Discussion: Sydney's Weather

[rainfan]

1992 was a cooler than usual year for most of Oz especially the south/east. Maximums were much lower; minimums not that much especially in the southern half due to frequent cloudy nights. 1993 recovered pretty quickly to near/normal levels.

[RWood]

I had an "opposite" experience with temperatures in Chile in March-April 1992 - the El Nino had temps. well above average at the time (they may have dropped later in the year). That factor, plus an underestimation of solar radiation even when coastal zones were partly cloudy or cloudy at times, meant that we felt hotter than I expected. A salutary lesson.

I'm a bit concerned about Arica's reputation as the driest major town on longterm averages (not driest settlement, there's a hamlet called Quillagua which holds that honour) - this Met. Chile shows it with 2.4mm YTD, 6 times average, while Iquique, Calama and Antofagasta have had none. It has "broken out" a few times in recent years, would be interesting to know if some small but significant local change has encouraged that (see attachment)

Dirección Meteorológica de Chile

[rainfan]

Well BOM got its today forecast of "few showers" wrong as in many weeks , I very much suspected that it would rain today from a few days ago, came true all right much to my pleasure

Overcast & cold today with rain all day from 5am (started to rain as I left home at 5am with lightning, was starting to get heavy but upon arriving in the city, much less so ), easing around 4pm, stopped now but still overcast. Rain was heavy at coastal areas of the eastern suburbs to 9am today; since then extended to S/SW suburbs, "wifey" tells me it was quite heavy at Bondi for most of the morning; much less heavier in the city.

Wind did not eventuate at all, it was light all day with the occasional fresh gusts.

The temp at 5am was 13oC, got progressively colder as the day marched on, temps hovered around 10-11 degrees with the midday temp being 11 degrees in the city; same for the airport as well - a real classic wintry day , this kind of weather is far preferable to that of a westerly on a clear day

Rain to 9am today:
City: 2.6mm
Airport: 14mm
Rose Bay: 16mm
Highest fall: 24mm at Randwick

Rain since 9am today:
City: 6.4mm
Airport: 4.4mm
Rose Bay: 11mm
Highest fall: 21mm at Camden

Rain MTD (approx. to 5pm today)
City: 15mm
Rose Bay: 39mm

[ATO2]

Sounds like you are in paradise, rainfan!

[rainfan]

Indeed ATO2

Had further quite heavy rain overnight. Went for a walk early this morning, everything looks so green/clean with no dust around which is very nice .

Rain to 9am today
City: 21mm
Airport: 16mm
Rose Bay: 30mm
Suburbs with daily falls over 30mm:- 33mm at Turramurra (North Shore) and 30mm at Ingleburn in the south-west.

Rain MTD (approx)
City: 29mm
Airport: 36mm
Rose Bay: 58mm

Currently cloudy with a shower just now; cold with strong to gusty southerlies; 11oC.

Yesterday's maximum of 11.9 degrees was the coldest in 12 years (1996 on 19th had 10.4 degrees).

[ATO2]

Damn! I just lost my post! A long one too!
That is cold for you!
btw: how do most people heat their residences in Sydney? We had a chat about Qld a while back.
Here the pc people are pushing electrically based systems or gas.
Gas means paying more than a dollar a day all year for a supply charge.
If you want a fire, some areas make it difficult. I had to install an eco fire (wood burning)to replace the older wood stove. Produces 16 kW which is heaps, but you can't burn it overnight on low, no connexion was allowed for the heating of water and the flue is special. All in all it was also more expensive than the non eco models before it.

[rainfan]

Yesterday (Sat.): Mostly cloudy & cold with gusty to strong southerlies few light coastal showers, dry progressing westwards. Showers eased from evening. Max of 14oC.

Today: cold morning with min of 5 in city/airport & -1 at Richmond. Max of 17 in city/15 at airport. Quite a pleasant afternoon with the southerly light to fresh at times & it was a wee bit humid as well. Attended a science fair out west at Parramatta, was colder there during the morning at 8 30am, warmer in the afternoon, when returned home - cooler. Mostly sunny with afternoon cloud at times.

Looks like temps are starting to return to normal from Wednesday, lack of westerlies reflect the higher temps especially minimums with cloud/possible showers - that's more like it

Day off work tomorrow

[rainfan]

Originally Posted by ATO2

Damn! I just lost my post! A long one too!
That is cold for you!
btw: how do most people heat their residences in Sydney? We had a chat about Qld a while back.
Here the pc people are pushing electrically based systems or gas.
Gas means paying more than a dollar a day all year for a supply charge.
If you want a fire, some areas make it difficult. I had to install an eco fire (wood burning)to replace the older wood stove. Produces 16 kW which is heaps, but you can't burn it overnight on low, no connexion was allowed for the heating of water and the flue is special. All in all it was also more expensive than the non eco models before it.

Bummer re the lost post, know how that feels!

Use reverse airconditioning system to heat up house in winter. Hot water/oven by gas. Rarely use electrical heaters - too unsafe. Gas is cheaper here, electricity more expensive as our bills attain! (Last electricity bill - 2 months ending 2 weeks ago came in at $ 250). Gas for 2 months is $100. The colder than usual weather certainly reflects this as we've had the heater going on more occasions than usual compared to previous Augusts not to mention the numerous winter woolies - am certainly looking forward to be wearing shorts/t-shirts once warmer weather arrives.

Many older houses have fireplaces but not in use, most boarded/covered up as open fires isn't allowed in Australia due to health/pollution issues/potential fire risks. Many new buildings have reverse air conditioning systems & often installed in older houses during renovations. Those without use elec. heaters, many shops have sold out of heaters, have seen people carrying them out of stores by the dozen. I remember last year's winter - a top-floor flat in a building down the road from my house caught fire & was totally burnt out, owner was at work, had forgotten to turn off the elec. heater due to being in a rush.

[ATO2]

Crikey, maybe life isn't that bad on this side of the Tasman! I hate electric heaters and gas is too dear (God knows why, it isn't like we don't have enough of the stuff straight out the window from my place!).
The reverse airconditioning thing -presume it is the same as a heat pump- I think is what they put in the new houses In NZ and many older ones.


Open fires knocked on the head in a number of places in NZ too on grounds of pollution.

[rainfan]

Surprising re gas being dear in NZ, thought it would have been cheaper given the numerous gas fields in NZ.

Gas is definitely the cheaper option here & is more energy efficient. For example have a bath with elec. hot water, becomes cold after a short while; with gas heated hot water - hot for a long time.

I've also heard elec. is far cheaper in NZ than here, the local elec. company (energyaustralia) raised their prices from July 1st as in many months . Sydney is one of the most expensive places in Oz for elec.

"Wifey" keeps all old elec. bills, had a look - last bill used 11 kw, bill from 2 weeks ago 16 kw, same time last year 12 kw.