Greater Sydney in December 2019: Record dry with hot days

December 2019 was the driest on record for many sites in Greater Sydney, with just 1.6 mm of rain at Observatory Hill in the city. There were several very hot days, peaking on the 31st when Penrith Lakes reached 46.3 °C

A record dry month

  • Apart from a few scattered light showers, most of Sydney only saw rain around the 25th
  • Only a handful of sites in Greater Sydney recorded more than 5 mm of rainfall for the whole month, many recorded less than 1 mm and several reported no rain at all
  • Many sites across Greater Sydney, including Observatory Hill, had their lowest total December rainfall on record or their lowest for several decades

A cool start, then hot days

  • The month started off relatively cool (Canterbury equalled its lowest December temperature on record on the 3rd), and there was some more cool weather on the 22nd
  • There were several bursts of hot weather, notably on the 10th, 19th and 21st, and the month ended with a run of very hot days
  • Temperatures in the western suburbs rose into the mid-40s on the 31st: Penrith Lakes reached 46.3 °C and numerous sites in the Greater Sydney area, including Parramatta and Bankstown, had their hottest December day on record
  • Mount Boyce, Richmond and Penrith Lakes each had their highest December mean daily maximum temperature on record

Smoke and gusty winds

  • Smoke from bushfires burning across New South Wales led to very poor air quality in Sydney several times during the month
  • Strong and gusty winds accompanied cool changes on the 21st and again on the 31st, with a southerly gust to 100 km/h registered at Sydney Airport on the 31st

Sydney (Observatory Hill)

  • Total rainfall for Sydney (Observatory Hill) was record low at 1.6 mm, just 2% of the long-term average
  • The mean daily maximum temperature for Sydney (Observatory Hill) was 26.8 °C, which is 1.6 °C above the long-term average
  • The coolest day at Observatory Hill was on the 1st when the temperature reached 22.0 °C, and the hottest was 39.3 °C on the 19th
  • The mean daily minimum temperature for Sydney (Observatory Hill) was 18.9 °C, which is 1.3 °C above the long-term average
  • The coldest morning was 14.1 °C on the 3rd, and the warmest morning was on the 25th when the minimum temperature was 21.7 °C

Further information

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Extremes in December 2019
Hottest day 46.3 °C at Penrith Lakes AWS on the 31st
Warmest days on average 33.5 °C at Penrith Lakes AWS
Coolest days on average 23.4 °C at Sydney Harbour (Wedding Cake West)
Coldest day 10.3 °C at Mount Boyce AWS on the 2nd
Coldest night 5.6 °C at Mount Boyce AWS on the 2nd and 3rd
Coolest nights on average 12.6 °C at Katoomba (Farnells Rd)
Warmest nights on average 19.1 °C at Sydney Harbour (Wedding Cake West)
Warmest night 23.5 °C at Mount Boyce AWS on the 31st
Warmest on average overall 25.1 °C at Penrith Lakes AWS
Coolest on average overall 19.9 °C at Mount Boyce AWS
Wettest overall 13.0 mm at Wyong (Olney Forest)
Driest overall 0 mm at several sites
Wettest day 11.0 mm at Wyong (Olney Forest) on the 25th
Strongest wind gust 100 km/h at Wattamolla AWS on the 21st
100 km/h at Sydney Airport AMO on the 31st

Record lowest December total rainfall
New record
(mm)
Old
record
Years of
record
Average for
December
Sydney (Observatory Hill) 1.6 2.8 in 1979 162 77.1
Katoomba (Farnells Rd) 1.4 3.2 in 1974 135 120.9
Sydney Botanic Gardens 1.9 2.6 in 1979 135 81.5
Prospect Reservoir 0.0 2.2 in 1979 133 75.5
Darkes Forest (Kintyre) 3.6 10.6 in 1941 122 103.0
Cooranbong (Avondale) 2.0 6.6 in 1977 105 96.6
Sydney Airport AMO 1.0 4.8 in 1979 91 72.8
Marrickville Golf Club 1.0 6.1 in 1938 85 73.4
Pennant Hills (Yarrara Road) 2.0 5.5 in 1953 78 91.6
Castle Cove (Rosebridge Ave) 8.0 13.9 in 1979 61 91.1
Lucas Heights (ANSTO) 1.0 6.4 in 1979 61 76.3
Colo Heights (Mountain Pines) 1.6 3.4 in 1974 57 92.3
Parramatta North (Masons Drive) 1.0 6.2 in 1974 54 72.1
Bankstown Airport AWS 5.2 8.4 in 1979 52 67.2
Mona Vale Golf Club 1.2 7.6 in 1976 48 69.2
Mount Wilson (Clarine) 3.6 4.8 in 1974 48 104.7
Macquarie Park (Willandra Village) 1.0 11.4 in 1986 42 83.1
Peakhurst Golf Club 1.0 4.0 in 1979 42 53.9
Avalon Beach (Avalon (Palmgrove Rd)) 1.4 17.0 in 1969 39 87.0
Wedderburn (Booalbyn) 0.0 2.4 in 1974 36 55.5
Chatswood Bowling Club 1.0 2.6 in 1953 31 76.8
Belrose (Evelyn Place) 7.2 29.4 in 2005 29 89.0
Bilpin Post Office 4.4 23.8 in 2005 28 115.8
Box Hill (McCall Gardens) 0.0 22.4 in 1990 26 69.5
Mount Boyce AWS 0.4 22.6 in 2001 26 81.4
Penrith Lakes AWS 0.0 26.2 in 2005 25 60.8
Richmond RAAF 0.0 14.6 in 1997 24 67.1
Horsley Park Equestrian Centre AWS 2.4 6.8 in 2005 23 63.6
Baulkham Hills Eucalyptus Ct 5.5 8.5 in 2005 20 69.9
North Rocks (Muirfield Golf Club) 1.5 26.5 in 2005 20 77.7
Seven Hills (Radio FM 103.2) 0.5 21.0 in 2005 20 66.6
St Ives (Richmond Avenue) 1.6 24.2 in 2013 20 84.4
Wyong (Mount Elliot) 4.0 20.0 in 2001 20 81.2
Wyong (Olney Forest) 13.0 29.0 in 2005 20 90.2

Lowest December total rainfall for at least 20 years
Observed
(mm)
Most recent
lower
Average for
December
Randwick Racecourse 4.6 2.3 in 1938* 79.4
Faulconbridge (St Georges Crescent) 5.7 4.3 in 1944* 97.6
Camden (Brownlow Hill) 0.2 0.0 in 1974 67.2
Springwood (Valley Heights) 1.2 0.8 in 1974* 101.0
Kurrajong Heights (Bells Line of Road) 8.6 2.6 in 1974* 121.0
Randwick (Randwick St) 8.5 3.2 in 1979 75.7
Yarramalong (Lewensbrook) 3.8 0.0 in 1979 85.6
Camden Airport AWS 0.2 0.0 in 1974* 56.6
Rose Bay (Royal Sydney Golf Club) 1.4 0.0 in 1979* 78.4
Collaroy (Long Reef Golf Club) 3.8 3.3 in 1969* 68.2
Norah Head AWS 1.6 0.2 in 1996 65.2

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




Record highest December temperature
New record
(°C)
Old
record
Years of
record
Average for
December
Katoomba (Farnells Rd) * 39.5 on the 21st 35.0 on the 26th in 1957 57 22.5
Parramatta North (Masons Drive) 44.0 on the 31st 43.9 on the 21st in 1994 53 27.6
Bankstown Airport AWS 44.9 on the 31st 43.6 on the 21st in 1994 52 27.5
Camden Airport AWS 44.0 on the 31st 43.1 on the 17th in 2009 44 28.6
Mount Boyce AWS * 37.5 on the 21st 33.9 on the 21st in 1994 29 22.6
Richmond RAAF 45.0 on the 31st 43.7 on the 21st in 1994 27 28.9
Mangrove Mountain AWS 42.4 on the 21st 40.8 on the 20th in 2017 26 26.4
Badgerys Creek AWS 44.6 on the 31st 42.7 on the 19th in 2017 25 28.5
Canterbury Racecourse AWS 42.3 on the 31st 40.6 on the 24th in 2017 25 26.6
Penrith Lakes AWS 46.3 on the 31st 44.1 on the 19th in 2017 25 29.6
Horsley Park Equestrian Centre AWS 44.4 on the 31st 42.6 on the 14th in 2017 23 28.4
* note also an annual record; see the 2019 summary


Record highest December mean daily maximum temperature
New record
(°C)
Old
record
Years of
record
Average for
December
Mount Boyce AWS 27.0 25.5 in 2016 28 22.6
Richmond RAAF 33.0 32.6 in 2017 26 28.9
Penrith Lakes AWS 33.5 33.4 in 2017 24 29.6

Highest December mean daily maximum temperature for at least 20 years
Observed
(°C)
Most recent
higher
Average for
December
Katoomba (Farnells Rd) 27.7 28.4 in 1957* 22.5

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




Record highest December daily minimum temperature
New record
(°C)
Old
record
Years of
record
Average for
December
Katoomba (Farnells Rd) 23.4 on the 31st = 23.4 on the 20th in 2017 57 11.8
Mount Boyce AWS 23.5 on the 31st 23.2 on the 1st in 2004 29 11.7



Record lowest December temperature
New record
(°C)
Old
record
Years of
record
Average for
December
Canterbury Racecourse AWS 8.5 on the 3rd = 8.5 on the 26th in 2006 25 16.9



Record highest December mean temperature
New record
(°C)
Old
record
Years of
record
Average for
December
Mount Boyce AWS 19.9 19.6 in 2018 28 17.1



Summary statistics for December 2019
Maximum temperatures
(°C)
Minimum temperatures
(°C)
Rainfall
(millimetres)
Mean for
December
2019
Diff
from
average
Highest for
December
2019
Mean for
December
2019
Diff
from
average
Lowest for
December
2019
Total for
December
2019
Average
for
December
Rank of
December
2019
Fraction of
December
average
Badgerys Creek AWS 31.8 +3.3 44.6 31st 15.2 -0.3 9.2 3rd 1.4 53.6 v low 3%
Bankstown Airport AWS 30.2 +2.7 44.9 31st 16.8 +0.1 9.2 3rd 5.2 67.2 lowest 8%
Camden Airport AWS 31.8 +3.2 44.0 31st 15.0 -0.3 8.2 5th 0.2 56.6 v low 0%
Campbelltown (Mount Annan) 31.2 +2.9 43.1 31st 14.9 -0.5 9.4 5th 1.8 57.2 v low 3%
Canterbury Racecourse AWS 28.4 +1.8 42.3 31st 16.7 -0.2 8.5 3rd 7.0 63.4 v low 11%
Cooranbong (Lake Macquarie AWS) 29.4 +1.9 43.0 31st 14.9 -1.2 7.5 3rd 2.8 76.5 v low 4%
Gosford AWS 28.3   43.0 31st 16.9   10.7 3rd 3.0
Holsworthy Aerodrome AWS 29.9   44.5 31st 16.0   10.1 3rd 0.4
Holsworthy Defence AWS 29.8   43.6 31st 15.6   10.6 5th 0.8
Horsley Park Equestrian Centre AWS 31.4 +3.0 44.4 31st 15.8 -0.5 10.3 3rd 2.4 63.6 lowest 4%
Katoomba (Farnells Rd) 27.7 +5.2 39.5 21st 12.6 +0.8 5.8 3rd 1.4 120.9 lowest 1%
Mount Boyce AWS 27.0 +4.4 37.5 21st 12.9 +1.2 5.6 2nd 0.4 81.4 lowest 0%
Norah Head AWS 26.6 +1.6 34.4 19th 18.6 +0.1 12.9 3rd 1.6 65.2 v low 2%
Parramatta North (Masons Drive) 30.4 +2.8 44.0 31st 16.1 -0.2 12.0 17th 1.0 72.1 lowest 1%
Penrith Lakes AWS 33.5 +3.9 46.3 31st 16.8 -0.3 11.9 5th 0 60.8 lowest 0%
Richmond RAAF 33.0 +4.1 45.0 31st 15.9 -0.3 10.6 5th 0 67.1 lowest 0%
Springwood (Valley Heights) 30.7 +3.6 43.5 31st 15.5 0.0 12.0 3rd 1.2 101.0 v low 1%
Sydney (Observatory Hill) 26.8 +1.6 39.3 19th 18.9 +1.3 14.1 3rd 1.6 77.1 lowest 2%
Sydney Airport AMO 28.5 +2.6 42.4 19th 18.7 +1.1 14.3 3rd 1.0 72.8 lowest 1%
Sydney Harbour (Wedding Cake West) 23.4 -0.2 32.3 5th 19.1 +0.2 15.2 3rd
Sydney Olympic Park AWS (Archery Centre) 29.6   44.4 31st 17.2   11.3 3rd 1.4
Terrey Hills AWS 27.2 +1.6 41.8 31st 16.6 -0.1 11.9 3rd 2.2 78.9 v low 3%

Daily maximum temperatures for December 2019
12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031
Badgerys Creek AWS26.924.230.431.034.233.529.827.530.939.527.526.525.032.032.325.428.434.741.830.141.423.126.929.429.533.533.338.735.739.644.6
Bankstown Airport AWS24.723.629.630.634.131.529.926.228.438.225.523.724.429.932.025.226.030.740.828.239.524.125.827.428.030.730.533.932.135.144.9
Camden Airport AWS27.322.328.330.633.131.929.327.531.338.927.426.126.232.232.926.028.635.441.830.441.124.127.429.330.133.533.739.336.239.944.0
Campbelltown (Mount Annan)26.421.328.230.532.832.630.427.631.138.326.825.125.830.632.225.028.334.540.029.641.224.227.628.329.732.732.937.935.138.943.1
Canterbury Racecourse AWS23.623.229.330.033.528.726.825.526.636.422.422.723.928.228.922.624.927.740.827.034.322.124.627.627.728.528.831.129.531.742.3
Cooranbong (Lake Macquarie AWS)23.923.231.032.433.930.928.125.627.440.024.923.625.029.028.324.225.226.540.527.741.322.623.327.227.428.628.131.232.834.843.0
Gosford AWS22.623.127.730.634.029.427.624.926.531.623.023.623.627.528.923.124.227.442.126.334.321.423.626.527.628.728.430.731.833.743.0
Holsworthy Aerodrome AWS24.421.528.730.332.530.827.925.127.938.324.223.323.129.432.331.540.426.640.622.225.326.527.930.330.034.032.034.944.5
Holsworthy Defence AWS25.020.827.430.931.933.127.724.928.239.322.822.423.229.631.922.425.733.039.727.641.521.126.725.628.031.030.635.734.037.143.6
Horsley Park Equestrian Centre AWS25.822.230.631.435.334.029.327.130.739.426.525.525.231.432.225.527.633.841.229.541.323.825.828.829.533.132.237.133.938.144.4
Katoomba (Farnells Rd)22.421.124.727.229.922.727.436.624.822.120.530.628.723.226.029.635.230.539.513.721.722.827.828.133.034.334.837.0
Mangrove Mountain AWS23.520.628.229.831.631.526.525.528.039.024.823.823.429.431.022.925.130.939.728.142.435.8
Mount Boyce AWS21.610.319.222.525.825.526.723.629.234.427.223.722.028.226.925.126.230.334.327.037.516.123.025.026.129.130.634.035.334.536.1
Norah Head AWS23.423.626.428.827.625.224.624.526.727.722.425.327.826.728.822.325.528.034.426.729.322.324.826.629.629.229.429.325.126.625.5
Parramatta North (Masons Drive)24.222.830.632.235.233.228.625.728.238.224.323.723.830.532.024.225.732.341.228.239.523.025.028.029.531.230.737.532.536.544.0
Penrith Lakes AWS28.723.731.834.136.535.831.829.731.741.228.428.226.833.035.327.730.436.342.532.640.723.527.331.331.535.636.241.136.041.446.3
Richmond RAAF27.324.230.933.736.236.230.928.931.042.427.327.226.532.637.126.730.336.541.132.336.423.126.830.831.434.734.941.038.041.545.0
Springwood (Valley Heights)28.520.828.831.533.433.028.726.528.940.225.525.123.530.033.225.027.235.040.229.241.720.023.928.031.631.633.137.334.232.843.5
Sydney (Observatory Hill)22.023.128.430.634.424.725.124.524.630.124.722.823.426.026.524.124.126.239.325.928.723.524.026.926.627.227.028.726.327.335.3
Sydney Airport AMO24.123.628.031.033.928.426.526.227.435.022.523.423.527.629.122.924.828.542.426.632.521.726.528.027.930.229.930.729.531.040.3
Sydney Harbour (Wedding Cake West)21.821.426.126.432.322.721.821.621.923.820.320.221.522.524.220.821.223.028.823.126.719.922.124.023.223.623.623.022.822.528.9
Sydney Olympic Park AWS (Archery Centre)24.624.130.831.535.829.028.626.627.735.823.623.924.129.031.823.725.129.942.026.935.723.225.428.328.630.730.133.830.733.244.4
Terrey Hills AWS21.021.327.928.633.632.425.323.724.534.221.920.921.825.327.421.722.627.239.925.133.321.023.425.625.927.627.629.729.431.341.8
Values are the maximum temperature, usually in the 24 hours from 9 am on the day indicated,
and typically occurred in the afternoon of that day.
Temperatures coloured according to their difference
from the long-term average for the period
-10.0 -9.0 -8.0 -7.0 -6.0 -5.0 -4.0 -3.0 -2.0 -1.0 0.0 +1.0 +2.0 +3.0 +4.0 +5.0 +6.0 +7.0 +8.0 +9.0 +10.0 °C Grey outline marks highest
and lowest for the period

Daily minimum temperatures for December 2019
12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031
Badgerys Creek AWS14.414.39.212.310.314.111.915.218.614.613.717.115.315.517.517.812.112.115.312.314.617.615.519.019.217.416.514.518.017.117.0
Bankstown Airport AWS16.716.49.213.511.615.814.917.220.717.017.817.917.117.119.418.813.613.916.916.617.518.716.518.919.817.717.916.818.518.518.4
Camden Airport AWS14.315.113.111.18.212.411.815.419.714.412.517.015.514.818.917.911.511.514.811.414.516.915.419.319.317.115.714.517.316.916.6
Campbelltown (Mount Annan)13.914.913.010.89.411.712.315.019.614.313.216.714.414.618.217.711.411.415.111.814.617.115.018.319.116.615.715.017.516.516.3
Canterbury Racecourse AWS17.116.08.512.811.015.014.718.020.216.317.918.117.116.719.719.112.913.116.217.819.718.116.719.119.917.918.415.917.417.917.2
Cooranbong (Lake Macquarie AWS)16.312.77.58.48.514.415.816.614.415.118.417.717.816.216.714.912.610.513.115.516.119.617.918.820.515.113.512.313.715.115.7
Gosford AWS16.415.410.714.112.716.916.617.519.416.818.518.818.017.019.018.315.513.015.420.019.719.116.918.519.418.117.215.516.216.517.6
Holsworthy Aerodrome AWS15.215.510.113.111.413.513.415.520.015.216.717.216.116.417.818.311.613.215.615.015.917.915.618.818.818.718.517.117.817.917.8
Holsworthy Defence AWS13.814.712.813.610.613.713.715.619.115.515.616.315.615.616.617.412.412.415.415.215.716.514.717.917.918.117.216.217.618.017.4
Horsley Park Equestrian Centre AWS15.314.710.312.812.114.214.315.918.715.716.416.915.315.817.318.012.312.916.114.116.317.515.217.919.117.316.615.718.618.117.4
Katoomba (Farnells Rd)9.05.810.411.610.610.411.215.110.39.69.39.512.014.78.411.417.413.115.010.89.111.012.114.215.920.320.723.4
Mangrove Mountain AWS13.914.110.611.910.214.613.414.617.716.015.615.814.714.216.617.411.511.416.715.718.116.715.7
Mount Boyce AWS9.85.65.68.810.614.111.510.210.716.810.710.610.310.012.314.710.311.420.614.215.611.110.111.514.211.713.915.921.821.323.5
Norah Head AWS16.917.112.917.015.718.718.619.819.918.818.218.519.019.319.820.017.516.818.419.820.519.318.318.821.020.920.119.418.718.519.2
Parramatta North (Masons Drive)16.215.812.816.813.816.315.316.017.816.617.217.215.515.417.718.512.012.516.016.816.018.015.318.018.816.216.015.216.616.317.0
Penrith Lakes AWS16.115.714.214.811.915.616.118.619.416.515.616.716.017.118.117.814.213.917.415.216.618.516.319.419.617.617.116.619.819.118.6
Richmond RAAF16.514.712.114.710.614.814.318.019.315.315.817.416.016.917.616.013.312.716.613.315.218.015.918.818.816.215.715.118.418.216.7
Springwood (Valley Heights)14.713.312.015.016.015.115.016.917.416.013.614.413.814.216.712.913.013.217.913.314.916.214.216.818.915.515.515.717.818.622.5
Sydney (Observatory Hill)17.416.714.117.816.118.318.619.920.618.918.418.618.419.620.619.516.817.019.119.221.118.617.019.221.721.021.020.120.120.120.7
Sydney Airport AMO17.016.714.318.816.317.417.618.820.919.917.917.918.218.018.816.418.320.119.321.118.118.319.320.721.220.320.219.320.3
Sydney Harbour (Wedding Cake West)17.617.015.218.217.318.719.019.720.519.417.818.018.619.320.419.617.918.119.419.721.018.617.218.621.621.421.320.220.320.020.1
Sydney Olympic Park AWS (Archery Centre)17.116.111.312.514.016.716.419.120.017.618.218.316.616.719.419.214.014.217.218.119.518.516.819.520.317.317.816.718.318.118.4
Terrey Hills AWS14.613.611.916.414.415.715.817.218.817.316.616.715.416.418.017.813.814.317.217.118.716.814.717.419.018.418.117.317.217.119.6
Values are the minimum temperature, usually in the 24 hours to 9 am on the day indicated,
and typically occurred that morning.
Temperatures coloured according to their difference
from the long-term average for the period
-10.0 -9.0 -8.0 -7.0 -6.0 -5.0 -4.0 -3.0 -2.0 -1.0 0.0 +1.0 +2.0 +3.0 +4.0 +5.0 +6.0 +7.0 +8.0 +9.0 +10.0 °C Grey outline marks highest
and lowest for the period

Daily rainfall for December 2019
12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031
Abbotsbury (Fairfield (City Farm)) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 2.0 - - - - - -
Abbotsford (Blackwall Point Rd) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 4.0




Audley (Royal National Park) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Avalon Beach (Avalon (Palmgrove Rd)) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1.4 - - - - - -
Badgerys Creek AWS - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1.4 - - - - - -
Bankstown Airport AWS - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 0.6 4.4 0.2 - - - - -
Baulkham Hills Eucalyptus Ct - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 4.0 - - - - - - 1.5 - - - - - -
Belrose (Evelyn Place) 0.4 - - - - - - - - - - - - - 6.4 - - - - - - - - 0.2 0.2 - - - - - -
Bilpin Post Office - - - - - - - - - - - 1.4 - - - - - - - - - - 3.0 - - - - - - - -
Blackheath (Wombat Street) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Box Hill (McCall Gardens) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Bringelly (Maryland) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Camden (Brownlow Hill) 0.2





























Camden Airport AWS - - - - - - - - - - - - 0.2 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Campbelltown (Mount Annan) - - - - - - - - - - - - 1.0 - - - - - - - - - - 0.2 0.6 - - - - - -
Canterbury Racecourse AWS - - - - - - - - - - - - 0.2 - 0.4 - - - - - - - - - 6.4 - - - - - -
Castle Cove (Rosebridge Ave) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 6.0 - - - - - - - - - 2.0 - - - - - -
Centennial Park 0.8 -




























Chatswood Bowling Club - - - - - - - - 1.0 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Collaroy (Long Reef Golf Club) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 0.4 - - - - - - - - - 3.4 - - - - - -
Colo Heights (Mountain Pines) - - - - - - - - - - - 0.2 0.6 - - - - - - - - - - - 0.8 - - - - - -
Concord (Brays Rd) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1.0 - - - - - - - - - 0.4 - - - - - -
Concord Golf Club - - - - - - - - - - - - - 2.0 - - - - - - - - - 1.2





Cooranbong (Avondale) 1.0 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1.0 - - - - - - -
Cooranbong (Lake Macquarie AWS) 1.2 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1.6 - - - - - - -
Darkes Forest (Kintyre) - - - - - - - - - - - - 0.2 - 0.4 - - - - - - - - - 2.8 0.2 - - - - -
Douglas Park ( St. Marys Towers) 0.2 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 0.2 - - - - - - -
Dover Heights (Portland St) 0.1 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 0.6 - 1.6 - - - - - -
Erskine Park Reservoir - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Faulconbridge (Great Western Hwy) - - - - - - - - - - - 1.0 1.0 - - - - - - - - - - - 2.0 - - - - - -
Faulconbridge (St Georges Crescent) - - - - - - - - - - - 1.4 1.5 - - - - - - - - - - - 2.8 - - - - - -
Gears (Wyong River) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1.0 - - - - - -
Gosford AWS 0.8 - - - - - - 0.2 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1.8 0.2 - - - - - -
Holsworthy Aerodrome AWS - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 0.4 - - - - - -
Holsworthy Defence AWS - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - - - - 0.8 - - - -
-
Hornsby (Swimming Pool) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 0.4 1.2 - - - - - -
Horsley Park Equestrian Centre AWS - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 2.4 - - - - - -
Katoomba (Farnells Rd) - - - - - - - - - - - - 1.0 - - - - - - - - - 0.4 - - - - - - - -
Kurrajong Heights (Bells Line of Road) - - - - - - - - - - - 1.2 2.8 - - - - - - - - - - - 4.6 - - - - - -
Lucas Heights (ANSTO) - - 0.1 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 0.9 - - - - -
Macquarie Park (Willandra Village) 0.4 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 0.4 0.2 - - - - -
Mangrove Mountain AWS 0.4 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -






-
Marrickville Golf Club - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1.0 - - - - - -
Menangle Bridge (Nepean River) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Milperra Bridge (Georges River) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1.0 - - - - - -
Mona Vale Golf Club 0.2 - - - 0.2 - - - - - - - - - - 0.6 0.2 - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Mount Annan (Australian Botanic Garden) 4.0 - - - - - - - - - - - 0.6 - - - - - - - - - - - 0.6 - - - - - -
Mount Boyce AWS - - - - - - - - - - - - 0.2 - - - - - - - - - 0.2 - - - - - - - -
Mount Wilson (Clarine) - - - - - - - - - - - - 2.4 - - - - - - - - - - 1.2 - - - - - - -
Norah Head AWS 0.6 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 0.2 - - - - 0.2 - - 0.4 - - - 0.2 - -
North Parramatta (Burnside Homes) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 0.5 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
North Rocks (Muirfield Golf Club) - - - - - - - - - - - 0.5 - - - - - - - - - - - - 1.0 - - - - - -
North Ryde Golf Club - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Palm Grove (Lyrebird Lane) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1.0 2.0 - - - - - -
Parramatta North (Masons Drive) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 0.6 0.4 - - - - - -
Peakhurst Golf Club - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1.0 - - - - - -
Pennant Hills (Yarrara Road) 0.6 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 0.6 0.8 - - - - - -
Penrith Lakes AWS - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Prospect Reservoir - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Putty (The Gibba) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Randwick (Randwick St) 0.1 - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1.2 - - - - - - - 0.2 - 7.0 - - - - - -
Randwick Racecourse - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1.6 - - - - - - - - 0.2 2.8 - - - - - -
Richmond RAAF - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Rose Bay (Royal Sydney Golf Club) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 0.4 - 1.0 - - - - -
Rossmore (South Creek) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Sans Souci (Public School) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 9.0 - - - - - - - - - 2.0 - - - - - -
Seven Hills (Radio FM 103.2) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 0.5 - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Shanes Park (South Creek Road) - - - - - - - - - - - - 0.2 0.2 - - - - - - - - - 0.4 0.2 - - - - - -
Springwood (Valley Heights) - - - - - - - - - - - 0.4 0.4 - - - - - - - - - - - 0.4 - - - - - -
St Ives (Richmond Avenue) 1.0 - - - - - - - - - - - - - 0.2 - - - - - - - 0.2 0.2






Sydney (Observatory Hill) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1.4 0.2 - - - - -
Sydney Airport AMO - - - 0.2 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 0.8 - - - - - -
Sydney Botanic Gardens - - - - - - - - - - - - 0.1 - 0.6 - - - - - - - 0.2 - 1.0 - - - - - -
Sydney Olympic Park AWS (Archery Centre) - - - 0.2 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1.2 - - - - -
Terrey Hills AWS 0.4 - - - - - - - - - - - - - 0.8 0.2 - - - - - - - - 0.8 - - - - - -
Wahroonga (Ada Avenue) 0.6 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1.8 0.2 - - - - - -
Warragamba - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Wedderburn (Booalbyn) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Wyong (Mount Elliot) 3.0 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1.0 - - - - - - -
Wyong (Olney Forest) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 2.0 11.0 - - - - - -
Yarramalong (Lewensbrook) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1.2 2.6 - - - - -
Most values are the precipitation in the 24 hours to 9 am on the day indicated. Days marked with → are part of a longer accumulation, which is shown on the final day.
Values over 100 mm have been rounded to the nearest whole millimetre.
Days marked with - have a rainfall report of zero; days left blank have no rainfall report (which often indicates no rain fell).
Rainfalls coloured
according to the amount
0 1.0 5.0 10.0 15.0 25.0 50.0 100 150 200 300 400 600 millimetres

Notes

The Monthly climate summary, generally published on the first working day of each month, lists the main features of the weather in Greater Sydney using the most timely and accurate information available on the date of publication; it will generally not be updated. More extensive discussion of significant weather events, along with later information and data that has had greater opportunity for quality control, will be presented in the Monthly Weather Review.

This summary includes data from observing sites in or near the Greater Sydney “Greater Capital City Statistical Area” (GCCSA). The Australian Bureau of Statistics designed the GCCSAs to “include the population within the urban area of the city, as well as people who regularly socialise, shop or work within the city, and live in small towns and rural areas surrounding the city. It is important to note that GCCSAs do not define the built up edge of the city. They provide a stable definition for these cities and are designed for the output of a range of social and economic survey data.

This statement has been prepared based on information available at 9 am on Tuesday 7 January 2020. Some checks have been made on the data, but it is possible that results will change as new information becomes available.

In some situations, some or all of the rainfall is in the form of hail or snow. In these cases the totals given are for the water equivalent: the depth of liquid water that results from melting any frozen precipitation. There can be significant 'undercatch' of snow in strong winds, meaning the true precipitation can be higher than that reported.

Averages for individual sites are long-term means based on observations from all available years of record, which vary widely from site to site. They are not shown for sites with less than 10 years of record, as they cannot then be calculated reliably.
The median is sometimes more representative than the mean of long-term average rain.

The Rank indicates how rainfall this time compares with the climate record for the site, based on the decile ranking (very low rainfall is in decile 1, low in decile 2 or 3, average in decile 4 to 7, high in decile 8 or 9 and very high is in decile 10).
The Fraction of average shows how much rain has fallen this time as a percentage of the long-term mean.

Where temperature area averages are mentioned, they are derived from the ACORN-SAT dataset.

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