Climate of Sydney: Difference between revisions
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|Nov rain days = 11.5 |
|Nov rain days = 11.5 |
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|Dec rain days = 10.6 |
|Dec rain days = 10.6 |
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|humidity colour=green |
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|Jan humidity = 60 |
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|Feb humidity = 63 |
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|Mar humidity = 61 |
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|Apr humidity = 59 |
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|May humidity = 58 |
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|Jun humidity = 57 |
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|Jul humidity = 52 |
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|Aug humidity = 49 |
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|Sep humidity = 51 |
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|Oct humidity = 54 |
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|Nov humidity = 56 |
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|Dec humidity = 58 |
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|year humidity = 57 |
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|Jand sun = 7.5 |
|Jand sun = 7.5 |
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|Febd sun = 7.1 |
|Febd sun = 7.1 |
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| Line 211: | Line 197: | ||
|Nov rain days = 11.7 |
|Nov rain days = 11.7 |
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|Dec rain days = 9.3 |
|Dec rain days = 9.3 |
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|humidity colour=green |
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|Jan humidity = 53 |
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|Feb humidity = 55 |
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|Mar humidity = 53 |
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|Apr humidity = 51 |
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|May humidity = 51 |
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|Jun humidity = 52 |
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|Jul humidity = 48 |
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|Aug humidity = 41 |
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|Sep humidity = 43 |
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|Oct humidity = 45 |
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|Nov humidity = 51 |
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|Dec humidity = 50 |
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|year humidity = 49 |
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|source 1 = Bureau of Meteorology<ref name="acnsop">{{BoM Aust stats|site_ref=cw_066195_All|site_name=Sydney Olympic Park|accessdate=19 January 2014}}</ref> |
|source 1 = Bureau of Meteorology<ref name="acnsop">{{BoM Aust stats|site_ref=cw_066195_All|site_name=Sydney Olympic Park|accessdate=19 January 2014}}</ref> |
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}} |
}} |
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|Dec rain days = 9.1 |
|Dec rain days = 9.1 |
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|year rain days = 109.6 |
|year rain days = 109.6 |
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|humidity colour=green |
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|Jan humidity = 54 |
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|Feb humidity = 55 |
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|Mar humidity = 56 |
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|Apr humidity = 52 |
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|May humidity = 58 |
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|Jun humidity = 54 |
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|Jul humidity = 50 |
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|Aug humidity = 44 |
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|Sep humidity = 45 |
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|Oct humidity = 45 |
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|Nov humidity = 49 |
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|Dec humidity = 51 |
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|year humidity = 51 |
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|source 1 = Bureau of Meteorology<ref name="acnli">{{BoM Aust stats|site_ref=cw_067035_All|site_name=Liverpool|accessdate=19 January 2014}}</ref> |
|source 1 = Bureau of Meteorology<ref name="acnli">{{BoM Aust stats|site_ref=cw_067035_All|site_name=Liverpool|accessdate=19 January 2014}}</ref> |
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| source 2 = <ref name="Jan2013"/> |
| source 2 = <ref name="Jan2013"/> |
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| Line 414: | Line 372: | ||
|Dec rain days = 10.5 |
|Dec rain days = 10.5 |
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|year rain days = 132.6 |
|year rain days = 132.6 |
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|humidity colour=green |
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|Jan humidity = 47 |
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|Feb humidity = 53 |
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|Mar humidity = 52 |
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|Apr humidity = 49 |
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|May humidity = 52 |
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|Jun humidity = 55 |
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|Jul humidity = 50 |
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|Aug humidity = 41 |
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|Sep humidity = 40 |
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|Oct humidity = 41 |
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|Nov humidity = 46 |
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|Dec humidity = 45 |
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|year humidity = 48 |
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|source 1 = Bureau of Meteorology<ref name="acnpn">{{BoM Aust stats|site_ref=cw_067113_All|site_name=Penrith|accessdate=19 January 2014}}</ref> |
|source 1 = Bureau of Meteorology<ref name="acnpn">{{BoM Aust stats|site_ref=cw_067113_All|site_name=Penrith|accessdate=19 January 2014}}</ref> |
||
| source 2 = <ref name="Jan2013"/> |
| source 2 = <ref name="Jan2013"/> |
||
Revision as of 11:50, 22 April 2014
The climate of Sydney is temperate, having warm summers and mild winters, with rainfall spread throughout the year.[1][2][3][4]
Temperature
The warmest months are January and February, with an average air temperature range at Observatory Hill of 18.7–25.9 °C (65.7–78.6 °F) for January and 18.8–25.8 °C (65.8–78.4 °F) for February.[5] An average of 14.9 days a year have temperatures of more than 30 °C (86 °F).[5] The highest recorded maximum temperature at Observatory Hill was 45.8 °C (114.4 °F) on 18 January 2013 during a prolonged heat wave across Australia from early December 2012 to late January 2013.[6][7] In winter, temperatures are mild and rarely drop below 5 °C (41 °F) in coastal areas. The coldest month is July, with an average range of 8.0–16.3 °C (46.4–61.3 °F).[5] The lowest recorded minimum at Observatory Hill was 2.1 °C (35.8 °F) on 22 June 1932.[5]
Inland, in Sydney's western suburbs, the climate is drier and summers are significantly hotter with temperatures around 2–5 °C (4–9 °F) above Sydney's and winter lows around 2 °C (4 °F) cooler than the coastal suburbs.[8] Sydney is prone to heat waves, which have become considerably more common in recent years due to an increasing trend of global warming.[9] They usually would lead to water restrictions and a high risk of bushfires (that sometimes bring a smoky haze to the city).[10] Summer can vary between humid (due to the ocean proximity) or very dry (due to the heat from the desert).[11]
In late spring and summer, Sydney can sometimes get northwesterly winds from the Outback, which are dry and hot, making the temperatures soar above 35 °C (95 °F).[citation needed] This happens after the northwesterlies are carried entirely over the continental landmass, not picking up additional moisture from a body of water and retaining most of their heat. On these occasions, the normally temperate parts of south eastern Australia can experience the full fury of the desert climate, although only briefly, as they are often ended with a "southerly buster", which is a cold front that sweeps up from the southeast abruptly cooling the temperature by bringing thunderstorms and gale winds.[12][13][14]
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Record high °C (°F) | 45.8 (114.4) |
42.1 (107.8) |
39.8 (103.6) |
35.4 (95.7) |
30.0 (86.0) |
26.9 (80.4) |
26.5 (79.7) |
31.3 (88.3) |
34.6 (94.3) |
38.2 (100.8) |
41.8 (107.2) |
42.2 (108.0) |
45.8 (114.4) |
| Mean maximum °C (°F) | 36.8 (98.2) |
34.1 (93.4) |
32.2 (90.0) |
29.7 (85.5) |
26.2 (79.2) |
22.3 (72.1) |
22.9 (73.2) |
25.4 (77.7) |
29.9 (85.8) |
33.6 (92.5) |
34.1 (93.4) |
34.4 (93.9) |
38.8 (101.8) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 27.0 (80.6) |
26.8 (80.2) |
25.7 (78.3) |
23.6 (74.5) |
20.9 (69.6) |
18.3 (64.9) |
17.9 (64.2) |
19.3 (66.7) |
21.6 (70.9) |
23.2 (73.8) |
24.2 (75.6) |
25.7 (78.3) |
22.8 (73.0) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 23.5 (74.3) |
23.4 (74.1) |
22.1 (71.8) |
19.5 (67.1) |
16.6 (61.9) |
14.2 (57.6) |
13.4 (56.1) |
14.5 (58.1) |
17.0 (62.6) |
18.9 (66.0) |
20.4 (68.7) |
22.1 (71.8) |
18.8 (65.8) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 20.0 (68.0) |
19.9 (67.8) |
18.4 (65.1) |
15.3 (59.5) |
12.3 (54.1) |
10.0 (50.0) |
8.9 (48.0) |
9.7 (49.5) |
12.3 (54.1) |
14.6 (58.3) |
16.6 (61.9) |
18.4 (65.1) |
14.7 (58.5) |
| Mean minimum °C (°F) | 16.1 (61.0) |
16.1 (61.0) |
14.2 (57.6) |
11.0 (51.8) |
8.3 (46.9) |
6.5 (43.7) |
5.7 (42.3) |
6.1 (43.0) |
8.0 (46.4) |
9.8 (49.6) |
12.0 (53.6) |
13.9 (57.0) |
5.3 (41.5) |
| Record low °C (°F) | 10.6 (51.1) |
9.6 (49.3) |
9.3 (48.7) |
7.0 (44.6) |
4.4 (39.9) |
2.1 (35.8) |
2.2 (36.0) |
2.7 (36.9) |
4.9 (40.8) |
5.7 (42.3) |
7.7 (45.9) |
9.1 (48.4) |
2.1 (35.8) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 91.1 (3.59) |
131.5 (5.18) |
117.5 (4.63) |
114.1 (4.49) |
100.8 (3.97) |
142.0 (5.59) |
80.3 (3.16) |
75.1 (2.96) |
63.4 (2.50) |
67.7 (2.67) |
90.6 (3.57) |
73.0 (2.87) |
1,149.7 (45.26) |
| Average rainy days (≥ 1 mm) | 8.2 | 9.0 | 10.1 | 7.9 | 7.9 | 9.3 | 7.2 | 5.6 | 5.8 | 7.6 | 8.7 | 7.9 | 95.2 |
| Average afternoon relative humidity (%) | 60 | 62 | 59 | 58 | 58 | 56 | 52 | 47 | 49 | 53 | 57 | 58 | 56 |
| Average dew point °C (°F) | 16.5 (61.7) |
17.2 (63.0) |
15.4 (59.7) |
12.7 (54.9) |
10.3 (50.5) |
7.8 (46.0) |
6.1 (43.0) |
5.4 (41.7) |
7.8 (46.0) |
10.2 (50.4) |
12.6 (54.7) |
14.6 (58.3) |
11.4 (52.5) |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 232.5 | 205.9 | 210.8 | 213.0 | 204.6 | 171.0 | 207.7 | 248.0 | 243.0 | 244.9 | 222.0 | 235.6 | 2,639 |
| Percent possible sunshine | 53 | 54 | 55 | 63 | 63 | 57 | 66 | 72 | 67 | 61 | 55 | 55 | 60 |
| Source 1: Bureau of Meteorology[5][15][16][17] | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: Bureau of Meteorology, Sydney Airport (sunshine hours)[18] | |||||||||||||
| Climate data for Sydney Airport | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 46.4 (115.5) |
42.6 (108.7) |
41.2 (106.2) |
35.7 (96.3) |
30.0 (86.0) |
26.8 (80.2) |
26.7 (80.1) |
31.1 (88.0) |
35.6 (96.1) |
39.1 (102.4) |
43.4 (110.1) |
43.2 (109.8) |
46.4 (115.5) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 26.5 (79.7) |
26.4 (79.5) |
25.2 (77.4) |
22.9 (73.2) |
20.0 (68.0) |
17.6 (63.7) |
17.0 (62.6) |
18.3 (64.9) |
20.5 (68.9) |
22.5 (72.5) |
24.0 (75.2) |
25.7 (78.3) |
22.2 (72.0) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 18.8 (65.8) |
19.0 (66.2) |
17.5 (63.5) |
14.2 (57.6) |
10.9 (51.6) |
8.6 (47.5) |
7.2 (45.0) |
8.1 (46.6) |
10.4 (50.7) |
13.2 (55.8) |
15.4 (59.7) |
17.5 (63.5) |
13.4 (56.1) |
| Record low °C (°F) | 9.7 (49.5) |
11.2 (52.2) |
7.4 (45.3) |
6.1 (43.0) |
3.0 (37.4) |
1.0 (33.8) |
−0.1 (31.8) |
1.2 (34.2) |
2.3 (36.1) |
4.8 (40.6) |
5.9 (42.6) |
8.2 (46.8) |
−0.1 (31.8) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 94.6 (3.72) |
113.3 (4.46) |
115.6 (4.55) |
106.9 (4.21) |
99.7 (3.93) |
122.9 (4.84) |
70.6 (2.78) |
74.8 (2.94) |
60.4 (2.38) |
70.1 (2.76) |
82.3 (3.24) |
73.6 (2.90) |
1,084 (42.68) |
| Average rainy days | 11.2 | 11.5 | 12.3 | 11.0 | 11.0 | 11.3 | 9.3 | 9.0 | 9.3 | 10.6 | 11.5 | 10.6 | 128.6 |
| Mean daily sunshine hours | 7.5 | 7.1 | 6.9 | 6.9 | 6.2 | 6.0 | 6.6 | 7.9 | 7.9 | 7.8 | 7.6 | 7.9 | 7.2 |
| Source 1: Bureau of Meteorology[19] | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: [7] | |||||||||||||
| Climate data for Sydney Olympic Park (Inner West) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 44.7 (112.5) |
41.8 (107.2) |
39.8 (103.6) |
33.2 (91.8) |
28.4 (83.1) |
25.6 (78.1) |
25.1 (77.2) |
27.9 (82.2) |
35.7 (96.3) |
38.4 (101.1) |
42.4 (108.3) |
41.7 (107.1) |
44.7 (112.5) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 28.4 (83.1) |
28.1 (82.6) |
26.6 (79.9) |
23.9 (75.0) |
20.8 (69.4) |
18.3 (64.9) |
17.6 (63.7) |
19.5 (67.1) |
22.5 (72.5) |
24.3 (75.7) |
25.3 (77.5) |
27.4 (81.3) |
23.8 (74.8) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 19.3 (66.7) |
19.4 (66.9) |
17.8 (64.0) |
14.3 (57.7) |
11.1 (52.0) |
8.9 (48.0) |
7.8 (46.0) |
8.7 (47.7) |
11.6 (52.9) |
13.7 (56.7) |
15.8 (60.4) |
17.9 (64.2) |
13.9 (57.0) |
| Record low °C (°F) | 12.8 (55.0) |
12.0 (53.6) |
11.2 (52.2) |
6.8 (44.2) |
5.4 (41.7) |
2.0 (35.6) |
1.7 (35.1) |
3.0 (37.4) |
5.6 (42.1) |
6.8 (44.2) |
7.9 (46.2) |
11.7 (53.1) |
1.7 (35.1) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 84.4 (3.32) |
109.8 (4.32) |
66.0 (2.60) |
89.2 (3.51) |
88.2 (3.47) |
75.8 (2.98) |
63.5 (2.50) |
56.7 (2.23) |
52.7 (2.07) |
64.9 (2.56) |
76.2 (3.00) |
58.0 (2.28) |
884.0 (34.80) |
| Average rainy days | 10.6 | 10.1 | 11.2 | 9.6 | 10.7 | 10.2 | 9.2 | 7.8 | 8.3 | 8.9 | 11.7 | 9.3 | 117.6 |
| Source: Bureau of Meteorology[20] | |||||||||||||
| Climate data for Liverpool (South-West) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 44.8 (112.6) |
45.8 (114.4) |
41.0 (105.8) |
37.1 (98.8) |
29.6 (85.3) |
25.9 (78.6) |
26.8 (80.2) |
30.5 (86.9) |
35.4 (95.7) |
39.8 (103.6) |
43.3 (109.9) |
43.5 (110.3) |
45.8 (114.4) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 28.2 (82.8) |
27.9 (82.2) |
26.4 (79.5) |
23.9 (75.0) |
20.5 (68.9) |
17.9 (64.2) |
17.3 (63.1) |
18.9 (66.0) |
21.5 (70.7) |
23.7 (74.7) |
25.3 (77.5) |
27.5 (81.5) |
23.2 (73.8) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 17.6 (63.7) |
17.7 (63.9) |
15.9 (60.6) |
12.5 (54.5) |
9.3 (48.7) |
6.2 (43.2) |
4.7 (40.5) |
5.8 (42.4) |
8.3 (46.9) |
11.5 (52.7) |
13.8 (56.8) |
16.2 (61.2) |
11.6 (52.9) |
| Record low °C (°F) | 7.8 (46.0) |
9.4 (48.9) |
5.0 (41.0) |
3.2 (37.8) |
−1.5 (29.3) |
−2.0 (28.4) |
−5.0 (23.0) |
−3.4 (25.9) |
−1.8 (28.8) |
3.3 (37.9) |
4.7 (40.5) |
7.8 (46.0) |
−5.0 (23.0) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 97.6 (3.84) |
94.9 (3.74) |
101.0 (3.98) |
85.3 (3.36) |
68.8 (2.71) |
71.3 (2.81) |
40.2 (1.58) |
55.9 (2.20) |
45.6 (1.80) |
61.6 (2.43) |
78.3 (3.08) |
67.4 (2.65) |
867.7 (34.16) |
| Average rainy days | 10.7 | 10.4 | 10.9 | 8.3 | 9.3 | 8.6 | 7.2 | 7.4 | 8.0 | 9.3 | 10.4 | 9.1 | 109.6 |
| Source 1: Bureau of Meteorology[21] | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: [7] | |||||||||||||
| Climate data for Penrith (Far west) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 46.5 (115.7) |
45.0 (113.0) |
40.6 (105.1) |
34.2 (93.6) |
28.4 (83.1) |
26.0 (78.8) |
26.7 (80.1) |
29.7 (85.5) |
35.8 (96.4) |
38.9 (102.0) |
43.0 (109.4) |
42.3 (108.1) |
46.5 (115.7) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 30.8 (87.4) |
29.5 (85.1) |
27.4 (81.3) |
24.4 (75.9) |
20.9 (69.6) |
18.1 (64.6) |
17.6 (63.7) |
19.8 (67.6) |
23.2 (73.8) |
25.5 (77.9) |
27.1 (80.8) |
29.1 (84.4) |
24.5 (76.1) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 18.5 (65.3) |
18.5 (65.3) |
16.6 (61.9) |
13.0 (55.4) |
9.3 (48.7) |
6.7 (44.1) |
5.5 (41.9) |
6.2 (43.2) |
9.3 (48.7) |
12.0 (53.6) |
14.9 (58.8) |
16.9 (62.4) |
12.3 (54.1) |
| Record low °C (°F) | 11.3 (52.3) |
11.6 (52.9) |
8.3 (46.9) |
3.6 (38.5) |
2.1 (35.8) |
−1.1 (30.0) |
−1.4 (29.5) |
−0.5 (31.1) |
2.2 (36.0) |
5.0 (41.0) |
7.8 (46.0) |
9.8 (49.6) |
−1.4 (29.5) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 91.2 (3.59) |
135.1 (5.32) |
71.6 (2.82) |
41.6 (1.64) |
42.0 (1.65) |
52.5 (2.07) |
30.6 (1.20) |
26.0 (1.02) |
32.6 (1.28) |
53.9 (2.12) |
85.2 (3.35) |
54.6 (2.15) |
716.2 (28.20) |
| Average rainy days | 11.4 | 11.8 | 11.5 | 10.3 | 11.9 | 15.3 | 12.4 | 8.2 | 7.4 | 9.4 | 12.5 | 10.5 | 132.6 |
| Source 1: Bureau of Meteorology[22] | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: [7] | |||||||||||||
Warm and cool periods
The Bureau of Meteorology has reported that 2002 through 2005 were the warmest summers in Sydney since records began in 1859. 2004 saw an average daily maximum temperature of 23.39 °C (74.10 °F), 2005 of 23.35 °C (74.03 °F), 2002 of 22.91 °C (73.24 °F), and 2003 of 22.65 °C (72.77 °F). The average daily maximum between 1859 and 2004 was 21.6 °C (70.9 °F). For the first nine months of 2006 the mean temperature was 18.41 °C (65.14 °F); the warmest year previously was 2004 with 18.51 °C (65.32 °F). Since November 2003, there have been only two months in which the average daily maximum was below average: March 2005 (about 1 °C (2 °F) below average)[23] and June 2006 (0.7 °C (1.3 °F) below average).[24]
The summer of 2007–08 proved to be one of the coolest on record. The Bureau of Meteorology reported that it was the coolest summer in 11 years, the wettest summer in six years, and one of only three summers in recorded history to lack a maximum temperature above 31 °C (88 °F).[25]
The Bureau of Meteorology reported that 2009 was a warm year, with above-average maximum temperatures. In 2009, the average annual daytime temperature at Observatory Hill was 22.9 °C (73.2 °F), which is 0.9 °C (1.6 °F) above the historical annual average. This ranks as seventh highest annual average maximum temperature since records commenced in 1859. It was the seventeenth consecutive year with above average annual maximum temperatures. Average night-time temperatures at Sydney Observatory Hill of 15.1 °C (59.2 °F) were well above (1.2 °C (2.2 °F)) the historical average during 2009. This is equal second highest in the 151 years of record, and the same as 1988.[26]
The year 2010 was a warm, wetter year with an average maximum of 22.6 °C (72.7 °F), which was 0.6 °C (1.1 °F) above the historical annual average. Night-time temperatures were also above average, at 15.0 °C (59.0 °F) during this year, compared to a historical average of 13.9 °C (57.0 °F). 2010 was the equal fourth warmest year on record for Sydney. Seven (of the ten) warmest years on 151 years of record have occurred in the ten years between 2001 and 2010, with this decade being the warmest on record for minimum temperatures.[27]
Towards the end of January 2011 the city had a heat wave that brought up the temperatures to over 30 °C (86 °F) for five consecutive days. The west had five days with temperatures over 35 °C (95 °F).[28] February 2011 was the second warmest on record for mean temperatures and third warmest for maxima.
In 2013, the city had the warmest July and September on record,[29][30] with September being one of the driest with the temperatures being 4 °C (7 °F) above average.[31] The city had over seven days with temperatures reaching 28 °C (82 °F), making it more similar to November's weather pattern.[32] October was also a warmer than average month where the temperature peaked at 37 °C (99 °F), making it the third hottest October day.[33] Sydney's summer of 2013-14 did not record any temperatures above 37 °C (99 °F) for the first time in two years, with January being cooler than the previous September and October.[34]
Precipitation
Rainfall is fairly evenly spread through the year, but is slightly higher during the first half of the year when easterly winds dominate (February-June), and lower in the second half (mainly July-September).[35][36] The average annual rainfall in the city at Observatory Hill, with moderate to low variability, is 1,213.8 mm (47.79 in), falling on an average 143.5 days a year.[5] As seen from the climate table above, Sydney's wettest month is June,[5][19] though most of its western suburbs' wettest month is February or March.[20][21][22] The driest months are July through to September.[5][19][20][21][22] Within the city and surrounds, rainfall varies, from around 682.5 mm (26.87 in) at Badgerys Creek (in the west) to 1,213.8 mm (47.79 in) at Observatory Hill (the east).[5][37]
Snowfall was last reported in the Sydney City area in 1836. T. A. Browne, who kept weather observations, noted that "the years 1836, 1837 and 1838 were years of drought, and in one of these years (1836) a remarkable thing happened. There was a fall of snow; we made snowballs at Enmore and enjoyed the usual schoolboy amusements therewith". The Sydney Herald reported on the same incident, saying, "for the first time in the memory of the oldest inhabitants, snow fell in Sydney on the morning of Tuesday last. 27 June 1836, about 7 O'clock in the morning, a drifting fall covered the streets nearly one inch in depth."[38] However, a July 2008 fall of graupel, or soft hail, mistaken by many for snow, has raised the possibility that the 1836 event was not snow, either.[39]
Even in its months of highest rainfall Sydney has relatively few rainy days, on average less than 14 rainy days per month.[5][19][20][21][22] This means the average rain event in Sydney contains heavy rain. The city is not affected by cyclones, although remnants of ex-cyclones do affect the city.[40] The El Niño Southern Oscillation plays an important role in determining Sydney's weather patterns: drought and bushfire on the one hand, and storms and flooding on the other, associated with the opposite phases of the oscillation.
The city is prone to severe hail storms, such as the 1947 Sydney hailstorm, wind storms, and flash flooding from rain caused either by East Coast Lows (during autumn-winter periods) and Ex-Tropical Cyclone remnants (during spring-summer periods). They are low pressure depressions that can bring significant damage by heavy rain, cyclonic winds and huge swells.
Notable events
A notable event was the great Sydney flood which occurred on 6 August 1986 (unusual in that month) and dumped a record 327.6 mm (12.90 in) on the city in 24 hours. This caused major traffic problems and damage in many parts of the metropolitan area.[41] The next notable event was the 1999 hailstorm, which severely damaged Sydney's eastern and city suburbs. The storm produced massive hailstones of at least 9 cm (3.5 in) in diameter and resulting in insurance losses of around A$1.7 billion in less than five hours.[42]
In the first weeks of February 2010, Sydney received some of the highest rainfalls in 25 years, which caused flash flooding and traffic chaos. On 4 February, some suburbs in the North Shore region recorded their heaviest rain in 20 years. On 12 and 13 February, some suburbs were hit by thunderstorms which brought heavy rain and gusty winds which cut out power and damaged homes.[43][44] On 13 February, Sydney experienced one of the highest rainfall of the last decade with 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain falling in one night at Observatory Hill.[45] The heavy rain was caused by remnants of ex-tropical Cyclone Olga and humid north-easterly winds feeding into the low pressure trough.[46][47] 2010 was the wettest year since 2007, according to the Bureau of Meteorology, with the cloudiest October and the third cloudiest July on record.
March and April 2011 were very wet with well above average rainfall. March recorded 191.6 mm (7.54 in) well above the average of 128.9 mm (5.07 in) of rain and was the wettest March in ten years. April 2011 recorded 206.2 mm (8.12 in) of rain well above the average of 125.8 mm (4.95 in) and was the wettest April since 1999. May 2011 also recorded above average rainfall, making it the wettest autumn since 2003 according to the Bureau.[48][49] July 2011 was the wettest July since 1950.[50]
In November 2013, a tornado hit Hornsby, a suburb in the Upper North Shore. The tornado's path was 2km long and 2m wide.[citation needed] The tornado blew off roofs, partially collapsed a cinema roof, and toppled large trees. The winds in the tornado reached 140km an hour.[51][52]
Drought
Sydney is occasionally prone to drought[53][54] as Sydney's climate appears to be becoming drier. The city has had fewer rain days in recent years than shown in the long-term climate table above. The years 2009 and 2010 had dry conditions, according to Bureau of Meteorology.[55] In 2011, Sydney had the driest February in 30 years with only 18 mm (0.71 in) of rain falling, which is well below than the average 118 mm (4.6 in). Some of the western suburbs recorded the lowest total February rainfall on record.[56]
In September 2013, the combination of dry weather, warm temperatures and strong winds brought early-season bushfires. Major bushfires impacted western Sydney and the Blue Mountains, resulting in some evacuations, closed roads, and destroyed homes.[30]
Many areas of the city bordering bushland have experienced bushfires, notably in 1994 and 2001–02 — these tend to occur during the spring and summer.
Dust storms
On 23 September 2009, a dust storm that started in South Australia and inland New South Wales blanketed the city with reddish orange skies.[57] It stretched as far north as southern Queensland and it was the worst dust storm in 70 years.[58] During that year, Sydney experienced a number of warm winter days, dry gusty winds and another milder dust storm.[59][60]
See also
- Environment of Australia
- Australian region tropical cyclone climatology
- Climate change in Australia
- Effects of global warming on Australia
- Say Yes demonstrations
- Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race waterspout
References
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- ^ Sydney in January 2011: Warm start to 2011
- ^ Ramachandran, Arjun (23 September 2009). "Sydney turns red: dust storm blankets city". The Sydney Morning Herald.
- ^ Brisbane on alert as dust storms sweep east
- ^ "Sydney in Autumn 2010". Bom.gov.au. Retrieved 1 June 2010.
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External links
