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Weather Overview for Sydney

Sydney has a temperate maritime climate; summers are hot while winters are mild and rarely, if ever, see cold temperatures.

Sydney’s climate is largely dictated by its coastal position and the temperate seas that surround it. This means temperatures never get cold as they can in other parts of the country. Also, the scorching temperatures for which the inland deserts are famous remain absent in Sydney due to the cooling sea breezes, and rainfall is much higher and more frequent.

Different parts of Sydney see slightly different weather patterns. Coastal regions are generally cooler and wetter. The more inland suburbs are dryer on average and see more extremes in temperature at both ends of the scale.

Rainfall can happen year round, although winter and spring are slightly dryer than summer and autumn. Rain usually falls in sudden but short storms which are often localised meaning one part of the city is dry while another is very wet.

The seasonal tendencies described here reflect the yearly averages, but climate is complex and weather can vary year to year and minute to minute.

Remember that Sydney is in the southern hemisphere so the seasons are reversed.

Summer (December to February):

In general summers in Sydney are hot and sunny but with high rainfall.

Average daily highs during summer are a very agreeable 26°C, while night-time temperatures don’t fall below the high teens. This is the time to hit the beach and bask in the glorious weather for which Australia has become famous. Summer days in Sydney generally enjoy an average of between 8 and 9 sunshine hours a day. The sun in summer can be extremely strong so take good care to protect yourself with a hat and sun cream and don’t spend too long in the sun, especially in the middle of the day.

Although most days will see pleasant temperatures in the high 20s, there are days when the sea breeze fails and mercury soars up to the high 30s and even beyond. Last year (2007) the highest temperature recorded in the city was a sweltering 42°C and even higher temperatures have been known in the outer suburbs of the city.

Storms with heavy rainfall are not infrequent. They are mostly brief, however, and the sun soon shines again. These storms are what account for most of the 130mm average rainfall you get in January in February. Sydney averages about 30 such storms per year. Storms in summer sometimes drop hail. The stones fall a couple of times each summer and can be very large (last summer hailstones measuring up to 7cm were recorded!).

In summer Sydney can go for long periods without rainfall before getting a soaking. This can result in flash floods. The other phenomenon that arises from these long, dry and hot periods is bush fires, which occur frequently in the areas surrounding the city. Strong sea breezes coupled with the arid bush provide the perfect conditions for these destructive blazes to spread. Water supply is a constant concern for the city during drought periods.

Autumn (March to May):

Autumn enjoys pleasant temperatures. March is only slightly cooler than the peak summer months, while April and May still enjoy average daily highs in the low 20s. Although day time temperatures are very agreeable, evenings do start to get a little cool and May can see night time temperatures falling towards 10°C.

Autumn is on average the wettest time of the year. As with the rest of the year, heavy storms account for most of the rainfall and there can again be long periods without any rain.

Winter (June to August):

Winters can generally be said to be mild and fairly dry. Sunny winter days can in fact be very pleasant and warm enough even for the beach. The water temperature does not fall below 19°C so you could even go for a swim.

Average daily highs are at their lowest in July, but even then are at 17°C, and temperatures touching 20°C on a good winter’s day are not uncommon. Night time temperatures can become quite chilly, averaging 8°C in July. Last year’s lowest recorded temperature in the centre of Sydney was just below 4°C.

While the coastal and central city areas don’t see freezing temperatures, the suburbs a few kilometres inland can experience colder weather, with occasional frosts and subzero temperatures. These are rare events.

Winter is the driest time of year in Sydney, though downpours are still possible. You wont see snow in the city, but the nearby Blue Mountains do receive a dusting most winters.

Spring (September to November):

Spring is a time of great weather. It is relatively dry and temperatures quickly increase. Daytime highs rise into the 20s for the entire season. The nights quickly warm too and by mid-Spring temperatures usually remain above the mid-teens all the time.

The slightly cooler temperatures compared with summer time make it good for getting about in the city especially if you want to cram in a lot of sightseeing. Sunshine levels reach their annual high of 8 hours per day in October.

Rainfall is not too high, and again mostly accounted for by brief but heavy storms.