Discussion: Sydney's Weather

[rainfan]

MAY 1889

At this time at the end of May in 1889 Sydney had more than 100mm on 3 consecutive days.

To 9am on the 26th, 102.9mm fell. In the next 24 hrs, another 119mm were recorded and then in the 24 hrs to 9am on the 28th, 212mm fell - one of only 6 occasions in more than 150 years where 200mm or more has fallen in a 24-hour period.

In 3 days to May 28th, 434mm fell; in the 4 days to 28th 491mm fell; in 5 days to 29th, 513.5mm fell; in 6 days to 29th, 514.8mm fell and in May's last week, 515.3mm were recorded. All those records still stand today.

The monthly total ended up at 530mm.

A strong, semi-stationery East Coast Low was responsible for the deluge.

ECL's also brought Sydney its 2 wettest ever days in August 1986 (327mm) and March 1942 (280mm).

I'd very much like to see events like this repeated sometime soon

[ATO2]

It will be interesting. BTW I visited the Catchment site and was very impressed. Also the water restrictions are amazing.(Well for us in NZ, anyway).

[rainfan]

Walked to the bus stop in thunder, lightning and a shower at 5am this morning.

Was mainly dry in the city. Wifey informed me that had more showers at Bondi until around 2pm. All shower activity seemed to be concentrated on the eastern suburbs coastal strip from Rose Bay to Little Bay.

Mixture of sunny/cloudy spells. Cold to cool with moderate S winds fresher on the coast.

City: 11oC/18oC
Airport: 11oC/17oC
Highest max: 20oC at Badgerys Creek, Penrith and Richmond
Lowest max: 17oC at Terrey Hills & the airport
Lowest min: 4oC at Richmond

Rainfall ending 9am:
Ob Hill: 1mm
Airport: 1.2mm
Rose Bay: 1mm
Heaviest fall: 50mm at Cronulla South

Since 9am:
Ob Hill: 0.2mm
Airport: Nil
Rose Bay 5.4mm
Heaviest fall: 5.4mm at Rose Bay

[ATO2]

That is classic- walking in the rain and thunder! However, that is some range of rainfall figures. I wonder if Auckland is as dramatic- my daughter moved up there and reckons it rains heaps where she lives, in Titirangi and it seems drier in the city.

[RWood]

30-years averages I have for the Auckland area range from 1092mm for a city site to 1755 at Waitakere, is over 1800 in parts of the western hills I believe.

[rainfan]

Originally Posted by ATO2

That is classic- walking in the rain and thunder!

Yes, I've been caught out in that kind of weather countless times to which I find it very exhilarating .

[rainfan]

MAY 2008:

RAIN:
Observatory Hill measured 3mm (2.4% of average:121.5mm) of rain on 5 days - driest ever May since records began 150 years ago. Previous driest was 1957 with 3.7mm.
YTD rain: 528.4mm.

Rose Bay measured 10mm (7.5% of average:132.4mm) on 6 days - driest May since complete records began in 1979. Previous driest was last year with 12.2mm.
YTD rain: 542mm

Airport had 3mm - don't have any data on hand at the moment, but probably the driest May on record.

SUNSHINE:
235.5 hours during the month which is 124.6% of the average (188.9). 3rd sunniest May since Airport records began in 1976. Sunniest May on record goes to last year with 248.7 hours.

[rainfan]

Well, well, well. Miracles will never cease

We've had rain today which has well exceeded that of the whole of May and with plenty more to come for the next 7 days . Will help put the horrors of the driest May on record behind us quick-smart.

That's one thing I love about Sydney's weather is that after a very dry month - the following month will be much wetter which more than makes up for the deficient of the previous month. Two examples are: May last year measured only 9.8mm then June recording a whopping 510.6 millimetres of rain. August 1995 had no rain at all (0mm) & September had 226mm .

Forecast for next 7 days:

Forecast for tomorrow (Monday)
Showers. Cloudy. Light to moderate southeast to northeast winds.
Precis: Showers.

City: Min: 14 Max: 19 Parramatta: Min: 11 Max: 18
Terrey Hills: Min: 13 Max: 17 Penrith: Min: 10 Max: 18
Liverpool: Min: 10 Max: 18 Richmond: Min: 10 Max: 18


Tuesday Rain periods.
City: Min: 13 Max: 17
West: Min: 10 Max: 16


Wednesday Rain periods.
City: Min: 14 Max: 18
West: Min: 10 Max: 17


Thursday Rain periods.
City: Min: 13 Max: 19
West: Min: 10 Max: 18


Friday A few showers.
City: Min: 13 Max: 19
West: Min: 9 Max: 18


Saturday A shower or two.
City: Min: 12 Max: 19
West: Min: 8 Max: 19


Sunday A shower or two.
City: Min: 13 Max: 19
West: Min: 9 Max: 19

It was a mostly cloudy and cold day today with fresh S-SE winds -stronger on the coast. Occasional showers since last night, more frequent & heavier since mid afternoon. Very nice to see & hear the rain falling once again

City:11oC/20oC
Airport: 11oC/19oC
Highest max: 20oC in the city
Lowest max: 16oC at Holdsworthy and Horsley Park (W)
Lowest min: 7oC at Richmond (NW)

Rainfall since 9am:
City: 8.2mm
Airport: 10.4mm
Rose Bay: 7.6mm
Heaviest fall: 18mm at Sans Souci in the south & Terrey Hills in the N

[ATO2]

Ain't that the way- dry as can be and then a mini deluge! That must be welcome rain for sure. You really needed it. We want fraction of it here: I swear, yesterday I actually had to water the palms and bananas. At this time of the year! Then we we got a little rain. LOL

[rainfan]

Further overnight/early morning heavy rain showers then a cloudy, cold and damp day with few showers more frequent on the coast. Bit humid/hazy due to thick cloud cover/moist light to moderate E winds.

City: 14oC/17oC
Airport: 15oC/18oC
Highest max: 18oC at Airport
Lowest max: 16oC at Terrey Hills
Lowest min: 12oC at several suburbs in the W and SW

Rainfall to 9am:
City: 22mm
Airport: 21mm
Rose Bay: 21mm
Heaviest fall: 40mm at Terrey Hills (N) and Oatley (S)

Since 9am:
City: 1.2mm
Airport: 4.8mm
Rose Bay: 2mm
Heaviest fall: 4mm at Avalon (N)

YTD sunshine (to end May) stands at 1088.3 hours.