Tuesday, 1 June 2010 - Seasonal Climate Summary for Sydney - Greater Sydney - Product code IDCKGC25L0

Warm and dry Autumn

• Below average rainfall.
• Above average temperatures (maximum and minimum).

Details Extremes Records Summaries Important notes the top

Rainfall

Sydney Observatory Hill recorded 249.6 mm in autumn which is below the historical average¹ of 397.1 mm. The below average rainfall was mainly a product of well below average falls which were recorded in both March and April, despite good falls in the second half of May. The rain during autumn fell on 35 rain days which is below the historical average¹ of 37 rain days. The dry conditions were due to the passage of several high pressure systems which brought mostly fine weather to Sydney. Much of the rainfall that did fall during autumn was restricted to coastal areas, resulting in much drier conditions in western parts of Sydney.

Sydney's storage levels at the start of autumn were at 59.3% and dropped to 56.3% at the end of May as much of the rainfall that fell in the Sydney basin was restricted to coastal areas. Recent rainfall and current levels in Sydney's water catchments can be found on the Sydney Catchment Authority web site http://www.sca.nsw.gov.au/dams/rainfall.html

Temperature

Warm conditions were recorded across the Sydney basin during autumn for both maximum and minimum temperatures. Sydney Observatory Hill recorded an average mean temperature (average of maximum and minimum temperatures) of 19.7°C which is 0.7°C above the historical average¹ of 19.0°C. The passage of several high pressure systems throughout autumn brought mostly fine weather during the day resulting in above average maximum temperatures. Onshore winds and high humidity associated with the above average sea surface temperatures in Sydney contributed to the above average minimum temperatures. Very warm conditions persisted for the most part until the 17th of May with mostly cooler than normal conditions recorded for the remainder of autumn.

Maximum temperature

Sydney Observatory Hill recorded an average maximum temperature of 23.7°C which is 0.8°C above the historical average¹ of 22.9°C. The warmest daily maximum temperature of 36.3°C was recorded at Sydney Airport on 21st March with the warmest average maximum temperatures for autumn of 24.8°C recorded at Penrith Lakes.

Minimum temperature

Sydney Observatory Hill recorded an average minimum temperature of 15.8°C which is 0.7°C above the historical average¹ of 15.1°C. The warmest night of 23.0°C was recorded at Sydney Airport with the warmest nights on average recorded at Sydney Observatory Hill (15.8°C). The coldest night was -0.7°C recorded at both Richmond RAAF and Camden Airport AWS on 13th of May.

Wind

Prevailing winds in coastal Sydney during the afternoon (3pm) were between E and SE for 63% of the time during May (observations taken from Sydney Airport). The strongest wind gust of 81 km/hr was recorded at Sydney Airport on 21st March.

Other phenomena

Sydney recorded a total of 2 storms during autumn which is below the the historical average¹ of 6 storms. Sunshine averaged at 6.7 hours per day which is above the historical average¹ of 6.3 hours. On the morning of the 21st of April fog was observed at many locations across greater Sydney.

Details Extremes Records Summaries Important notes the top

Details Extremes Records Summaries Important notes the top

Details Extremes Records Summaries Important notes the top