Wednesday, 1 May 2013 - Monthly Climate Summary for Sydney - Product code IDCKGC15L0

Sydney in April 2013: Heavy rain events and late warm spell

  • Above average rainfall, most heavy rain days (25 mm) since 2006.
  • Above average maximum temperatures, late warm spell
  • Close to average minimum temperatures

Extremes Records Summaries Important notes the top

Rainfall - Two heavy rain events in eastern Sydney.

Sydney Observatory Hill recorded 199.8 mm of rain during April, above the historical average of 127.2 mm, with average to above average rainfall across the city. The rain fell over 16 days (average 13 days), of which four recorded more than 25 mm (average 1-2 days), the highest number of heavy rain days in April since 1998 (4 days).

Most of the rain fell in two major events. A period of strong easterly flow triggered persistent coastal showers between 3-5 April, with particularly heavy rain developing in the Sydney region on the 3rd. Sydney recorded 21 mm between 7:00 and 7:30 on the 3rd, with 61.4 mm to 9am on the 4th, while daily totals reached 101 mm at Cronulla.

An offshore low pressure system also produced heavy rain over the 20th, with two-day totals to 9am on the 21st reaching 76 mm at Castle Cove. Sydney recorded 66.4 mm over this period, of which 64.8 mm fell between 2am and 2pm on the 20th including 17.4 mm between 9:00 and 9:30.

Temperature - Mild days with late warm spell

The average maximum temperature at Sydney Observatory Hill during April was 24 °C, 1.6 °C above the historical average, with above average temperatures across the city. Eleven days reached at least 25 °C during the month, above the April average of 5 days but equal to 2012, while only two days dropped below 20 °C (average 6 days). The warmest spell was at the end of the month, with four consecutive days above 26 °C between the 26th and 29th, reaching 28.7 °C on the 28th. This is only the second such spell on record this late in the season, following 28 April - 1 May 1968.

The average minimum temperature at Sydney Observatory Hill was 14.9 °C, close to the historical average of 14.7 °C, with generally cooler than average nights in western Sydney. Nights were generally close to average throughout the month, with no nights dropping below 10 °C or exceeding 20 °C. The mean temperature for April was consequently 19.5 °C, 0.9 °C above the historical average.

Other phenomena

The prevailing wind direction at Sydney Airport during April was northwesterly in the mornings and southeasterly in the afternoons. Winds at 9am were between WNW and NNW 50% of the time, and between W and SSW a further 43% of the time, normal for April, while 63% of 3pm winds were between SE and SSW, slightly above average. Strong winds were reported at the airport on the 19th and 20th, with the strongest wind gust during the month reaching 81 km/h at Kurnell on the 19th.

Sydney Airport recorded an average of 7.5 hours of bright sunshine during the month, above the historical average of 6.9 hours and the sunniest April since 2010. There was one thunderstorm reported at Sydney Airport, on the 14th, with thunderstorms across the metropolitan region on seven days and hail reported in the northern suburbs on the 18th.

Further information

NSW Climate Services Centre
NSW Regional Office
Bureau of Meteorology
Phone (02) 9296 1500
Email climate.nsw@bom.gov.au
Extremes in April 2013
Hottest day 30.4 °C at Campbelltown (Mount Annan) on the 14th
Warmest days on average 24.6 °C at Penrith Lakes AWS
Coolest days on average 22.2 °C at Springwood (Valley Heights)
Coldest day 16.3 °C at Terrey Hills AWS on the 20th
Coldest night 4.8 °C at Richmond RAAF on the 26th
Coolest nights on average 10.1 °C at Camden Airport AWS
Warmest nights on average 14.9 °C at Sydney (Observatory Hill)
Warmest night 18.8 °C at Sydney Airport AMO on the 30th
Warmest on average overall 19.4 °C at Sydney (Observatory Hill)
Coolest on average overall 17.1 °C at Camden Airport AWS
Wettest overall 232.3 mm at Sydney Botanic Gardens
Wettest day 101.0 mm at Cronulla South Bowling Club on the 4th
Highest wind gust 81 km/h at Kurnell AWS on the 19th

Extremes Records Summaries Important notes the top

Summary statistics for April 2013
Maximum temperatures
for April
(°C)		 Minimum temperatures
for April
(°C)		 Rainfall
for April
(millimetres)
Mean for
April
2013		 Diff
from
average		 Highest for
April
2013		 Mean for
April
2013		 Diff
from
average		 Lowest for
April
2013		 Total for
April
2013		 Average
for
April		 Rank of
April
2013		 Fraction of
April
average
Badgerys Creek AWS 24.0   29.3 14th 11.1   6.4 26th 79.6
Bankstown Airport AWS 24.1 +0.5 29.4 14th 12.2 -0.5 7.1 26th 77.2 84.8 average 91%
Camden Airport AWS 24.2 +0.4 30.1 14th 10.1 -0.9 4.9 24th 64.2 66.9 average 96%
Campbelltown (Mount Annan) 24.2   30.4 14th 10.5   5.9 23rd 55.0
Canterbury Racecourse AWS 23.4   28.9 14th 12.0   6.7 26th 140.2
Holsworthy Aerodrome AWS 23.9   29.5 14th 11.7   7.5 23rd 83.4
Holsworthy Control Range 23.7   29.0 14th 11.3   6.0 23rd 72.4
Horsley Park Equestrian Centre AWS 23.9   29.2 14th 12.1   7.8 23rd 57.8
Parramatta North (Masons Drive) 23.8 0.0 28.5 14th 12.0 -0.8 7.6 25th 69.2 89.3 average 77%
Penrith Lakes AWS 24.6   30.0 14th 12.4   8.0 26th 60.2
Prospect Reservoir 24.2 +0.6 29.8 14th 12.3 -0.7 8.4 24th 63.7 74.7 average 85%
Richmond RAAF 24.3   29.3 14th 10.6   4.8 26th 49.0
Springwood (Valley Heights) 22.2   27.5 28th 12.2   8.2 21st 92.6 88.1 average 105%
Sydney (Observatory Hill) 24.0 +1.6 28.7 28th 14.9 +0.2 10.9 21st 199.8 127.2 high 157%
Sydney Airport AMO 23.5 +0.6 29.3 28th 14.8 +0.6 10.7 21st 155.4 106.9 high 145%
Terrey Hills AWS 22.7   26.7 14th 13.4   10.2 21st 171.4

Extremes Records Summaries Important notes the top

Daily rainfall
Hunter (61)123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930
Webbs Ck-Wisemans Ferry (Hawkesbury Rive - - - 2.4 10.0 0.2 1.2 1.2 0.2 10.6 0.2 - - - - 2.0 0.4 - - 0.2 41.0 - - - - - 0.2 - 0.2 -
Central Tablelands (South) (63)123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930
North Richmond (Hospital) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -














Springwood (Valley Heights) - - - 8.0 12.6 0.4 - 1.2 - 17.4 - - - - - 29.0 0.6 - - 6.0 16.6 0.8 - - - - - - - -
Metropolitan (East) (66)123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930
Abbotsford (Blackwall Point Rd)

13.0
18.0 3.0


1.4




6.0

2.0 26.0 18.1 1.0







Auburn (Rosnay Golf Club) - - 5.0 20.0 6.0 1.0 1.0 - - - - - - - - 11.0 1.0 - 3.0 21.0 17.0 1.0 - - - - - - - -
Audley (Royal National Park) 4.0 - 19.0 37.0 2.0 2.0 11.0 - 4.0 - - - - - - 9.0 - - - 42.0 6.0 - - - - - - - - -
Avalon (Wollstonecraft Ave) 9.0 - 6.0 34.0 35.0 - 2.0 - - 2.0 - - - - - 16.0 3.0 - - 18.0 18.0 - - - - - - - - -
Avalon Beach (Avalon (Palmgrove Rd)) - - - 41.6 37.9 - - - - 2.2 - - - - - 16.4 2.8












Bankstown Airport AWS - - 11.2 18.8 1.2 0.2 - 0.2 1.8 - - - - - - 12.6 1.4 - 2.6 20.2 6.2 0.8 - - - - - - - -
Belrose (Evelyn Place) 10.0 - 36.8 34.0 16.8 1.0 5.4 - - 0.8 - - - - - 18.4 1.2 0.2 1.0 28.0 22.8 0.2 - - - - - - - -
Campbelltown (Ingleburn (Long Point)) - 1.0 7.0 17.0 3.0 1.0 - 1.0 - - - - - - - 6.0 2.0 - 5.0 14.0 6.0 1.0 - - - - - - - -
Canterbury Racecourse AWS 6.0 - 12.6 41.4 18.8 3.0 0.2 - 1.6 1.0 - - - - - 10.4 0.2 - 1.4 33.2 9.6 0.6 0.2 - - - - - - -
Castle Cove (Rosebridge Ave) 7.5
11.0 67.0 4.0 3.0 4.5
1.5 4.0




14.0


24.0 52.0








Chatswood Bowling Club 8.0 - 25.0 37.0 5.0 1.0 3.0 - 1.0 2.0 - - - - - 12.0 1.0 - - 26.0 35.0 1.0 - - - - - - - -
Collaroy (Long Reef Golf Club) 8.6
20.8 31.4 12.4 0.6 3.2 0.2






13.8 0.8

8.2 60.2








Concord Golf Club 3.8
16.0 41.8 15.0 4.4 0.4
5.8




















Cronulla South Bowling Club 15.8
16.4 101 4.0 1.6 3.2
1.0 1.6




5.0


56.4









Frenchs Forest (Frenchs Forest Rd) 8.0 - 43.0 41.0 18.0 3.0 4.0 - - 1.0 - - - - 1.0 18.0 - 1.0 - 31.0 31.0 - - - - - - - - -
Guildford (Woodville Golf Club) - - 4.0 19.0 7.0 1.0 2.0 - - - - - - - - 9.0 1.0 - 2.0 21.0 10.0 1.0 - - - - - - - -
Holsworthy Aerodrome AWS - 1.0 16.8 17.6 1.6 1.0 1.4 0.2 - 0.2 - - - - - 15.2 0.4 - 2.0 12.2 13.2 0.4 0.2 - - - - - - -
Holsworthy Control Range - 1.2 10.8 14.0 5.2 0.4 - - 0.2 - 0.2 - - - - 16.0 0.2 - 1.6 10.8 11.2 0.4 0.2 - - - - - - -
Lidcombe (Carnarvon Golf Club) - - 9.0 24.0 8.0 1.0 - - - - - - 1.0 - - 9.0 - - 3.0 37.0 15.0 1.0 - - - - - - - -
Liverpool-Scrivener St (Georges River) - - 6.0 15.0 - - - - - - - - - - - 10.0 1.0 - 5.0 11.0 3.0 - - - - - - - - -
Lucas Heights (ANSTO) 1.2 0.1 9.4 25.6 7.2
0.9
0.6





6.1


17.5 10.8








Macquarie Park (Willandra Village) 2.8 - 7.8 25.0 - 0.6 1.4 - 5.2 4.0 - - - - - 9.4 0.2 - 1.4 »» 79.4 0.6







Marrickville Golf Club 8.0 - 33.0 46.0 13.0 2.0 2.0 1.0 2.0 2.0



















Milperra Bridge (Georges River) - - 9.0 16.0 - - - - - - - - - - - 10.0 1.0 - 2.0 12.0 6.0 - - - - - - - - -
Mona Vale Golf Club 8.6 - 23.6 41.4 14.0 0.2 4.4 0.4 - 3.8 0.2 0.2 - 0.2 0.2 13.0 - 0.2 0.4 29.4 38.0 0.2 - - - - - - - -
Parramatta (Erts) - - 2.0 11.5 4.5 1.0 1.5 - - - 0.5 - - - - 7.0 1.0 - - 10.0 10.5 0.5 - - - - - - - -
Parramatta North (Masons Drive) - - 2.4 14.6 6.4 1.0 0.2 - 0.4 - - - - - - 8.0 2.8 0.2 1.8 16.4 14.0 1.0 - - - - - - - -
Peakhurst Golf Club 3.0 - 6.0 53.0 2.0 3.0 - - - - - - - - - 9.0 - - 1.0 27.0 4.0 - - - - - - - - -
Randwick Bowling Club 4.6 - 26.6 47.0 21.4 12.6 4.2 0.1 6.6 3.4 - - - - - 8.2 1.6 7.8 0.8 31.0 7.4 0.4 - - - - - - - -
Riverview Observatory »» 8.8 »» »» 63.0 0.4 3.0 0.2 3.0 »» »» »» 9.4 - »» »» »» »» 8.2 18.6 42.8 - - - - - - - -
Rose Bay (Royal Sydney Golf Club) 4.6
25.4 42.6 28.4
10.0
1.8 9.4

- - - 9.0 6.0 14.6 1.0 23.0 27.6 0.4







Sans Souci (Public School) 9.0 - 25.0 65.0 6.0 4.0 - - 2.0 2.0 - - - - - 9.0 - - - 46.0 3.0 - - - - - - - - -
St Ives (Richmond Avenue) 6.6
22.8 32.6 8.0 2.2 »» 17.0 0.2 0.4




18.0 0.8
4.0 19.4 37.4 0.8







Strathfield Golf Club 3.0 - 10.0 30.0 14.0 1.0 - - - - - - - - - 10.0 - 1.0 2.0 39.0 11.0 1.0 - - - - - - - -
Sydney (Observatory Hill) 2.8 - 27.4 61.4 18.4 2.4 3.8 2.0 5.2 2.0 - - - - - 7.0 - 0.2 0.4 33.6 32.8 0.2 0.2 - - - - - - -
Sydney Airport AMO 4.2 - 22.4 38.0 13.4 8.8 2.6 - 1.6 2.2 - - - - - 11.4 - 11.6 0.4 35.6 3.0 0.2 - - - - - - - -
Sydney Botanic Gardens 6.0 - 33.0 74.6 29.8 2.4 4.4 - 6.6 4.2 - - - - - 7.6 0.1 - 1.0 47.0 15.2 0.4 - - - - - - - -
Terrey Hills AWS 17.6 - 24.8 24.0 13.4 1.6 5.4 0.2 - 2.4 - - 0.2 - - 15.8 1.2 - 2.0 27.0 35.8 - - - - - - - - -
Turramurra (Kissing Point Road) 4.0
8.0 25.0 15.2 1.0 3.0

8.4




23.2

5.6 16.6 51.6 0.4






-
Metropolitan (West) (67)123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930
Abbotsbury (Fairfield City Farm) - - 2.0 9.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 - 1.0 - - - - - - 22.0 1.0 - - 11.0 7.0 1.0 - - - - - - - -
Badgerys Creek AWS - - 0.8 8.6 5.4 1.4 3.2 11.4 0.2 3.0 0.4 - - - - 21.0 0.2 0.2 - 4.6 18.2 0.8 - - - - - 0.2 - -
Baulkham Hills (Swimming Pool ) - - 1.5 12.0 12.0 1.5 0.5 0.5 1.0 - - - - - - 9.0 0.5 - 1.0 12.5 14.5 0.5 0.5 - - - - - - -
Baulkham Hills Eucalyptus Ct - - 2.5 11.5 7.5 1.0 - - 1.5 1.0 - - - - - 9.0 0.5 - 1.5 13.5 16.0 1.0 - - - - - - - -
Berowra (Goodwyn Road) 2.6 - »» 26.0 19.2 2.8 - 0.2 - 11.8 - - - - - - 0.4 0.2 - 15.6 - 27.8







Blacktown (Dog Pound) - - 2.0 8.5 7.0 2.0 0.5 3.5 0.5 - - - - - - 15.0 3.0 - - 14.0 7.0 1.0 - - - - - - - -
Box Hill (Hynds Road) - - - 4.0 8.0 1.0 - 3.0 - - - - - - - 18.0 - - - 10.0 13.0 2.0 - - - - - - - -
Castle Hill (Kathleen Ave) - - 1.0 14.2 6.2 0.8 1.6 - - 0.8 - - - - - 10.6 - 0.4 - - 17.8 1.8







Glenorie (Old Northern Rd)

2.0 5.0 9.0
8.0

2.0




28.0


43.0
2.0







Greystanes (Cumberland Golf Club) - - 4.0 12.0 5.5 - - 1.0 - 1.0 - - - - 2.0 13.0 1.5 - - 13.0 9.5 1.0 - - - - - - - -
Horsley Park Equestrian Centre AWS - - 2.6 6.2
3.2 1.0 0.2 0.6 - 0.2 - - - - 22.6 0.8 - - 11.8 7.4 1.0 0.2 - - - - - - -
Kelso Ck (Kelso Creek U/S Levee (Georges - - 7.5 25.5 - - 3.5 0.5 - - - - - - - 10.5 0.5 - 1.0 22.0 5.0 0.5 - - - - - - - -
Kings Langley (NSW Soccer Federation) - - 1.0 10.0 12.5 - - 0.5 - 1.0 - - - - - 10.0 - - - 11.0 17.5 1.0 - - - - - - - -
Maroota (Tobruk) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -













Merrylands West (Finlayson Creek) - - 5.5 12.0 7.5 1.5 - 3.0 - - - - - - - 12.5 1.5 0.5 - 12.5 7.5 1.0 - - - - - - - -
North Parramatta (Burnside Homes) - - 2.0 14.5 6.0 0.5 0.5 - - 0.5 - 0.5 - - - 7.5 2.0 - 1.5 14.0 15.0 0.5 - - - - - - - -
North Rocks (Muirfield Golf Club) - - 1.5 16.5 7.0 1.5 - - - 0.5 - - - - - 8.0 - - 2.0 13.5 14.5 0.5 - - - - - - - -
Northmead Bowling Club - 1.0 3.0 12.5 4.0 2.0 0.5 1.0 0.5 - - - 0.5 - - 7.5 1.0 - 0.5 15.0 15.0 1.0 - - - - - - - -
Penrith Lakes AWS - - - 2.8 13.6 0.2 - 0.4 0.2 3.0 0.2 0.2 - 0.2 0.2 18.4 0.2 0.2 0.2 7.0 11.4 0.8 0.4 - 0.2 - 0.2 0.2 - -
Prospect Reservoir - - 3.5 10.2 6.7 0.2 0.8 0.2 0.2 - - - - - - 15.9 1.4 - 0.5 15.9 7.0 1.2 - - - - - - - -
Richmond RAAF - - - 4.8 10.6 0.2 - 2.6 - - 0.2 - - - - 15.4 0.6 0.2 - 8.6 4.8 0.8 - - - - - - - 0.2
Sackville - - 0.2 5.0 14.0 1.4 - 0.4 0.2 0.4 0.2 - 0.2 - 0.2 7.8 - 0.2 - 5.8 31.8 1.4 0.2 0.2 - 0.2 0.2 0.2 - -
Seven Hills (Radio FM 103.2) - - 2.0 9.5 8.5 1.5 0.5 - 2.0 - - - - - - 12.5 2.0 - 1.0 12.0 9.5 1.0 - - - - - - - -
Seven Hills (Collins St)


20.0 12.4 1.8








14.0 2.0

»» »» 29.8







South Creek (Elizabeth Drive)

0.5 4.0 3.5 1.0 1.0 6.5
0.5




11.5


4.0
0.5







St Clair (Juba Close)

























7.0 - - -
Toongabbie Bowling Club - - 2.0 11.0 6.5 2.5 - - 1.0 - - - - - - 9.0 2.5 - 2.5 10.5 19.5 1.0 - - - - - - - -
Toongabbie Ck (Redbank Road (Toongabbee - - 2.0 12.0 6.5 0.5 - 0.5 1.0 - - - - - - 9.0 4.5 - 1.0 14.0 17.5 1.0 - - - - - - - -
West Pennant Hills (Cumberland S F Alert - - 4.5 24.0 15.0 3.5 0.5 0.5 - 1.0 - - 0.5 - - 8.5 0.5 - 3.0 14.5 21.0 0.5 - - - - - - - -
Willmot (Resolution Ave) - - - 3.0 11.0 1.0 - 10.0 - - - - - - - 8.0 - - - 10.0 5.0 1.0 - - - - - - - -
Windsor SWC (Hawkesbury River) - - - 1.0 8.0 - - 1.0 - - - - - - - 15.0 1.0 - - 6.0 6.0 1.0 - - - - - - - -
Illawarra (68)123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930
Camden Airport AWS - 1.4 0.6 1.4 6.4 6.2 - 0.6 - - - - - - - 13.2 - 0.6 1.6 5.2 25.6 1.4 - - - - - - - -
Campbelltown (Kentlyn (Georges River Roa - 1.0 2.0 6.0 7.0 5.0 - 8.0 1.0 - - - - - - 8.0 1.0 - 1.0 10.0 13.0 1.0 - - - - - - - -
Campbelltown (Mount Annan) - 1.2 1.0 2.6 2.4
0.2 - - 0.6 - - - - - 8.2 0.2 - 3.8 5.6 28.2 1.0 - - - - - - - -
Rossmore (South Creek) - - 1.0 7.0 7.0 1.0 1.0 4.0 - 8.0 - - - - - 27.0 - - 1.0 6.0 14.0 1.0 - - - - - - - -

Most values are the precipitation in the 24 hours to 9 am on the day indicated. Days marked with »» are part of a longer accumulation, which is marked like this on the final day. Values over 100 mm have been rounded to the nearest whole millimetre. Days marked with - have a rainfall report of zero; days left blank have no rainfall report (which often indicates no rain fell).
This table is very wide; you may have to scroll sideways to see all the days, and you may need to set the paper to 'landscape' to print.

Extremes Records Summaries Important notes the top

Notes

A Monthly Climate Summary is prepared to list the main features of the weather in Sydney using the most timely and accurate information available on the date of publication; it will generally not be updated. Later information, including data that has had greater opportunity for quality control, will be presented in the Monthly Weather Review, usually published in the fourth week of the month.

This statement has been prepared based on information available at 9 am on Wednesday 1 May 2013. Some checks have been made on the data, but it is possible that results will change as new information becomes available.

Averages are long-term means based on observations from all available years of record, which vary widely from site to site. They are not shown for sites with less than 20 years of record, as they cannot then be calculated reliably.
The median is sometimes more representative than the mean of long-term average rain.

The Rank indicates how rainfall this time compares with the climate record for the site, based on the decile ranking (very low rainfall is in decile 1, low in decile 2 or 3, average in decile 4 to 7, high in decile 8 or 9 and very high is in decile 10).
The Fraction of average shows how much rain has fallen this time as a percentage of the long-term mean.

Further information

NSW Climate Services Centre
NSW Regional Office
Bureau of Meteorology
Phone (02) 9296 1500
Email climate.nsw@bom.gov.au