Friday, 1 March 2019 - Seasonal Climate Summary for Greater Sydney - Product code IDCKGC25L0

Greater Sydney in summer 2018-19: very warm, average rainfall

Summer 2018-19 rainfall across Greater Sydney was close to average in nearly all suburbs. Temperatures were warmer than normal following several heatwave events during December and January.

Rainfall close to average

• Summer 2018-19 rainfall totals were close to average across Greater Sydney, wetter than the previous summer 2017-18
• December saw above average rainfall followed by near-average January totals and most sites in February experienced below average totals
• The wettest day of summer was on 14 December where 80.6 mm was recorded at Holsworthy (Defence) as a result of widespread thunderstorms
• Rain was recorded at Sydney (Observatory Hill) on 34 days; close to the summer average of 36 rain days

Warm days and nights

• Daytime temperatures in summer across Greater Sydney were generally one to three degrees warmer than normal
• The warmest days of summer was 42.4 °C recorded at Penrith Lakes Aws on both 5 and 17 January, the coolest summer day was 14.3 ºC recorded at Katoomba (Murri St) on 5 December
• A record run of consecutive hot days of 35 °C or higher was experienced at Penrith Lakes, recording 9 days from 25 December to 2 January (previous was 7 consecutive days between 30 January to 5 February 2011)
• January was the warmest month on record, with many sites setting records for their hottest overall January mean maximum and mean minimum temperatures
• Overnight temperatures were around one to two degrees warmer than average for sites across Greater Sydney
• Several records were set for consecutive number of warm nights of 20 ºC or more during January, including Sydney (Observatory Hill) between 8 to 31 January (previous was 12 consecutive days 17 to 28 January 2013)
• Clear conditions generated by a high pressure system in the Tasman Sea, led to the coolest overnight temperatures for summer on 24 December, overnight temperatures at most locations did not exceed 15 ºC

Sydney (Observatory Hill)

• Total rainfall for Sydney (Observatory Hill) was 229.2 mm, which is 77% of the long-term average of 296.3 mm
• The mean daily maximum temperature for Sydney (Observatory Hill) was 28.0 °C, which is 2.3 °C above the long-term average of 25.7 °C. The warmest day was 39.6 °C on 31 Jan, and the coolest day was on 23 Feb when the temperature reached 21.1 °C
• The mean daily minimum temperature for Sydney (Observatory Hill) was 20.2 °C, which is 1.8 °C above the long-term average of 18.4 °C. The coldest morning was 14.9 °C on 24 Dec, and the warmest morning was on 19 Jan when the minimum temperature was 23.5 °C

Dust and thunderstorms

• A severe thunderstorm impacted Sydney on 20 December and brought intense rain, damaging winds and giant hail resulting in extensive property damage
• On the evening of 8 February, a severe thunderstorm impacted parts of the Sydney CBD generating heavy falls and flash flooding in some areas
• Raised dust over Sydney on 12 February reduced air quality levels for a few days before moving offshore

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top