Monday, 2 August 2021 - Monthly Climate Summary for New South Wales - Product code IDCKGC15R0

New South Wales in July 2021: wet along the Western Slopes and generally warm

July saw above average rainfall along the Western Slopes as the negative Indian Ocean Dipole event developed. Daytime temperatures were above average along the coast and in the far west of the state. Night-time temperatures were mostly above average.

Above average rain along the Western Slopes

• Rainfall in July was above average along the Western Slopes, but below average in coastal regions and the far north-west of the state.
• For the state overall, July rainfall was 9% above the 1961–1990 average at 41.1 mm, comparable to 2016 and 2020 and around three times as much as in the drought years of 2017 to 2019.
• The rainfall pattern was consistent with the developing negative Indian Ocean dipole event, which in winter typically enhances the flow of moist air from the tropics to inland areas of eastern Australia.
• At the same time, the weather patterns resulted in lower than average rainfall along the New South Wales coast.
• A series of cold fronts and troughs brought heavy rain at several times during the month to alpine regions and the Northern Tablelands.
• Two sites in the Northern Tablelands had their highest July daily rainfall on record.
• A number of sites along the Western Slopes had their highest total July rainfall on record or their highest for at least 20 years.

Generally warm across the state

• July mean maximum and minimum temperatures were generally warmer than average.
• For the state as a whole July was 0.85 °C above the 1961–1990 average.
• Mean maximum temperatures were above average along the coast and in the far west.
• Cloudy skies and rain kept daytime temperatures close to average along the Western Slopes.
• Mean minimum temperatures were mostly above average except for some parts of the north-west.
• A mass of warm air from central Australia moved over the north-west on the 31st, and a number of sites had their highest July temperature on record.
• The highest temperature was 31.8 °C at Bourke Airport on the 31st, this is a July record for the state exceeding 31.7 °C at Tibooburra on 28 July 1958.

Snow in the middle of the month

• Strong cold fronts crossed the state on the 16th, 17th, 20th and the 21st.
• The cold fronts brought heavy snow to alpine regions, with lighter snowfall in many non-alpine areas.
• The snow depth at the Snowy Hydro Spencers Creek site was 183.6 cm as of the 29th, the deepest for this time of year since at least 2000.
• Snow was reported as having settled at times in non-alpine areas including the Brindabellas, Oberon, the Blue Mountains and Barrington Tops.
• The strongest wind gust was 109 km/h at Murrurundi Gap on the 16th.
• Mangrove Mountain reported its lowest July temperature on record on the 22nd.

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