Monday, 2 March 2020 - Monthly Climate Summary for Greater Sydney - Product code IDCKGC15L0

Greater Sydney in February 2020: wet with warm nights

February was a very wet month throughout Greater Sydney. Overnight minimum temperatures were above average, while daytime maximum temperatures were close to average

A very wet February

• February had very much above average rainfall throughout Greater Sydney
• It was generally the wettest February since 1956 in the Blue Mountains, and since 1990 or 1992 elsewhere
• The bulk of the rain fell between the 7th and 10th, with peak two-day totals exceeding 200 mm at many locations
• Some sites had their highest February daily rainfall on record
• Some sites had their highest total February rainfall on record
• Some sites had their highest total February rainfall for at least 20 years

Warm nights and near-average days

• Overnight minimum temperatures were generally 0.5 to 1.5 °C above average throughout Greater Sydney
• Daytime maximum temperatures were generally slightly above average near the coast, and slightly below average in western Sydney and the Blue Mountains
• Some sites had their highest February temperature on record
• Some sites had their warmest February night (highest daily minimum temperature) on record
• Some sites had their highest February mean daily minimum temperature on record

Sydney (Observatory Hill)

• Total rainfall for Sydney (Observatory Hill) was 441.6 mm, which is 370% of the long-term average of 119.3 mm. This is the wettest February since 1990 and the wettest month since June 2007
• The mean daily maximum temperature for Sydney (Observatory Hill) was 27.1 °C, which is 1.3 °C above the long-term average of 25.8 °C. The warmest day was 34.8 °C on the 1st, and the coolest day was on the 9th when the temperature reached 22.3 °C
• The mean daily minimum temperature for Sydney (Observatory Hill) was 20.3 °C, which is 1.4 °C above the long-term average of 18.9 °C. The coldest morning was 18.0 °C on the 5th, and the warmest morning was on the 2nd when the minimum temperature was 24.8 °C

Heavy rain and extreme heat

• Heavy rain from the 7th to the 10th resulted in major flooding in the Hawkesbury-Nepean and Georges Rivers and local flooding in various parts of Greater Sydney. The Hawkesbury at North Richmond reached its highest level since 1992. There was also some coastal erosion on beaches
• Observatory Hill had 242.0 mm rain in two days and 391.6 mm in four days, the highest such totals for any month since 1992 and 1990 respectively
• Extreme heat affected much of Greater Sydney on the 1st and 2nd. Temperatures reached 46.8 °C at Richmond on the 1st

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