Wednesday, 1 April 2020 - Monthly Climate Summary for Greater Sydney - Product code IDCKGC15L0

Greater Sydney in March 2020: above average rainfall and cooler temperatures

Rainfall was above average this month, resulting in the wettest year-to-date rainfall at many sites. Minimum and maximum temperatures were below average, despite some hot days.

Above average rain

• Rainfall was above average across the region, ranging from 98% of average at Parramatta North to 177% of average at Canterbury Racecourse
• Widespread rainfall affected the area from the 4th to 6th, as an inland trough drew in tropical moisture from Ex-Tropical Cyclone Esther; totals of 20 mm to 60 mm were recorded across the Greater Sydney region for the 24 hours to 9 am on the 6th, with most sites recording three day totals of 50 mm to 100 mm
• Another inland trough brought unsettled conditions across the region later in the month, with Katoomba recording 75.3 mm for the 24 hours to 9 am on the 26th, the highest 24 hour total in the region this month
• Isolated shower activity was a feature of the month; Sydney (Observatory Hill) recorded 21 rain days, which is well above the March average of around 14 days; similarly in the west, Penrith recorded 17 rain days (average 12 days)
• Sydney Airport recorded an average of 5.9 hours of bright sunshine each day, about an hour less each day than the March average
• Year-to-date rainfall for the January to March period is either the highest on record or in the top 10% of records (decile 10) at most sites across the Greater Sydney region; Sydney (Observatory Hill) has reported 673.4 mm so far this year, well above the average of 352.2 mm

Cooler than average days and nights

• Maximum temperatures were generally 1 °C to 2 °C cooler than average inland and close to average along the coastal fringe
• Mangrove Mountain in the north of the region had its equal lowest March mean daily maximum temperature on record
• The 14th was particularly cool under the influence of a southerly air stream and several sites had their coldest March day on record; Sydney Observatory Hill recorded a maximum on 17.9 °C which was the coolest March day since 1970 and the lowest since 18 September last year
• Despite the generally cool conditions, Greater Sydney experienced a particularly hot day on the 2nd where temperatures exceeded 35 °C at most locations reaching as high as 39.6 °C at Sydney Airport; this was followed by a cool southerly change ("Southerly Buster"), which dropped temperatures by over 13 °C in a 45 minute period at the Airport
• Another hot day on the 20th saw temperatures 8 °C to 10 °C above average, with Sydney Airport again the hottest reaching 36.6 °C
• The year-to-date mean maximum temperature for Sydney (Observatory Hill) is 26.8 °C which is 1.3 °C above average for the January to March period
• Minimum temperatures were generally up to 1 °C cooler than average for March
• The year-to-date mean minimum temperature for Sydney (Observatory Hill) is 19.6 °C, 1.2 °C above average

Sydney (Observatory Hill)

• Total rainfall for Sydney (Observatory Hill) was 160.4 mm, which is 122% of the long-term average of 131.6 mm, but drier than March last year (229.2 mm)
• The mean daily maximum temperature for Sydney (Observatory Hill) was 25.3 °C, which is 0.5 °C above the long-term average of 24.8 °C
• The warmest day was 37.6 °C on the 2nd, and the coolest day was on the 14th when the temperature reached 17.9 °C, the coolest March day since 1970
• The mean daily minimum temperature for Sydney (Observatory Hill) was 17.6 °C, equal to the long-term average.
• The coldest morning was 13.3 °C on the 15th, and the warmest morning was on the 6th when the minimum temperature was 20.9 °C

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

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Daily observations Important notes the top

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Daily observations Important notes the top