Monday, 2 March 2015 - Seasonal Climate Summary for Sydney - Product code IDCKGC25L0

Sydney in summer 2014-15: Warm nights and thunderstorms

Rainfall was generally average to above average across the Sydney region during summer, with most of the rain falling during periods of thunderstorm activity. There were 17 days with thunder heard at Sydney Airport, well above average for summer and the most since summer 1985-6, including a record 7 consecutive days between 2 and 8 December. These contributed to locally heavy rain, with daily totals exceeding 50 mm on multiple occasions across the city. The heaviest rain fell between 27 and 29 January, with totals to 9 am on the 28th including 57 mm at Observatory Hill and 105.2 mm at Duffys Forest.

Minimum temperatures were well above average across the Sydney region, associated with above average rainfall and sea surface temperatures. At Observatory Hill the mean minimum temperature was 1.6 °C above average and the sixth-warmest on record. There were 52 nights that remained above 20 °C, more than double the historical average of 21 nights. This is the equal-second-greatest number of warm nights on record, behind 64 nights in summer 1990-91. This included 17 consecutive warm nights between 9 and 25 February, the second-longest warm spell on record for Sydney behind 18 days in summer 2009-10.

In comparison, maximum temperatures were generally close to average in western Sydney, with very cool days at the end of January, but 1.2 °C above average at Observatory Hill. Only seven days reached at least 30 °C during the summer, below the historical average of 9 days. However, only 21 days were below 25 °C, half the average of 41 cool days and the equal-fourth-fewest on record.

• Persistent thunderstorms cause locally heavy rain
• Sixth-warmest summer on record for mean minimum temperatures
• Mild summer with few cool days
• Second-longest spell of warm nights on record

Extremes Records Summaries Important notes the top

Extremes Records Summaries Important notes the top

Extremes Records Summaries Important notes the top