Tuesday, 1 March 2022 - Seasonal Climate Summary for New South Wales - Product code IDCKGC25R0

New South Wales in summer 2021-22:

New South Wales experienced a wetter than average summer, the wettest since 2011–2012. Temperatures were average to below average over and east of the Great Dividing Range and its Slopes and Plains, while western parts of the state experienced average to above average temperatures. Weather patterns in summer were influenced by La Niña and the Southern Annular Mode (SAM) which was in the positive phase for much of the season.

Wetter than average for the majority of areas

• For New South Wales overall, rainfall was 30% above the 1961–1990 average, the wettest summer since 2011–2012.
• Most parts of the state received above average rainfall, though parts of the Lower Western and Northern Tablelands received average to below average rainfall.
• At the end of February, a slow-moving trough and humid conditions produced very heavy multi-day rainfall over the Northern Rivers and Mid North Coast.
• Large parts of the Northern Rivers experienced their wettest summer on record, with parts of the Mid North Coast, Illawarra, the South Coast, Southern Tablelands and Snowy Mountains also recording their highest summer rainfall on record.
• A large number of sites had their highest summer daily rainfall on record, some with station records greater than 50 years.
• Many sites had their highest total summer rainfall on record or highest total summer rainfall for at least 20 years.
• A Special Climate Statement is being prepared for the ongoing extreme rainfall and flooding event in New South Wales.

Cooler than average along most parts of the coast

• For New South Wales overall, the summer maximum temperature was 0.17 °C above the 1961–1990 average while the minimum temperature was 0.81 °C above the 1961–1990 average.
• Maximum temperatures were cooler than average over and east of the Great Dividing Range and its adjacent Slopes and Plains, and above average over the far south-west of the state.
• Minimum temperatures were warmer than average towards the far west of the state and along most of the coastline.
• Merimbula Airport AWS had its coldest summer day (lowest maximum temperature) on record due to the presence of heavy cloud cover and rainfall from a low-pressure system that formed off the central coast of the state.
• Two sites in Bombala had their lowest summer mean daily maximum temperature for at least 20 years.

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

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Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top