Wednesday, 1 September 2021 - Monthly Climate Summary for Greater Sydney - Product code IDCKGC15L0

Greater Sydney in August 2021: Warm and wetter than average

Greater Sydney experienced generally dry weather with the exception of a wet two-day event that resulted in the monthly rainfall being above average. Temperatures were mostly above average for this time of the year.

A wet two-day event results in a wetter than average month

• A low pressure system off the New South Wales coast delivered rainfall in excess of the monthly average to most sites from the 24th to the 25th.
• In the 48 hours to 9am on the 25th, many sites recorded 50 to 100 mm of rainfall.
• Although the rest of the month was generally dry, this wet two-day period resulted in monthly rainfall totals being 110 to 150% of their monthly average for many sites.

Warm temperatures

• Temperatures were above their monthly average at most sites.
• Mean maximum temperatures were generally 1 to 1.5 °C above their monthly average.
• Sydney set an August record with 15 consecutive days of 20 °C or above from the 9th to the 23rd.
• Mean minimum temperatures were generally 0 to 0.5 °C above their monthly average, with sites towards the west being slightly below average.
• Some sites had their coldest August day (lowest maximum temperature) on record as a result of the coastal low on the 24th.

Sydney (Observatory Hill)

• Total rainfall for Sydney (Observatory Hill) was 81.4 mm, which is 101% of the long-term average at the former Observatory Hill site, or 108% of the average over recent decades.
• The mean daily maximum temperature for Sydney (Observatory Hill) was 20.7 °C, which is 2.8 °C above the long-term average at the former Observatory Hill site, or 1.4 °C above the average over recent decades.
• The warmest day was 25.6 °C on the 1st, and the coolest day was on the 24th when the temperature reached 11.5 °C.
• The mean daily minimum temperature for Sydney (Observatory Hill) was 9.8 °C, which is 0.8 °C above the long-term average at the former Observatory Hill site, or 0.1 °C above the average over recent decades.
• The coldest morning was 7.9 °C on the 25th, and the warmest morning was on the 1st when the minimum temperature was 14.9 °C.

Coastal low formation during the end of the month

• A low pressure system developed off the central parts of the New South Wales coast on the 24th, intensifying over the day, before weakening and moving away from the mainland over the next few days.
• This coastal low brought significant two-day rainfall totals to Sydney in addition to generating well below average day-time temperatures on the 24th.

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