Tuesday, 1 May 2018 - Monthly Climate Summary for Greater Sydney - Product code IDCKGC15L0

Greater Sydney in April 2018: much warmer and drier than average

Temperatures were much warmer than average during April across Greater Sydney, with many sites exceeding their April temperature records. Rainfall totals for April were below average in all suburbs, despite several days of rain at the end of the month.

Drier than average

• Rainfall totals during April were below average across Sydney, despite widespread falls of more than 10 mm in the last few days of the month
• In the city, Sydney (Observatory Hill) had its driest April since 2006 and less than half its average count of rain days for the month
• April rainfall ranged from 12% of average at Canterbury Racecourse and Katoomba to 63% of average at Norah Head

Much warmer than average

• Sydney (Observatory Hill) had its overall warmest April on record and its hottest April day on record
• The mean daily maximum temperature for Sydney (Observatory Hill) was 26.1 °C, which exceeded the previous April record from 1922 and was warmer than the site's mean maximum temperature for January of 26.0 °C
• Sydney (Observatory Hill) had nine consecutive days of 25 °C or above from the 1st to the 9th, which exceeded the previous longest run of such days during April of seven days in 1897 (although note that temperatures in 1897 were measured in a different type of enclosure)
• In the first half of the month, several other sites in Sydney's west (including Bankstown, Parramatta North, and Prospect Reservoir) also exceeded their previous records for long runs of consecutive days of 25 °C or above during April
• Between the 9th and 11th, several sites had their highest April temperature on record
• Numerous sites had their highest April mean daily maximum temperature on record
• Between the 12th and 14th, several sites had their warmest April night on record
• Several sites had either their highest April mean daily minimum temperature on record or their highest April mean daily minimum temperature since 1990
• Across Greater Sydney, mean maximum temperatures ranged from 1.8 °C warmer than average at Sydney Harbour (Wedding Cake West) to 4.5 °C warmer than average at Katoomba
• Mean minimum temperatures ranged from 2.1 °C warmer than average at Camden Airport to 3.7 °C warmer than average at Sydney Airport
• The combination of warmer than average days and nights resulted in several sites having their highest April mean temperature on record

Sydney (Observatory Hill)

• Total rainfall for Sydney (Observatory Hill) was 23.2 mm, which is 18% of the long-term average of 127.9 mm
• The mean daily maximum temperature for Sydney (Observatory Hill) was 26.1 °C, which is 3.6 °C above the long-term average of 22.5 °C. The warmest day was 35.4 °C on the 9th, and the coolest day was on the 28th when the temperature reached 20.3 °C
• The mean daily minimum temperature for Sydney (Observatory Hill) was 18.0 °C, which is 3.3 °C above the long-term average of 14.7 °C. The coldest morning was 12.0 °C on the 30th, and the warmest morning was on the 14th when the minimum temperature was 23.2 °C

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Daily observations Important notes the top

Extremes Maps 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 Maps Records Summaries Daily observations Important notes the top

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Daily observations Important notes the top

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Daily observations Important notes the top