Monday, 3 March 2014 - Seasonal Climate Summary for Sydney  - Product code IDCKGC25L0

Sydney in summer 2013-14: Driest summer since 1986-87

• Well below average rainfall across the city
• Above average temperatures, but few hot days

Extremes Records Summaries Important notes the top

Rainfall - Driest summer in almost 30 years

Sydney Observatory Hill recorded 106.6 mm of rain during summer 2013-14, close to a third of the historical average (297.7 mm), making it the driest summer since 1986-87. Rainfall was below average across the city, with several short-record stations in northern Sydney recording their driest summer in 20-30 years of record, while Turramurra recorded its driest summer since 1964-65.

Rainfall was below average throughout the season, associated with a lack of major rain events. While there were 29 rain days (average 36), only six recorded at least 5 mm of rainfall (average 13), the fewest since 5 days in summer 1986-87. Only two days recorded at least 20 mm, with 21 mm on December 26 and 21.8 mm on February 17; this is the first summer since 1984-85 without any days over 25 mm.

Some sites had their lowest total summer rainfall on record.

Temperature

Sydney Observatory Hill recorded a mean maximum temperature of 26.5 °C during summer 2013-14, 0.9 °C above the historical average. Temperatures were persistently warm throughout the season - only 26 days failed to reach at least 25 °C (average 41 days), with no days dropping below 20 °C, but only six days reached at least 30 °C in the city (average 9 days). Temperatures were warmer in western Sydney, with 49 days reaching at least 30 °C in Penrith, the most since summer 2009-10.

The average minimum temperature at Observatory Hill was 19.4 °C, 1.1 °C above the historical average, associated with well above average sea surface temperatures. Only three nights dropped below 15 °C during the season (average 6 nights), while 38 nights remained above 20 °C (average 21 nights). The mean temperature for Sydney was consequently 23 °C, 1 °C above the historical average

Other phenomena

Sydney Airport recorded an average of 8.0 hours of bright sunshine during summer, above the historical average of 7.5 hours and the sunniest summer since 2006-07. Thunder was reported at the airport on only two days, the fewest on record for Sydney (average 9 days).

The prevailing wind direction at Sydney airport was easterly, which is normal for summer. The 3 pm wind direction was between ENE and NNE for 2% of the time and E-S for the remaining 47%, slightly more northeasterly than normal, contributing to the mild temperatures. There were 27 strong wind days reported during the season, with the strongest gusts reaching 106 km/h in western Sydney on 5 December.

Extremes Records Summaries Important notes the top

Extremes Records Summaries Important notes the top

Extremes Records Summaries Important notes the top