The climate of Sydney, the capital of New South Wales, lying on the southeast coast of Australia, at 34 degrees south latitude, is
, with mild winters and warm summers.
blows frequently, especially from October to April, that is, in the warm season (being that it's in the Southern Hemisphere, the seasons in Sydney are reversed in comparison to Europe or North America).
may occur, with the wind blowing from the desert, which can raise the temperature above 35 °C (95 °F), though for short periods (sometimes, only one day), in addition, the wind can bring sand and dust from the desert.
is fairly abundant, since it is close to 1,000 millimeters (40 inches) per year. There is no dry season, however, the driest season is spring. The wettest months are February and June.
Although the climate of Sydney is generally good, sometimes, there may be particularly intense rains, thunderstorms and hailstorms.
, from June to August, is mild, with an average daily temperature of 13/14 °C (55/57 °F), but it is also a rainy season, especially in the first part (June). In addition, houses generally do not have heating and are poorly insulated, so the feeling of cold is greater than one might expect.
In practice, it never gets very cold nor it freezes, even though slight frosts can occasionally occur in the western suburbs, which are more distant from the sea. In July 1968, the temperature dropped to -4 °C (25 °F) at Bankstown Airport.
, from September to November, is mild or pleasantly warm, sunny enough, and generally not too rainy.
, from December to March, is warm, with average temperatures not too high, and generally pleasant. Sea breezes constantly blow in the afternoon, and can sometimes be intense.
The sun shines on a regular basis, even though some cloudiness can form quite often, and sometimes, it can lead to showers and thunderstorms, which typically do not last long. However, every so often, the remnants of a tropical cyclone can get this far, bringing heavy rains and strong winds, especially from January to March.
The wind from the desert can raise the temperature in a spectacular way, bringing
, though for short periods. This wind is strong and dry, and sometimes, it can cause fires in the hills behind the town, so much so that the air can be filled with smoke. The highest record is 46.4 °C (115.5 °F) and was set in January 2013. In January 2020, the temperature reached 49 °C (120 °F) in Penrith, a town located west of Sydney.
, in April and May, is very mild, but it is also a rainy season. During some years, the rains can be plentiful.
is warm enough to swim in from January to March, when the ocean temperature is about 24 °C (75 °F), while it drops to 19 °C (66 °F) from July to September (therefore, it becomes a bit cold). The ocean coast is popular with surfers, while in the interior of the bays and in Botany Bay, the sea is a bit warmer and calmer.
to go to Sydney is spring, in September and October, since it is mild, quite dry and sunny. In November, the rains increase a bit, but not like in summer, and heat waves are still very rare, so November is a good month as well. On the other hand, there is no period to be absolutely avoided: it greatly depends on year and period. Anyway, autumn is rainy, while in summer, which is typically a good season, scorching days can sometimes occur, in addition to some intense thunderstorms and some very rainy periods.
. Here are the average temperatures.
January, the warmest month of the year, is generally a warm to hot month. The average temperature is of
23.8 °C, with a minimum of
20 °C and a maximum of
27.7 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
16 °C. However, it dropped to
13.4 °C in January 1997.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
38 °C. However, it reached
46 °C in January 2013.
Precipitation amounts to
80 mm, distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 5 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 53% of the time.
The average humidity is 70%.
The average wind speed is of
20.7 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
23.8 °C. Therefore, the sea is warm enough for swimming.
February is generally a warm to hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of
23.5 °C, with a minimum of
19.9 °C and a maximum of
27.1 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
16 °C. However, it dropped to
12 °C in February 1996.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
36 °C. However, it reached
42.9 °C in February 2017.
Precipitation amounts to
120 mm, distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 20 minutes.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 55% of the time.
The average humidity is 71%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
19.8 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
24.2 °C. Therefore, the sea is warm enough for swimming.
March is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of
22.2 °C, with a minimum of
18.5 °C and a maximum of
25.8 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
13.5 °C. However, it dropped to
9.6 °C in March 1994.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
33 °C. However, it reached
40.5 °C in March 2018.
Precipitation amounts to
95 mm, distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 20 minutes.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 55% of the time.
The average humidity is 70%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
18.6 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
23.9 °C. Therefore, the sea is warm enough for swimming.
April is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of
19.3 °C, with a minimum of
15.2 °C and a maximum of
23.4 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
10 °C. However, it dropped to
7.4 °C in April 1996.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
30 °C. However, it reached
36.8 °C in April 2018.
Precipitation amounts to
95 mm, distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 64% of the time.
The average humidity is 69%.
The average wind speed is of
16.8 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
23.1 °C. Therefore, the sea can be considered barely acceptable for swimming.
May is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of
16.4 °C, with a minimum of
12.1 °C and a maximum of
20.6 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
7.5 °C. However, it dropped to
5.9 °C in May 1999.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
26.5 °C. However, it reached
29.1 °C in May 1994.
Precipitation amounts to
90 mm, distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 63% of the time.
The average humidity is 67%.
The average wind speed is of
16.4 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
21.6 °C. Therefore, the sea is cool for swimming.
June is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
14 °C, with a minimum of
9.8 °C and a maximum of
18.1 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
5.5 °C. However, it dropped to
3.2 °C in June 2010.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
22.5 °C. However, it reached
25.6 °C in June 1991.
Precipitation amounts to
125 mm, distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 55 minutes. June 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Southern Hemisphere.
There are on average 5.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 57% of the time.
The average humidity is 69%.
The average wind speed is of
16.9 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
20 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cool for swimming.
July, the coldest month of the year, is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
13.2 °C, with a minimum of
8.6 °C and a maximum of
17.7 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
5 °C. However, it dropped to
3 °C in July 2007.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
23.5 °C. However, it reached
27 °C in July 2017.
Precipitation amounts to
70 mm, distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 66% of the time.
The average humidity is 64%.
The average wind speed is of
16.6 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
18.9 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cool for swimming.
August is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
14.2 °C, with a minimum of
9.3 °C and a maximum of
19.1 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
5 °C. However, it dropped to
3.8 °C in August 1996.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
26 °C. However, it reached
30.9 °C in August 1995.
Precipitation amounts to
65 mm, distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 73% of the time.
The average humidity is 59%.
The average wind speed is of
18.1 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
18.8 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cool for swimming.
September is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of
16.8 °C, with a minimum of
12 °C and a maximum of
21.7 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
6.5 °C. However, it dropped to
5.1 °C in September 2012.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
31 °C. However, it reached
35.6 °C in September 2000.
Precipitation amounts to
60 mm, distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 68% of the time.
The average humidity is 59%.
The average wind speed is of
19.1 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
19 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cool for swimming.
October is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of
19 °C, with a minimum of
14.4 °C and a maximum of
23.6 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
9 °C. However, it dropped to
7.2 °C in October 2003.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
34.5 °C. However, it reached
39.1 °C in October 2004.
Precipitation amounts to
55 mm, distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 61% of the time.
The average humidity is 62%.
The average wind speed is of
20 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
19.7 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cool for swimming.
November is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of
20.6 °C, with a minimum of
16.5 °C and a maximum of
24.7 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
11.5 °C. However, it dropped to
8 °C in November 2006.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
35.5 °C. However, it reached
43 °C in November 2009.
Precipitation amounts to
70 mm, distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 53% of the time.
The average humidity is 66%.
The average wind speed is of
20.9 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
20.7 °C. Therefore, the sea is cool for swimming.
December is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of
22.4 °C, with a minimum of
18.4 °C and a maximum of
26.4 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
14 °C. However, it dropped to
11 °C in December 1995.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
35.5 °C. However, it reached
43.2 °C in December 1994.
Precipitation amounts to
65 mm, distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 25 minutes. So the days are long. December 21, the summer solstice, is the longest day of the year in the Southern Hemisphere.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 53% of the time.
The average humidity is 67%.
The average wind speed is of
21.1 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
22.4 °C. Therefore, the sea can be considered barely acceptable for swimming.