Press Release

Sydney's autumn chill running late [CORRECTION]

16/05/2013: Sydneysiders have had it easy lately, the city has warmed to at least 20 degrees for the last 25 days, closing in on the late-autumn record, according to weatherzone.com.au.

This afternoon Sydney should achieve its 26th consecutive day of at least 20 degrees, effectively staying warmer than average for almost a month.

The previous record of consecutive 20-degree days this late in the season was 25 days, to the same date in 1987.

"Sunnier-than-normal days have contributed to this achievement. On average there has been more than eight hours of sunshine per day, about two hours more than normal for this time of year," Weatherzone meteorologist Brett Dutschke said.

As a result of the lack of cold and gloomy days, homes have stayed relatively warm late into autumn compared to other years. Inside the average home the temperature is still 16-to-18 degrees, comfortable enough for many residents to delay turning on their heaters.

The lack of cold days is what makes this current spell a record, but in terms of average maximum temperatures and very warm days, it falls short.

The average maximum has been 23.3 degrees, slightly cooler than three years ago for the same period. It is also cooler than the same period in 1990, 1957 and 1919. In 1957 maximum temperatures averaged 23.9 degrees, a record for that time of year.

The warmest day this May was 26.4 degrees, almost three degrees cooler than the 29.1 degrees recorded in May last year.

"High pressure systems have blocked strong cold fronts from penetrating a long way north, leaving Sydney in mild and dry westerly winds. These westerlies have combined with sunnier-than-normal days, keeping days generally about three degrees above average," Dutschke said.

Sydney's run of 20-degree days should come to an end on the weekend or early next week.

The wind has been so dry that the city has recorded less than one millimetre of rain in the past 26 days.

"The city is unlikely to get significant rain until the middle of next week, when long-awaited moisture from the Indian Ocean links up with a cold front," Dutschke said.

Sydney is on target for its driest 30 days in autumn on record. The previous driest was 1.2mm in March-April 1980.

Sydney's records go back to 1859.

Media Inquiries:

Brett Dutschke
media@weatherzone.com.au
02 9965 9269

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