Friday, 2 December 2022 - Seasonal Climate Summary for Greater Sydney - Product code IDCKGC25L0
Greater Sydney in spring 2022: wet and cool
It was a wet and cool spring across Greater Sydney, with rainfall more than double the average in some areas. Daytime temperatures were up to 2 degrees below average, and night-time temperatures were within 1 degree of average. It was the wettest spring at Observatory Hill since 1995, and 2022 has been the wettest year there since records began in 1858.
Wetter than average
- It was wetter than average in spring across Greater Sydney.
- Total spring rainfall was generally over 40% above average, and more than double their average in some areas, including Campbelltown and Camden.
- September rainfall was around double the monthly average, while in October many sites recorded two to three times their monthly average.
- November rainfall was below average across Greater Sydney.
- Some sites had their highest total spring rainfall on record or their highest for at least 20 years.
- For more information on monthly rainfall see the September, October, and November climate summaries.
Generally cool
- Temperatures in spring were relatively cool across Greater Sydney.
- Spring maximum temperatures ranged from around 1 °C below their average near the coast to over 2 °C below average in some inland areas.
- Maximum temperatures were generally below average in all months.
- Some sites had their lowest spring mean daily maximum temperature on record or their lowest since 1999.
- Spring minimum temperatures were generally within 1 °C of their average.
- Mangrove Mountain had its lowest spring mean daily minimum temperature on record.
- A few sites had their lowest spring mean temperature on record or their lowest for at least 20 years.
- For more information on monthly temperature see the September, October, and November climate summaries.
Sydney (Observatory Hill)
- Total rainfall for Sydney (Observatory Hill) was 441.2 mm, which is 193% of the average over all years at the former site of 228.2 mm, or 201% of the 1991–2020 average of 219.4 mm.
- Total rainfall for October was 295.4 mm, exceeding the previous October record (at the combined current and former sites) of 283.2 mm in 1916.
- The spring total rainfall of 441.2 mm was the highest at Sydney (Observatory Hill) since 1995.
- On 6 October, Sydney (Observatory Hill) surpassed its annual record rainfall of 2194.0 mm in 1950.
- The 2022 year-to-date total rainfall, as of 9am 30 November, is 2451.8 mm.
- The mean daily maximum temperature for Sydney (Observatory Hill) was 22.5 °C, which is 0.5 °C above the average over all years at the former site of 22.0 °C, or 0.5 °C below the 1991–2020 average of 23.0 °C.
- The warmest day was 29.0 °C on 26 October, and the coolest day was on 3 September when the temperature reached 16.3 °C.
- The mean daily minimum temperature for Sydney (Observatory Hill) was 14.0 °C, which is 0.5 °C above the average over all years at the former site of 13.5 °C, or 0.5 °C below the 1991–2020 average of 14.5 °C.
- The coldest morning was 8.5 °C on 14 September, and the warmest morning was on 13 November when the minimum temperature was 18.9 °C.
- Media
- media@bom.gov.au (03) 9669 4057
- Media
- media@bom.gov.au (03) 9669 4057
Further information
Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top
Extremes in spring 2022 | |
---|---|
Hottest day | 32.4 °C at Cooranbong (Lake Macquarie AWS) on 27 Nov |
Warmest days on average | 23.6 °C at Penrith Lakes AWS |
Coolest days on average | 15.5 °C at Mount Boyce AWS |
Coldest day | 6.0 °C at Katoomba (Farnells Rd) on 3 Sep |
Coldest night | 0.5 °C at Mount Boyce AWS on 2 Nov |
Coolest nights on average | 6.7 °C at Katoomba (Farnells Rd) |
Warmest nights on average | 15.0 °C at Sydney Harbour (Wedding Cake West) |
Warmest night | 19.7 °C at Gosford AWS on 14 Nov |
Warmest on average overall | 18.4 °C at Norah Head AWS |
Coolest on average overall | 11.1 °C at Mount Boyce AWS |
Wettest overall | 557.0 mm at Darkes Forest (Kintyre) |
Wettest day | 103.4 mm at Yarramalong (Lewensbrook) on 9 Oct |
Strongest wind gust | 104 km/h at Wattamolla AWS on 9 Oct |
Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top
Record highest spring daily rainfall | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
New record (mm) |
Old record |
Years of record |
||||
Putty (The Gibba) | 93.0 | on 9 Oct | 48.0 | on 26 Nov 2011 | 22 |
Record highest spring total rainfall | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
New record (mm) |
Old record |
Years of record |
Average for spring |
||
Camden Airport AWS | 413.6 | 348.6 | in 1987 | 47 | 182.4 |
Campbelltown (Kentlyn (Georges River Roa | 382.0 | 356.7 | in 1969 | 42 | 178.3 |
Badgerys Creek AWS | 307.2 | 287.0 | in 2004 | 25 | 165.1 |
Blackheath (Wombat Street) | 502.0 | 416.0 | in 2018 | 22 | 253.7 |
Wyong (Kulnura (Jeavons)) | 345.0 | 336.0 | in 2011 | 20 | 206.0 |
Highest spring total rainfall for at least 20 years | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Observed (mm) |
Most recent higher |
Average for spring |
|||
Camden (Brownlow Hill) | 333.5 | 378.4 | in 1987 | 163.2 | |
Yarramalong (Lewensbrook) | 431.4 | 503.3 | in 1986* | 236.7 | |
Darkes Forest (Kintyre) | 557.0 | 604.6 | in 1987* | 275.8 | |
Mona Vale Golf Club | 430.8 | 477.3 | in 1987* | 229.0 | |
Sydney Botanic Gardens | 434.0 | 461.2 | in 1987* | 231.4 | |
Randwick (Randwick St) | 392.9 | 402.6 | in 1995 | 225.8 | |
Prospect Reservoir | 308.0 | 321.3 | in 1995* | 180.2 | |
Sydney Airport AMO | 379.0 | 388.0 | in 1995* | 212.0 | |
Bringelly (Maryland) | 306.0 | 319.5 | in 1995* | 166.9 | |
Audley (Royal National Park) | 364.0 | 426.5 | in 1995* | 220.7 | |
Collaroy (Long Reef Golf Club) | 306.2 | 341.0 | in 1976* | 223.5 | |
Mount Wilson (Clarine) | 441.6 | 515.0 | in 1999* | 270.5 |
* note: there are gaps in the historical record at this site, so it is possible a higher value has gone unreported
Record lowest spring mean daily maximum temperature | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
New record (°C) |
Old record |
Years of record |
Average for spring |
||
Richmond RAAF | 23.1 | 23.2 | in 1999 | 28 | 25.1 |
Penrith Lakes AWS | 23.6 | = 23.6 | in 1999 | 27 | 25.6 |
Canterbury Racecourse AWS | 21.8 | 22.3 | in 2010 | 25 | 23.4 |
Horsley Park Equestrian Centre AWS | 22.0 | 23.0 | in 1999 | 25 | 24.5 |
Lowest spring mean daily maximum temperature for at least 20 years | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Observed (°C) |
Most recent lower |
Average for spring |
|||
Camden Airport AWS | 22.4 | 21.7 | in 1976* | 24.3 | |
Bankstown Airport AWS | 22.5 | 22.1 | in 1992 | 23.7 | |
Katoomba (Farnells Rd) | 15.8 | 15.6 | in 1992 | 17.6 | |
Mount Boyce AWS | 15.5 | 15.1 | in 1992 | 17.7 | |
Parramatta North (Masons Drive) | 22.2 | =22.2 | in 1992 | 23.8 | |
Badgerys Creek AWS | 22.9 | 22.8 | in 1999 | 24.7 | |
Mangrove Mountain AWS | 21.4 | 20.8 | in 1999 | 22.7 |
* note: there are gaps in the historical record at this site, so it is possible a lower value has gone unreported
Record lowest spring mean daily minimum temperature | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
New record (°C) |
Old record |
Years of record |
Average for spring |
||
Mangrove Mountain AWS | 10.6 | = 10.6 | in 2012 | 28 | 11.4 |
Record lowest spring mean temperature | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
New record (°C) |
Old record |
Years of record |
Average for spring |
||
Mangrove Mountain AWS | 16.0 | = 16.0 | in 1999 | 28 | 17.1 |
Horsley Park Equestrian Centre AWS | 16.8 | 17.0 | in 2003 | 25 | 18.2 |
Lowest spring mean temperature for at least 20 years | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Observed (°C) |
Most recent lower |
Average for spring |
|||
Katoomba (Farnells Rd) | 11.2 | 10.9 | in 1992 | 12.7 | |
Mount Boyce AWS | 11.1 | 10.5 | in 1992 | 12.7 |
Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top
Summary statistics for spring 2022 | ||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Maximum temperatures (°C) |
Minimum temperatures (°C) |
Rainfall (millimetres) |
||||||||||
Mean for spring 2022 |
Diff from average |
Highest for spring 2022 |
Mean for spring 2022 |
Diff from average |
Lowest for spring 2022 |
Total for spring 2022 |
Average for spring |
Rank of spring 2022 |
Fraction of spring average |
|||
Badgerys Creek AWS | 22.9 | -1.8 | 29.0 | 25 Nov | 10.9 | +0.3 | 3.8 | 12 Sep | 307.2 | 165.1 | highest | 186% |
Bankstown Airport AWS | 22.5 | -1.2 | 30.3 | 27 Nov | 12.3 | +0.6 | 5.9 | 5 Sep | 301.0 | 182.6 | v high | 165% |
Camden Airport AWS | 22.4 | -1.9 | 28.4 | 25 Nov | 10.7 | +0.7 | 2.9 | 14 Sep | 413.6 | 182.4 | highest | 227% |
Campbelltown (Mount Annan) | 22.4 | -2.4 | 28.2 | 12 Nov | 10.5 | +0.1 | 3.3 | 12 Sep | 334.0 | 166.8 | v high | 200% |
Canterbury Racecourse AWS | 21.8 | -1.6 | 28.9 | 31 Oct | 12.0 | -0.1 | 5.4 | 20 Sep | 292.2 | 188.3 | high | 155% |
Cooranbong (Lake Macquarie AWS) | 22.6 | -1.8 | 32.4 | 27 Nov | 11.1 | +0.1 | 5.0 | 12 Sep | 365.8 | 255.0 | high | 143% |
Gosford AWS | 21.9 | 31.5 | 27 Nov | 12.6 | 4.9 | 12 Sep | 335.2 | |||||
Holsworthy Aerodrome AWS | 21.8 | -2.7 | 28.5 | 31 Oct | 11.6 | +0.1 | 4.2 | 14 Sep | 271.8 | 158.1 | v high | 172% |
Holsworthy Defence AWS | 21.5 | 28.6 | 27 Nov | 11.1 | 4.1 | 14 Sep | 412.8 | |||||
Horsley Park Equestrian Centre AWS | 22.0 | -2.5 | 29.9 | 27 Nov | 11.6 | -0.2 | 5.6 | 3 Nov | 276.8 | 171.9 | high | 161% |
Katoomba (Farnells Rd) | 15.8 | -1.8 | 26.0 | 27 Nov | 6.7 | -1.0 | 1.4 | 12 Sep | 396.8 | 274.4 | high | 145% |
Mangrove Mountain AWS | 21.4 | -1.3 | 31.6 | 27 Nov | 10.6 | -0.8 | 4.0 | 12 Sep | 379.6 | 247.5 | v high | 153% |
Mount Boyce AWS | 15.5 | -2.2 | 25.5 | 27 Nov | 6.8 | -0.9 | 0.5 | 2 Nov | 438.2 | 234.4 | v high | 187% |
Norah Head AWS | 22.3 | -0.3 | 29.2 | 26 Oct | 14.5 | -0.3 | 9.8 | 12 Sep | 300.0 | 224.3 | high | 134% |
Parramatta North (Masons Drive) | 22.2 | -1.6 | 30.6 | 27 Nov | 12.1 | +0.3 | 5.2 | 12 Sep | 290.0 | 203.9 | high | 142% |
Penrith Lakes AWS | 23.6 | -2.0 | 29.9 | 25 Nov | 12.1 | -0.1 | 4.1 | 12 Sep | ||||
Richmond RAAF | 23.1 | -2.0 | 30.5 | 31 Oct | 11.6 | +0.5 | 3.2 | 12 Sep | 245.2 | 177.2 | high | 138% |
Sydney (Observatory Hill) | 22.5 | 29.0 | 26 Oct | 14.0 | 8.5 | 14 Sep | 441.2 | |||||
Sydney Airport AMO | 22.2 | -0.4 | 29.7 | 31 Oct | 14.1 | +0.9 | 8.0 | 14 Sep | 379.0 | 212.0 | v high | 179% |
Sydney Harbour (Wedding Cake West) | 20.0 | -1.0 | 28.2 | 31 Oct | 15.0 | -0.3 | 10.3 | 14 Sep | ||||
Sydney Olympic Park AWS (Archery Centre) | 22.5 | -2.1 | 29.4 | 27 Nov | 12.5 | -0.2 | 5.9 | 12 Sep | 272.2 | 200.4 | high | 136% |
Terrey Hills AWS | 20.6 | -1.8 | 29.3 | 27 Nov | 12.5 | -0.7 | 6.5 | 14 Sep | 372.0 | 248.1 | v high | 150% |
Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top
Notes
The Seasonal climate summary, usually published in the first week of the following month, lists the main features of the weather in Greater Sydney using the most timely and accurate information available on the date of publication; it will generally not be updated. More extensive discussion of significant weather events, along with later information and data that has had greater opportunity for quality control, will be presented in the Monthly Weather Review.
This summary includes data from observing sites in or near the Greater Sydney “Greater Capital City Statistical Area” (GCCSA). The Australian Bureau of Statistics designed the GCCSAs to “include the population within the urban area of the city, as well as people who regularly socialise, shop or work within the city, and live in small towns and rural areas surrounding the city. It is important to note that GCCSAs do not define the built up edge of the city. They provide a stable definition for these cities and are designed for the output of a range of social and economic survey data.”
This statement has been prepared based on information available at 6 pm on Friday 2 December 2022. Some checks have been made on the data, but it is possible that results will change as new information becomes available.
In some situations, some or all of the rainfall is in the form of hail or snow. In these cases the totals given are for the water equivalent: the depth of liquid water that results from melting any frozen precipitation. There can be significant 'undercatch' of snow in strong winds, meaning the true precipitation can be higher than that reported.
Averages for individual sites are long-term means based on observations from
all available years of record, which vary widely from site to site.
They are not shown for sites with less than 10 years of record, as they cannot then be calculated reliably.
The median
is sometimes more representative than the
mean
of long-term average rain.
The Rank indicates how rainfall this time compares with the climate record for the site,
based on the
decile ranking
(very low rainfall is in decile 1, low in decile 2 or 3,
average in decile 4 to 7, high in decile 8 or 9
and very high is in decile 10).
The Fraction of average shows how much rain has fallen this time as a
percentage of the long-term mean.
Where temperature area averages are mentioned, they are derived from the ACORN-SAT dataset.
Information about Australian Indigenous seasonal calendars is available at the Indigenous Weather Knowledge website.
Further information
Unless otherwise noted, all maps, graphs and diagrams in this page are licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licence