Monday, 3 May 2021 - Monthly Climate Summary for New South Wales - Product code IDCKGC15R0

New South Wales in April 2021: dry with cool nights

It was very dry across New South Wales in April, with rainfall 76% below average, making it the lowest overall since 2005. Much of the state west of the Divide received less than 5 mm for the month. The clear skies and dry conditions resulted in night-time temperatures 2–3 degrees below average in many inland areas.

Very dry inland

• New South Wales was very dry in April, with rainfall 76% below average overall.
• It was the driest April for the state since 2005, and the equal eighth-driest since national records began in 1900.
• Most regions west of the Divide received less than 5 mm and many sites recorded no rain during April.
• High pressure systems, particularly later in the month, diverted away from inland areas potential sources of rain from the tropics or cold fronts.
• Rainfall totals were close to average in the north-east, mainly from an off-shore low pressure system early in the month.

Cool nights in inland areas

• April was generally cool across New South Wales, particularly at night.
• April mean temperatures were 0.97 °C below the 1961–1990 average, the overall coolest April since 2008.
• Daytime temperatures were above average in the south and below average in the north of the state.
• The mean maximum temperature for the state was 0.17 °C below average.
• Cold air in a low pressure trough travelled north along the coast on the 17th, with Paterson and Cessnock in the Hunter having their coldest April day on record and long-term sites at Newcastle and Williamtown RAAF had their coldest April day since 1966.
• Clear skies and dry conditions saw cool nights across the state.
• The mean minimum temperature for the state was 1.78 °C below average, the overall coolest April since 2006.
• Nights were 2–3 °C below average in many inland areas, with many sites, including Canberra Airport, having their lowest April mean daily minimum temperature on record or lowest for at least 20 years.
• It was a particularly cool night on the 22nd, when some sites had their lowest April temperature on record.
• Some sites had their lowest April mean temperature on record or lowest for at least 20 years.

Flood waters continue to flow

• Waters from the heavy rain in March have continued to flow down the Darling River.
• The water reached the Menindee Lakes late in the month, flowing for the first time in five years.
• Water storages in the southern Murray—Darling Basin were at 58% capacity in late April, much higher than the same time in 2020.
• Soils remained much wetter than usual for most of the state except for the far south-west.
• Year-to-date rainfall is above average for most of the state except for the far south-west.

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

* 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