18th 14.7 -0.2 6.5 15th 50.0
Braidwood Racecourse AWS 29.3 +2.7 40.8 18th 12.2 +0.1 4.1 15th 122.8 56.1 v high 219%
Green Cape AWS 23.6   29.9 8th 17.2   12.8 15th 73.8
Merimbula Airport AWS 26.3   44.2 18th 14.9   8.4 15th 77.8
Montague Island Lighthouse 24.3 +1.4 38.7 8th 18.1 +0.7 14.3 14th 116.2 69.0 high 168%
Moruya Airport AWS 26.2   45.9 18th 16.0   10.4 15th 136.2
Moruya Heads Pilot Station 25.0 +1.1 43.8 18th 17.1 +1.0 11.3 14th 132.6 94.2 high 141%
Narooma (Marine Rescue) 24.9 +1.3 43.8 18th 17.0 +0.5 12.5 15th 131.7 90.7 high 145%
Ulladulla AWS 25.2 +1.2 44.5 18th 18.1 +0.9 13.7 15th 143.6
Southern Tablelands (Goulburn-Monaro) (district 70)
Bombala (Therry Street) 28.8 +3.3 38.0 18th 11.0 +0.7 3.5 10th 64.8 63.2 average 103%
Bombala AWS 28.6 +3.4 39.2 18th 10.2 -0.5 2.5 15th 69.0
Canberra Airport 32.3   42.0 18th 13.9   5.6 15th 67.4
Cooma Airport AWS 29.3 +2.9 37.4 5th 10.9 +0.2 1.5 10th 88.6 50.5 high 175%
Cooma Visitors Centre 30.0 +2.8 38.0 18th 10.9 +0.2 3.4 15th 104.7 57.4 high 182%
Goulburn Airport AWS 31.1 +3.4 40.2 18th 12.8 +0.2 5.4 15th 98.8
Goulburn TAFE 30.9 +3.2 39.6 18th 15.0 +1.4 8.6 15th 88.6 61.3 high 145%
Mount Ginini AWS 23.3   30.5 6th 10.6   0.7 14th 43.6
Taralga Post Office 29.5 +3.5 38.2 18th 13.7 +1.9 8.5 15th 72.2 72.7 average 99%
Tuggeranong (Isabella Plains) AWS 32.1   40.1 18th 14.8   7.9 15th 88.0
Southern Tablelands (Snowy Mountains) (district 71)
Perisher Valley AWS 21.5   28.9 6th 7.9   -0.4 14th 74.4
Thredbo AWS 19.4 +3.2 26.4 6th 8.4 +1.8 -2.2 14th 54.6 88.7 low 62%
Thredbo Village 24.5 +3.2 31.7 6th 9.1 +1.9 1.0 14th 43.8 104.1 low 42%
Southwest Slopes (South) (district 72)
Albury Airport AWS 34.9   43.4 5th 16.4   8.9 14th 16.8
Cabramurra SMHEA AWS 24.0   31.1 18th 12.9   2.0 14th 18.2
Hume Reservoir 34.2 +3.4 42.1 5th 17.6 +1.2 10.0 10th 14.8 45.2 average 33%
Khancoban AWS 33.7   43.1 18th 13.1   6.0 14th 16.4
Tumbarumba Post Office 32.2 +3.5 40.0 6th 13.6 +1.6 6.2 10th 15.8 62.0 low 25%
Wagga Wagga AMO 35.3 +3.7 44.1 18th 17.8 +1.6 8.9 14th 12.6 40.1 low 31%
Southwest Slopes (North) (district 73)
Burrinjuck Dam 34.4 +4.9 41.1 6th 16.0 +0.5 10.4 14th 17.3 61.9 low 28%
Cootamundra Airport 34.5   42.0 5th 16.0   7.4 14th 11.2
Grenfell (Manganese Rd) 35.3 +3.6 42.8 18th 17.0 +0.7 8.5 10th 14.2 51.8 low 27%
Gundagai (William St) 35.2   43.5 18th 16.9   10.4 14th 14.6
Quandialla Post Office 36.7 +3.7 43.8 18th 18.9 +1.7 9.9 10th 2.2 48.4 v low 5%
Temora Airport 36.1   44.0 18th 16.6   6.7 10th 10.4
Wyalong Post Office 36.2 +3.5 43.6 18th 19.1 +1.6 11.3 14th 9.4 41.7 low 23%
Young Airport 35.0 +3.5 42.6 18th 14.9 +0.3 5.9 10th 7.0
Riverina (East) (district 74)
Corowa Airport 34.5 +2.6 45.0 5th 16.3 +0.6 9.0 14th 3.4 36.4 low 9%
Deniliquin Airport AWS 34.2   45.9 5th 16.1   9.3 30th 4.4
Narrandera Airport 36.2   45.3 5th 18.3   9.8 14th 12.4 34.4 low 36%
Tocumwal Airport 33.6 +1.8 45.1 5th 16.2 +0.2 11.0 14th 3.6 32.4 low 11%
Yanco Agricultural Institute 35.9   44.8 5th 19.3   10.7 14th 0.2 29.1 v low 1%
Riverina (West) (district 75)
Griffith Airport AWS 36.0 +3.2 44.7 5th 18.4 +1.4 9.7 30th 0 33.0 lowest 0%
Hay (Miller Street) 36.1 +3.1 47.7 5th 17.7 +1.1 9.4 14th 5.6 27.6 low 20%
Hay Airport AWS 36.7   47.9 5th 17.2   8.9 14th 1.2
Offshore Islands (district 200)
Lord Howe Island Aero 26.2 +1.0 28.3 20th 21.4 +0.8 14.0 17th 40.6 117.3 v low 35%
Norfolk Island Aero 24.6 +0.1 26.4 23rd 19.2 +0.1 16.8 18th 13.2 86.0 low 15%

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Notes

A Monthly Climate Summary is prepared to list the main features of the weather in New South Wales 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 Friday 1 February 2013. 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.

The ACORN-SAT dataset is being used for temperature area averages from December 2012 onwards. The major change from earlier datasets is that the ACORN-SAT dataset commences in 1910, rather than 1950, and hence rankings are calculated using a larger set of years.

Further information

Climate Officer
NSW Climate Services Centre
NSW Regional Office
Bureau of Meteorology
Phone (02) 9296 1555
Email climate.nsw@bom.gov.au