Tuesday, 1 December 2020 - Monthly Climate Summary for New South Wales - Product code IDCKGC15R0

New South Wales in November 2020: very warm and dry

November daytime and night-time temperatures were very much above average for New South Wales. It was generally dry, with much of the north-east receiving less than 20% of its November average rainfall. Severe heatwave conditions affected much of the state, including Sydney, at the end of the month.

Dry conditions

• Rainfall was generally below average across New South Wales in November.
• For the state as a whole, November rainfall was 54% below average, making it the driest November since 2002.
• Most of the north-east received less than 25 mm which is less than 20% of the November average, and it was the lowest November rainfall on record in areas around Tenterfield and Glen Innes.
• Illawarra and areas of the South Coast recorded heavy rain in the 24 hours to 9am on the 1st.
• From the event on the 1st, the region recorded above average November rainfall, and several sites had their highest November daily rainfall on record.

Very warm days and nights

• Daytime and night-time temperatures were very much above average across most of New South Wales.
• For the state as a while, the November mean temperature was 3.15 °C above average, the fifth warmest November on record and the warmest since 2014.
• After a cool start to November, mild to warm settled conditions persisted for much of the month.
• November ended with much of the state experiencing severe heatwave conditions.

Severe heatwave conditions at the end of the month

• A heat trough over central Australia combined with two frontal systems brought dangerously hot and windy conditions to much of New South Wales at the end of the month.
• Severe to extreme heatwave conditions occurred in west and north-east of the state, extending to the Sydney region, on the 28th and 29th.
• On the 28th many sites had their highest November temperature on record.
• Smithville reported 46.9 °C on the 28th, the highest November temperature ever recorded in New South Wales.
• On the 29th many sites had their warmest November night on record, at Bankstown Airport and Camden Airport these were also the highest minimum temperatures recorded for any month.
• Delta, west of Bourke, reported a minimum temperature of 33.8 °C on the 29th, the highest November minimum temperature ever recorded in New South Wales, and the 4th highest for all of Australia.
• Sydney (Observatory Hill) recorded maximum temperatures of 40.8 °C and 40.5 °C on the 28th and 29th, only the second instance, with records starting in 1859, of consecutive days over 40 degrees in any month at the city's primary site.

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

Click on a map to show it full size in a pop-up window

* 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 Important notes the top

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top