Discussion: Sydney's Weather

[ATO2]

Originally Posted by RWood

Metservice site often seems to be confused. The data is passed on to NIWA who do some basic checking and then publish after a short delay. Met. are only responsible for measuring/observing, not record-keeping. NIWA do have quite a few sites where they also do the measuring (see the Observer field in CliFlo data).

If you're seeking Kelburn in the NIWA files, a search argument of Kelburn will find both the manual site (all data except sunshine ceased 2005) and Kelburn AWS.

Has it always been this way? To the uneducated, such as moi, I would have thought that a metservice kept records! Or is it the end run of the bizarre economic system that we got thrust on us from the 1980's?

[RWood]

The bizarre still rules! Sooner or later some government will put them back together and end the nonsense. I still accuse those organisations - or at least one of them - of making some printed materials vanish from a couple of W'gton libraries in the early 1990s.

[ATO2]

Originally Posted by RWood

The bizarre still rules! Sooner or later some government will put them back together and end the nonsense. I still accuse those organisations - or at least one of them - of making some printed materials vanish from a couple of W'gton libraries in the early 1990s.

As an aside, thinking back to those days, it is a wonder that the libraries weren't flogged off as well.

[rainfan]

Well it's about time to have some interesting weather happen as the weather of late has been quite lacking in character. Had a storm sweep by recently with very loud claps of thunder, heavy rain - enough to flood the footpaths & give it a clean as well & heaps of lightning lasting in the space of half an hour. Judging by rain gauges - it was mainly confined to the eastern coastal strip. 4mm at Rose Bay & 7mm at Little Bay to only 1mm at the airport & zilch for Ob Hill - how very lucky that I live in one of the "wettest" parts of Sydney .

It was very cold today with a min of 5 & top of 15 in the airport with visable cloud (some high) at times & icy cold W winds moderate to fresh at times, strong squalls with the storm from the south.

I really am looking forward to the W regime breaking down anytime soon.

[rainfan]

Since last post, had some further rain. All gone now unfortunately as it's currently clear (and very cold) with icy westerlies once again with full moon shining, low of 5 degrees atm.

8mm at Little Bay, 5.8mm for Rose Bay & 5mm at Cronulla South. Ob Hill with 0.6mm.

[ATO2]

Looks like your westerlies are still around, rainfan!
Yes, setting Moon looks great in the early hours of the morning. I had a shot somewhere, that I took from a building in King's Cross, of the near Full Moon setting over Sydney. Must try and find it.

[rainfan]

Thankfullly those westerlies won't be around for long . Showery & windy conditions expected for us Fri-Sat as a LPS moves E directing a very cold S airstream over us. Friday is forecast to reach just 14 degrees. Something to look very forward to . I actually prefer southerlies than westerlies; dont find S as cold as the westerlies because the air isn't so dry & minimums tend to be higher under a southerly.

I take it ATO2 that you're talking about the time you were here in June 1974? or was it a different occasion? Be good to see the pic. Just where exactly are you from? From what I have read (and remember trusting my rather poor memory!), you hail from Ireland, lived in Australia for a while then moved to New Plymouth? or something to that effect.

Some 20+ degree days coming although alternating with 17, 19 degree days over the next 7 days - a sure sign spring is coming as spring can be quite changeable here with "extreme" conditions. 20 for tomorrow & Thursday & 21 next Tuesday but minimums still quite low; however won't be long before they start staying above the 10 degree mark (I hope!)

Sunny morning with patches of high cloud during the afternoon. Cold with W winds light to fresh at times turning to NE winds in the afternoon - not too bad an afternoon under the NE, in fact it's quite mild outside with light NE winds - nice . Top of 17 degrees in city & 18 at airport. Richmond had low of -2.9oC & -1 degree at Badgerys Creek.

Minimums have dropped to 5 degrees 2 mornings in a row - first occasion to do so since 2005 which had 3. (Last year had a mean min of 11.7oC with 10 nights falling below 10 degrees).

[rainfan]

Report re last evening's storm courtesy of the Daily Telegraph online. Many of my workmates who live out in the western suburbs were surprised at the extent of the damage as all they saw was lightning and heard thunder but very little if any rains.


Lightning starts fire and truck crashes in Rose Bay storm
Article from:

August 19, 2008 12:00am


WET weather wreaked havoc in Sydney's Eastern suburbs last night with a lightning strike causing a fire and a tow truck carrying a semi-trailer crashing into a unit block after losing control on the wet roads.
A fire started in the store room of the Lyne Park Cafe in Rose Bay after lightning struck the building about 8pm.
The cafe - which is part of the Lyne Park Tennis Centre - was severely damaged when the fire spread to the roof of the building.
Centre worker Aaron Vincent was inside the adjoining building when he heard a "massive bang" and then noticed the smell of fire coming from the cafe.
Small hail had also fallen in the area during the brief storm.
"There was just a massive lightning strike and huge flash of light and then I started smelling smoke," Mr Vincent said last night.
NSW Fire Brigades Inspector Chris Wright said the lightning strike started the fire in the store room before penetrating the ceiling of the cafe.
In another incident, a tow truck driver lost control of his truck which was towing a semi-trailer fully laden with tonnes of bricks on Old South Head Rd, Bondi just before 9.30pm.
The tow truck was travelling down the steep, wet road when it lost control, veered on to the wrong side of the road, collided with a power pole and crashed through the fence of a unit block.
No one was injured but emergency crews worked for hours to attempt to remove the vehicles and re-open the road.

For picture - click on link Lightning starts fire and truck crashes in Rose Bay storm | The Daily Telegraph

[RWood]

Originally Posted by rainfan

Thankfullly those westerlies won't be around for long . Showery & windy conditions expected for us Fri-Sat as a LPS moves E directing a very cold S airstream over us. Friday is forecast to reach just 14 degrees. Something to look very forward to . I actually prefer southerlies than westerlies; dont find S as cold as the westerlies because the air isn't so dry & minimums tend to be higher under a southerly.

My partner lived in Sydney for a couple of years around 1980 and didn't notice the wind at all. Admittedly she's a Wellingtonian but you seem to be very sensitive to the wind?!

[ATO2]

Originally Posted by RWood

My partner lived in Sydney for a couple of years around 1980 and didn't notice the wind at all. Admittedly she's a Wellingtonian but you seem to be very sensitive to the wind?!

I think you are right, RWood! Rainfan: this country offers you the chance to confront real wind! LOL.
Mind you, I can't stand it either!