Thursday, 1 March 2018 - Seasonal Climate Summary for New South Wales - Product code IDCKGC25R0

New South Wales in summer 2017-18: warmer than average; dry across the north, wet in the south

Summer 2017–18 in New South Wales was the fourth-warmest on record, with warmer than average temperatures throughout the State. Rainfall totals were below average across most of the northern half of the State, but were average to above average in southern areas due to heavy rains in December.

Drier than average across the north, wet in the south

• Summer rainfall was below average across much of northern New South Wales, but was average to above average across the southern half of the State
• December was very wet in the Riverina and Southwest Plains districts, with the southern region receiving more than double its December average rainfall; despite a dry February, it was enough to result in above average summer totals for much of southern New South Wales
• Northern and eastern districts were generally drier than average in each of the summer months
• Little rain fell in the Far Northwest throughout summer, with the District receiving an area-averaged total of about 28 mm for the season (compared to the 1961–90 average of about 82 mm)
• There were heavy falls at times, with some sites having their highest summer daily rainfall on record during December
• However, there were also long dry spells with Scone Airport having its lowest total summer rainfall on record and several other sites having their lowest total summer rainfall for at least 20 years

Fourth-warmest summer on record

• Summer days and nights were very much warmer than average throughout most of New South Wales
• Overall, it was the State's fourth-warmest summer on record
• The State's mean maximum temperature was 2.46 °C warmer than average, ranking as the fourth-warmest on record
• Daytime temperatures were more than 3 °C above average in the Upper Western District and parts of the Central region
• The mean minimum temperature was 1.82 °C warmer than average for New South Wales as a whole, also ranking fourth-warmest
• Each of the summer months were warmer than average for the State as a whole
• On 7 January, daytime temperatures were more than 12 degrees above average in the Sydney region and several sites had their highest summer temperature on record
• Several sites had their highest summer mean daily maximum temperature on record
• Heatwaves in December and January resulted in several sites having their warmest summer night (highest daily minimum temperature) on record
• Two sites had their highest summer mean temperature since 1980

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 lower value has gone unreported

* 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