Monday, 1 February 2016 - Monthly Climate Summary for Sydney - Product code IDCKGC15L0

Sydney in January 2016: A wet January with hot and cold spells

Sydney recorded a very wet January during 2016, the wettest since 1988, with a heavy rain event at the start of the month as well as several severe thunderstorms. The heavy rain and cool conditions were interspersed with two heatwaves, which contributed to well above average maximum temperatures at Sydney Observatory Hill and the most hot days since 1991.

• Wettest January since 1988
• Most January days with 25 mm or more of rain since 1972
• Two hot spells contribute to above-average maximum temperatures
• Most January days above 30 °C since 1991
• Coldest January day since 1978

Sydney Observatory Hill recorded 249.8 mm of rain during January 2016, more than double the historical average. This was the wettest January since 273.2 mm was recorded in 1988 and the tenth-wettest January on record, but well below the January record of 387.1 mm (set in 1911). At several stations including Strathfield and Parramatta this was the wettest January on record. The rain fell over 13 days, close to the January average of 12 days, but five recorded at least 25 mm of rainfall (average one day). This is the equal second-highest number of heavy rain days on record for January, following six days in January 1972.

There were several heavy rain events during the month. A period of onshore flow and a developing East Coast Low produced persistent rain between the 4th and 7th, with Frenchs Forest recording 129 mm of rain on the 6th and a three-day total of 239 mm to 9 am on the 7th. Thunderstorms also produced heavy rain and flash flooding across the city on the 14th and again over the 21st and 22nd, with the storms on the 14th also producing wind gusts of up to 120 km/h and resulting in more than 2000 calls to the SES for fallen trees and roof damage. Storms also produced heavy rain in northeastern Sydney on the 25th, with 66 mm recorded at Castle Cove for the 24 hours to 9am on the 26th. Finally, several severe thunderstorms caused strong winds and heavy rain across western Sydney between the 28th and 30th, with wind gusts of up to 102 km/h at Badgerys Creek on the 28th and rainfall of 30 mm in 10 minutes at Toongabbie on the 30th. This led to flash flooding in many regions of western Sydney, with more than 40 flood rescues, as well as fallen and uprooted trees and roof damage.

Daytime temperatures were also well above average at Sydney Observatory Hill, but cooler than average in parts of western Sydney. Two heatwaves, over 11-14 and 19-21 January, resulted Observatory Hill recording 8 days above 30 °C, well above the average of 3 days and the most hot days since January 1991. Temperatures reached above 40 °C in parts of the city on both the 14th and 20th. Days were cooler during rainy periods, particularly between the 4th and 6th, with a maximum temperature of just 18.6 °C at Observatory Hill on the 6th. This is the coolest January day for Sydney since 18.2 °C was recorded on 28 January 1978.

Minimum temperatures were close to average across most of the city during January, with above average temperatures at Observatory Hill. There were 15 nights with minima of 20 °C or higher at Observatory Hill, well above the historical average of nine warm nights.

Extremes Records Summaries Daily observations Important notes the top

Extremes Records Summaries Daily observations Important notes the top

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

Extremes Records Summaries Daily observations Important notes the top

Extremes Records Summaries Daily observations Important notes the top

Extremes Records Summaries Daily observations Important notes the top