Monday, 3 September 2018 - Monthly Climate Summary for New South Wales - Product code IDCKGC15R0

New South Wales in August 2018: Largely dry with warm days and cool nights

Below average August rainfall was recorded throughout much of the State, except parts of the north. Mean August maximum temperatures were generally above average, with overnight temperatures below average.

Below average rainfall continues

• Very much below average rainfall across parts of the west and south, average across parts of the north
• August rainfall totals for the state as a whole was the lowest since 2013, at 57% below normal
• August continues a run of eight consecutive months of below average rainfall for New South Wales, resulting in the driest January to August period since 1965
• A low pressure system and associated trough brought widespread rainfall totals in excess of 10 mm throughout central and northern NSW on 26 August
• On 26 August, Bourke Airport recorded its highest August daily rainfall on record
• A number of sites had their lowest total August rainfall on record or their lowest total August rainfall for at least 20 years

Above average days and cool nights for most of the State

• August maximum temperatures were warmer than average for the State, except for the lower eastern Murray-Darling Basin and parts of the north
• Monthly maximum temperature anomalies for the State as a whole were the warmest for August since 2013
• NSW has not reported a negative monthly maximum temperature anomaly since April 2017
• Minimum temperatures were below average for much of the state, except parts of the far west and the southern to central eastern regions
• Minimum temperatures were very much below average across the north, and southern parts of the Central West Slopes and Plains and Lower Western Districts
• For the State as a whole, monthly minimum temperature anomalies were the coolest for August since 2012
• Bombala AWS recorded its coldest August day on record
• Newcastle University recorded its warmest August night on record
• A number of sites have recorded their lowest August temperature on record
• A few sites have recorded their lowest August mean daily minimum temperature on record or lowest August mean temperature for at least 20 years

Wind, fire, dust and snow

• Many inland sites reported very windy conditions for August
• During the month bushfires occurred along the NSW east coast and parts of the Tablelands and Slopes and Plains Districts
• The snow depth at Spencers Creek reached 224.6 cm on August 22

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Maps
	Observed	Anomaly	Decile rank
Total rainfall
Mean daily maximum temperatures
Mean daily minimum temperatures

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

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top