Friday, 1 April 2016 - Monthly Climate Summary for Sydney - Product code IDCKGC15L0

Sydney in March 2016: warmest March nights on record

March was a month of two halves for Sydney. Between the 1st and the 14th, the hot, dry conditions from February continued to affect the city, with record-breaking spells of warm days and nights and the second-longest March dry spell on record. The second half of the month was cooler, with persistent rain along the coast but drier conditions inland, resulting in a contrast in total rainfall between the west and east.

• Warmest mean minimum temperatures on record for March
• Equal fourth-warmest March on record for mean maximum temperatures
• Longest spell of nights above 20 °C on record for any month
• Longest spell of days above 25 °C, 26 °C and 27 °C on record
• Dry conditions continue across most of western Sydney
• A dry start and wet finish for eastern Sydney

Sydney Observatory Hill recorded its warmest March on record for mean minimum temperatures during 2016, with the average minimum temperature 2.1 °C above the historical average. Nights were particularly warm during the first half of the month, with a record-breaking 25 consecutive nights above 20 °C between 19 February and 14 March. Seven nights reached at least 22 °C, the highest number on record for March (average 0.4 nights), while Sydney Airport recorded its equal-warmest March night on record on the 4th.

Maximum temperatures were also well above average across the city, the equal fourth-warmest on record at Observatory Hill, with mean temperatures consequently the second-warmest on record. Daytime temperatures were also very warm during the first half of the month, with a record-breaking 25 consecutive days above 27 °C recorded between 19 February and 14 March, double the previous record of 12 days. This period also broke records for consecutive days above 24 °C, 25 °C and 26 °C, reflecting a prolonged period of warmth in coastal NSW. While only two days reached at least 30 °C, average for March, nine reached at least 30 °C in Parramatta, double the average of 5 days. The second half of the month was cooler for both minimum and maximum temperatures, particularly associated with rain over 19-22 March.

Rainfall was below average across most of the city, with some parts of western Sydney recording their driest March in at least twenty years. This was a continuation of dry conditions during February, with Observatory Hill recording 21 consecutive days without rain between 23 February and 14 March, the second-longest March dry spell on record. A shift to prevailing easterly flow generated rain in coastal parts of the city during the second half of the month, with heaviest falls reaching 51 mm at Avalon Beach on the 16th and 95.4 mm at Randwick on the 21st. Observatory Hill recorded rain on 13 days during the second half of the month, close to the average of 14 days, of which six recorded at least 10 mm (the average is three days). The total rainfall at Observatory Hill was consequently 49% above average for March and the wettest since 2012.

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