Discussion: Sydney's Weather

[rainfan]

After a cold clear night - sunny start then mostly cloudy morning with a light shower then mainly sunny afternoon with light to moderate NW winds during the morning changing to seabreezes from the east during the afternoon. Cold to cool day.

Min of 8oC and max of 18oC in the city.

Lowest min: 2oC at Richmond
Highest max: 20oC at Olympic Park
Lowest max: 17oC at Holdsworthy and Airport

[ATO2]

Thanks mate. Quite a range over the minimum temps, but then I guess it is a very large area, Sydney. Out of interest, what was the minimum at the Airport?

[rainfan]

Originally Posted by ATO2

Thanks mate. Quite a range over the minimum temps, but then I guess it is a very large area, Sydney. Out of interest, what was the minimum at the Airport?

Minimum temps are usually lower in W/SW suburbs due to being further inland from the sea & higher in the east/city due to proximity of the harbour/sea. Minimum for the airport was 8oC.

[rainfan]

Mostly sunny with some cloudy periods. Cold at first with moderate to fresh W winds becoming milder in the afternoon.

City: 10oC/21oC
Airport: 10oC/21oC
Highest max: 22oC at Olympic Park
Lowest max: 20oC at several suburbs in the W & N
Lowest min: 4oC at Richmond

May 2008 is shaping to be much cooler than last year where it was the second - warmest on record. Warmest ever May goes to 1958.

MTD - only 1.4mm has fallen on 2 days at Ob Hill. The average is 121mm so is a terrible result for what's normally one of our wettest months on average . Need at least 2.4mm over the remainder of the final week to stop the "driest May ever" from happening.

This is also the 5th consecutive May to record well below average rainfall. Last time this happened was from 1935-1939.

194 hrs of sun to end yesterday.

[ATO2]

That is seriously a dry month. I don't think we have much to complain about here when we talk about a drought!

[rainfan]

Mostly sunny with some morning cloud. Cold at first with fresh NW winds becoming warmer in the afternoon for a while then changing to cooler fresh NE winds.

City:11oC/22oC
Airport:11oC/20oC
Highest max: 22oC in several suburbs including the city
Lowest max: 20oC at the airport, Terrey Hills and Richmond
Lowest min: 5oC at Richmond and Badgerys Creek

[rainfan]

Originally Posted by ATO2

That is seriously a dry month. I don't think we have much to complain about here when we talk about a drought!

Last time a month measured a total of less than 1.9mm was August 2005 with 1.6mm.

Monthly rain totals less than 10.9mm (Ob Hill records began in 1858)

4.5 1860
10.3 1863
5.2 1885
7.4 1920
3.7 1957 (Driest on record)
10.4 1970
8.0 2004
9.8 2007

Very concerning that this decade looks to be recording it's 3rd May with totals less than 10.9mm for the first time ever.

[ATO2]

It makes you think that's for sure. On this of the ditch, we are about to have a campaign to save power, starting in a few weeks. Must be a bit dry in our southern lakes (again). Glad I am not paid a high salary to predict such things. LOL

[rainfan]

Mostly cloudy day with few sunny spells and some showers in the afternoon with storms/torrential rain in southern/south-western suburbs. Light to moderate NW winds changing to southerlies during the afternoon, fresher on the coast.

City: 11oC/19oC
Airport: 10oC/18oC
Highest max: 21oC at several suburbs in the W & S
Lowest max: 17oC at Terrey Hills
Lowest min: 4oC at Richmond

(From 9am to now)
Heaviest fall: 37mm at Campbelltown
Ob Hill: 0.6mm
Airport: 1.6mm

Was really hoping to have the driest May on record averted today but with only 0.6mm falling so far with fine conditions set to return tomorrow and contuining until the start of June - monthly total now stands at 2.4mm easily making it the driest May since records began in 1858.

I (and several other people) can only hope for a much wetter & cloudier June.

[rainfan]

Originally Posted by ATO2

It makes you think that's for sure. On this of the ditch, we are about to have a campaign to save power, starting in a few weeks. Must be a bit dry in our southern lakes (again). Glad I am not paid a high salary to predict such things. LOL

Yes it certainly does. One of the things I've noticed about "Autumn" rainfalls of this decade TD is that they have decreased considerably whereas late Winter - Spring rainfall has increased considerably. Will be interesting to see how the upcoming Winter/Spring rainfalls pans out.

There are water restrictions here at the moment. The driest May on record certainly will compound the problems further and that's not what we need right now. Several places on the coast have recorded no rain at all May-wise.