Has July become the old September in Sydney? The city is currently experiencing a run of mild days, akin to an old-fashioned September but this has been less than unusual of late.

Some may recall this time last year, it turned out to be the warmest July on record in terms of average maximum temperature, averaging 19.9 degrees for the month. This is 3.5 degrees warmer than the long-term July average and only 0.2 of a degree cooler than the long-term September average.

Last July the city reached 20 degrees or warmer on seven consecutive days, setting a new 160-year record.

So far this July there have also been seven, from Thursday 18th to Wednesday 24th, equalling the record. If the city reaches 20 degrees tomorrow it will set a new record.

In the 159 years prior to 2018, not one July had as many consecutive days this warm. The longest run was six days, in 2014.

Perhaps this is the new norm for July - dry winds, ample sunshine and less than 30 millimetres for the month. The long-term average rainfall for July is 97mm.

With winds generally blowing from the west, off the land, very little moisture is coming in from our nearby oceans. And that trend looks like persisting for the next week or so. Any fronts are expected to remain weak and are unlikely to deliver significant rain in that time. As a result, the city may end up completing its warmest and one of its driest Julys on record.