Monday, 2 December 2019 - Monthly Climate Summary for Greater Sydney - Product code IDCKGC15L0

Greater Sydney in November 2019: record heat, dry conditions with dust and smoke

November 2019 brought record heat to Greater Sydney, with Sydney having its warmest November days on record. Minimum temperatures were generally near or below average. Conditions were drier than average, with fewer than usual rain days. Bushfire smoke and dust resulted in reduced visibility and many days of poor air quality.

Below average rainfall throughout

• November brought drier than average conditions throughout Greater Sydney, with almost all sites recording less than half of their typical November totals
• Widespread totals of between 10 mm and 20 mm were recorded for the 24 hours to 9 am on the 4th as showers and isolated thunderstorms moved through the region
• Mostly light to moderate falls were reported in the region between the 23rd and 27th due to thunderstorm activity; 44.0 mm was recorded for the 24 hours to 9 am on the 26th at St Ives in the northern suburbs, the wettest day for the month
• Mount Boyce and Yarramalong (Lewensbrook) had their lowest total November rainfall on record, while other sites had their lowest total November rainfall for at least 20 years
• Sydney (Observatory Hill) reported rain on seven days, below the November average of around 12 days
• The January to November rainfall at Sydney (Observatory Hill) is 850.2 mm, about 75% of the typical rainfall for this period

Highest November daytime temperatures on average

• Greater Sydney was much warmer than average across the region, with Katoomba 4.3 °C above average for November
• Sydney (Observatory Hill), Sydney Airport and several other sites had their highest November mean daily maximum temperature on record or their highest November mean daily maximum temperature for at least 20 years
• Sydney (Observatory Hill) recorded seven days where the maximum temperature was 30 °C or higher, the equal second-highest count on record for November; similarly in the west, Penrith recorded 17 days of 30 °C or higher, also the second-highest on record
• Minimum temperatures were milder across the region, with many sites recording overnight temperatures below the November average; minimum temperatures ranged from 1.9 °C below average at Cooranbong to 1.2 °C above average at Sydney (Observatory Hill) and Sydney Airport
• The year to date mean maximum temperature was the highest on record at all sites across the region; Sydney (Observatory Hill) recorded a mean maximum temperature of 23.8 °C for the January to November period, 2.4 °C above average for this period
• The year to date mean minimum temperature at Sydney (Observatory Hill) is 14.7 °C, 1.2 °C above average for the period and the seventh-warmest on record

Sydney (Observatory Hill)

• Total rainfall for Sydney (Observatory Hill) was 26.2 mm, which is 31% of the long-term average of 83.8 mm
• The mean daily maximum temperature for Sydney (Observatory Hill) was 26.6 °C, which is 2.9 °C above the long-term average of 23.7 °C and the warmest on record
• The warmest day was 36.5 °C on the 12th, and the coolest day was on the 5th when the temperature reached 20.3 °C
• The mean daily minimum temperature for Sydney (Observatory Hill) was 16.9 °C, which is 1.2 °C above the long-term average of 15.7 °C
• The coldest morning was 12.0 °C on the 6th, and the warmest morning was on the 29th when the minimum temperature was 20.6 °C

Other phenomena

• Warnings for Catastrophic Fire Danger were issued for the first time since the ratings were introduced in Greater Sydney and surrounds on the 12th, as hot, dry and windy conditions affected the region
• Poor air quality and reduced visibility was a feature in Greater Sydney during the month, with smoke from bushfires and dust from western NSW resulting in many days of air quality alerts being issued in the region. For more information, please visit the NSW Air Quality website
• Severe, fast moving thunderstorms moved through the region on the 26th, resulting in NSW SES receiving over 2000 calls for assistance, with Sydney's northern suburbs hit the hardest. Most calls were relating to wind damage, as strong and gusty winds brought down trees and powerlines. Over 50,000 homes and businesses were without power. Gusts of 104 km/h were reported at Fort Denison on this day

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Daily observations Important notes the top

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Daily observations Important notes the top

* note: there are gaps in the historical record at this site, so it is possible a lower value has gone unreported

* note: there are gaps in the historical record at this site, so it is possible a higher value has gone unreported

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Daily observations Important notes the top

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Daily observations Important notes the top

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Daily observations Important notes the top