Tuesday, 1 March 2016 - Monthly Climate Summary for Sydney - Product code IDCKGC15L0

Sydney in February 2016: A warm, dry end to summer

February was very dry across the whole Sydney region, and the driest on record for Parramatta. Both daytime and night-time temperatures were persistently warm throughout the month, resulting in the equal-fourth-warmest February on record for mean temperatures.

• Equal fourth-warmest February on record for mean temperatures
• Longest spell above 26 °C on record for any month
• Equal fewest nights below 19 °C on record for February
• Driest February on record for Parramatta

February was a dry month across most of the Greater Sydney region, with Observatory Hill recording less than a quarter of the average rainfall for February. Several stations, including Parramatta, recorded their driest February on record, while Sydney Airport recorded the most hours of sunshine on record for February. There were eight days with rain recorded at Observatory Hill, the fewest since February 2005, with just two recording more than 5 mm. The only significant rain event during the month were a series of thunderstorms that produced locally heavy rain on the 20th, including 46.2 mm recorded at Randwick during the 24 hours to 9 am on the 21st.

Daytime temperatures were well above average across the city during February, with temperatures 2.4 °C above average at Observatory Hill. This is the equal fifth-warmest February on record. Minimum temperatures were also well above average in eastern Sydney, and the equal sixth-warmest on record at Observatory Hill, with the mean temperature consequently the equal fourth-warmest on record. Two days reached 30 °C at Observatory Hill, average for February, with temperatures reaching 42.2 °C at Penrith Lakes on the 25th. However, there was a notable lack of cold weather during the month, with only one day dropping below the long-term average for February.

Only one day during failed to reach at least 26 °C at Observatory Hill, with 24.8 °C recorded on the 4th. This is the fewest below-average days on record for February (average 16 days), and well below the previous record of five days. The spell of 25 days above 26 °C between 5 and 29 February is the longest on record for any month. In addition, only two nights had minimum temperatures below 19 °C, the equal-fewest number on record for February (average 14 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 lower 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