Sydney
Climate overview

Rainfall

Rainfall across the Sydney region was generally close to average for the 2012–13 year (Figure C1). The total area-averaged rainfall over the Sydney region during the 2012–13 year was 904 mm, close to the long-term area-averaged rainfall of 898 mm (based on the 1900–2013 period).

These conditions represent a decrease in rainfall compared to the 2011–12 year, when rainfall was very much above average across most of the region (see the 2012 Account). As a result there was decreased runoff into the storages during the 2012–13 year (see the Surface water section of the 'Water resources and systems' note).

Figure C1  Map of annual rainfall deciles for the Sydney region during the 2012–13 year
Figure C1  Map of annual rainfall deciles for the Sydney region during the 2012–13 year


Annual rainfall ranged from more than 1,200 mm in most coastal areas, to less than 700 mm in the southwest and northwest of the region (Figure C2).
 

Figure C2  Total annual rainfall for the Sydney region during the 2012–13 year
Figure C2  Total annual rainfall for the Sydney region during the 2012–13 year


Although the Sydney region experienced close to average rainfall, generally below-average rainfall was experienced across most of Australia during the 2012–13 year. There were no strong influences from large-scale climate drivers over the year. Conditions in the Pacific Ocean were neutral and a negative Indian Ocean Dipole event developed at the end of the 2012–13 year.

The area-averaged monthly rainfall was below the long-term average for most months during the 2012–13 year, with the exception of January, February, and June 2013 (Figure C3) which were well above average, resulting in an annual area-averaged rainfall which was close to average. June 2013 ranked above the 90th percentile, receiving more than double the long-term average. All months in the first half of the year (July–December 2012) recorded values below the long-term average.


Figure C3  Graph of total monthly rainfall for the Sydney region during the 2012–13 year compared with the long-term average and percentiles for the region
Figure C3  Graph of total monthly rainfall for the Sydney region during the 2012–13 year compared with the long-term average and percentiles for the region

Evapotranspiration

Evapotranspiration across the Sydney region was generally average to below average for the 2012–13 year (Figure C4).


Figure C4 Map of annual evapotranspiration deciles for the Sydney region during the 2012–13 year
Figure C4 Map of annual evapotranspiration deciles for the Sydney region during the 2012–13 year


The total area-averaged evapotranspiration over the Sydney region during the 2012–13 year was 740 mm compared to the long-term area-averaged evapotranspiration of 745 mm (based on the 1911–2013 period). Evapotranspiration was higher along the coastal areas of the Sydney region near Sydney, Wollongong, and Kiama (Figure C5).


Figure C5  Map of annual evapotranspiration for the Sydney region during the 2012–13 year
Figure C5  Map of annual evapotranspiration for the Sydney region during the 2012–13 year

Temperature

During the 2012–13 year, the Sydney region experienced mean temperatures generally above the long-term average, based on the 1911–2013 period (Figure C6).


Figure C6  Map of annual mean temperature deciles for the Sydney region during the 2012–13 year
Figure C6  Map of annual mean temperature deciles for the Sydney region during the 2012–13 year


Annual mean temperatures across the Sydney region ranged from more than 20 °C in the coastal area around Sydney and isolated central parts, to less than 12 °C in isolated areas along the western border (Figure C7).

 

Figure C7  Map of annual mean temperature for the Sydney region during the 2012–13 year
Figure C7  Map of annual mean temperature for the Sydney region during the 2012–13 year

 

Monthly mean temperatures for the Sydney region were equal to or above the long-term average for all months during the 2012–13 year, with the exception of February 2013 (Figure 17). January and June 2013 both ranked above the 90th percentile, with the Sydney region experiencing the fourth-warmest January and the ninth-warmest June on record.



Figure C8  Graph of monthly mean temperature for the Sydney region during the 2012–13 year compared with the long-term average and percentiles for the region
Figure C8  Graph of monthly mean temperature for the Sydney region during the 2012–13 year compared with the long-term average and percentiles for the region