Editing Sydney (section)

===Climate===
{{Main|Climate of Sydney|Severe weather events in Sydney}}
[[File:Sydney storm clouds.jpg|thumb|A summer storm over Sydney Harbour]]
Under the [[Köppen climate classification|Köppen–Geiger classification]], Sydney has a [[humid subtropical climate]] (''Cfa'')<ref>{{cite web |title=Modelling and simulation of seasonal rainfall |publisher=Centre for Computer Assisted Research Mathematics and its Applications (CARMA) |quote=Brisbane and Sydney each have a humid sub-tropical or temperate climate with no pronounced dry season...the classification is Cfa |date=20 May 2014 |url=https://www.carma.newcastle.edu.au/jon/matcom.pdf |access-date=25 February 2016 |archive-date=13 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190313193032/https://www.carma.newcastle.edu.au/jon/matcom.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> with "warm, sometimes hot" summers and "generally mild",<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/travel/holiday-weather/australasia/australia/sydney |title=Sydney holiday weather |publisher=[[Met Office]] |access-date=29 August 2023 |archive-date=29 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230829114341/https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/travel/holiday-weather/australasia/australia/sydney |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=bom2>{{cite web |url=http://www.bom.gov.au/water/nwa/2017/sydney/climateandwater/climateandwater.shtml |title=Sydney: Climate and water |publisher=[[Bureau of Meteorology]] |date = April 2017|access-date=20 April 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.australia.com/en/facts-and-planning/weather-in-australia/sydney-weather.html |title=WEATHER IN SYDNEY |website=Australia.com |date=23 May 2023 |publisher=[[Tourism Australia]] |access-date=29 August 2023 |archive-date=29 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230829114342/https://www.australia.com/en/facts-and-planning/weather-in-australia/sydney-weather.html |url-status=live }}</ref> to <!-- Please read the note after "cool" before changing it. -->"cool"<!-- The authoritative source supporting this specifically says "cool", not "mild". Do not change it without providing more sources supporting a change and note that "cool" must be retained. For more information, please see the talk page discussion. --> winters.<ref>{{cite web |title=Climate and the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games |work=Australian Government |publisher=Australian Bureau of Statistics |date=24 September 2007 |url=http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/Previousproducts/1301.0Feature%20Article32000?opendocument&tabname=Summary&prodno=1301.0&issue=2000&num=&view= |access-date=21 December 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080610031914/http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/Previousproducts/1301.0Feature%20Article32000?opendocument&tabname=Summary&prodno=1301.0&issue=2000&num=&view= |archive-date=10 June 2008}}</ref> The [[El Niño–Southern Oscillation]], the [[Indian Ocean Dipole]] and the [[Southern Annular Mode]]<ref name= "ABC news">{{Cite web |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-08-14/southern-annular-mode-and-how-it-affects-our-weather/10106134 |title=Southern Annular Mode: The climate 'influencer' you may not have heard of |website=ABC News |date=14 August 2018 |access-date=29 September 2020 |archive-date=19 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230819004847/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-08-14/southern-annular-mode-and-how-it-affects-our-weather/10106134 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="BOM71">{{cite web |url=http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/current/statements/scs71.pdf |title=Special Climate Statement 71—severe fire weather conditions in southeast Queensland and northeast New South Wales in September 2019 |date=24 September 2019 |website=[[Bureau of Meteorology]] |access-date=5 January 2020 |archive-date=9 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200109060418/http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/current/statements/scs71.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> play an important role in determining Sydney's weather patterns: [[drought]] and [[Bushfires in Australia|bushfire]] on the one hand, and storms and flooding on the other, associated with the opposite [[Effects of the El Niño–Southern Oscillation in Australia|phases of the oscillation in Australia]]. The weather is [[sea breeze|moderated]] by proximity to the ocean, and more extreme temperatures are recorded in the inland western suburbs because Sydney CBD is more affected by the [[oceanic climate]] drivers than the western suburbs.<ref name= "MDPI">{{Cite journal |title=Impact of Accelerated Climate Change on Maximum Temperature Differences between Western and Coastal Sydney |journal=  Climate|date=26 March 2023 |doi=10.3390/cli11040076 |doi-access=free |last1=Bubathi |first1=Varsha |last2=Leslie |first2=Lance |last3=Speer |first3=Milton |last4=Hartigan |first4=Joshua |last5=Wang |first5=Joanna |last6=Gupta |first6=Anjali |volume=11 |issue=4 |page=76 |bibcode=2023Clim...11...76B }}</ref><ref name="acn" />

At Sydney's primary weather station at [[Sydney Observatory|Observatory Hill]], extreme temperatures have ranged from {{cvt|45.8|C|1}} on 18 [[Angry Summer|January 2013]] to {{cvt|2.1|C|1}} on 22 June 1932.<ref>{{BoM Aust stats|site_ref=cw_066062_All|site_name=Sydney (Observatory Hill) |access-date=15 November 2013}}</ref><ref>Bureau of Meteorology. 2006. [http://www.bom.gov.au/announcements/media_releases/nsw/20060201.shtml Climate summary for Sydney, January 2006] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130902015815/http://www.bom.gov.au/announcements/media_releases/nsw/20060201.shtml |date=2 September 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Creagh |first=Sunanda |title=Sydney smashes temperature records but heatwave nearly over |url=http://theconversation.edu.au/sydney-smashes-temperature-records-but-heatwave-nearly-over-11689 |work=The Conversation |publisher=The Conversation Media Group |access-date=21 January 2013 |archive-date=21 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240221025130/https://theconversation.com/sydney-smashes-temperature-records-but-heatwave-nearly-over-11689 |url-status=live }}</ref> An average of 14.9 days a year have temperatures at or above {{cvt|30|C|0}} in the central business district (CBD).<ref name="acn">{{cite web |title=Climate statistics for Australian locations |url=http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_066062_All.shtml |publisher=Bureau of Meteorology |access-date=15 November 2013 |archive-date=24 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200524103834/http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_066062_All.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref> In contrast, the metropolitan area averages between 35 and 65 days, depending on the suburb.<ref>Torok, S. and Nicholls, N. 1996. A historical annual temperature dataset for Australia. Aust. Met. Mag., 45, 251–60.</ref> The hottest day in the metropolitan area occurred in [[Penrith, New South Wales|Penrith]] on 4 January 2020, where a high of {{cvt|48.9|C|F}} was recorded.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/penrith-press/penrith-hits-record-temperature-of-485c-as-heatwave-strikes-nsw/news-story/dcf054647fa47a6fb4e8195515d835fc |title=Penrith hits record temperature of 48.9C as heatwave strikes NSW |website=Daily Telegraph |access-date=6 January 2020 |archive-date=5 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200105001415/https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/penrith-press/penrith-hits-record-temperature-of-485c-as-heatwave-strikes-nsw/news-story/dcf054647fa47a6fb4e8195515d835fc |url-status=live }}</ref> The average annual temperature of the sea ranges from {{cvt|18.5|C|F}} in September to {{cvt|23.7|C|F}} in February.<ref>[https://www.seatemperature.org/australia-pacific/australia/sydney.htm Sydney Sea Temperature] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170705123115/https://www.seatemperature.org/australia-pacific/australia/sydney.htm |date=5 July 2017 }} – seatemperature.org</ref> Sydney has an average of 7.2 hours of sunshine per day<ref>{{cite web |title=Climate statistics for Australian locations Sydney Airport AMO |url=http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_066037_All.shtml |publisher=Bureau of Meteorology |access-date=19 October 2020 |archive-date=23 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923225517/http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_066037_All.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref> and 109.5 clear days annually.<ref name="metdata">{{cite web |url=http://www.bom.gov.au/jsp/ncc/cdio/cvg/av?p_stn_num=066062&p_prim_element_index=0&p_comp_element_index=0&redraw=null&p_display_type=full_statistics_table&normals_years=1991-2020&tablesizebutt=normal |title=Sydney (Observatory Hill) Period 1991–2020 |publisher=Bureau of Meteorology |access-date=14 April 2020 |archive-date=9 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200209095647/http://www.bom.gov.au/jsp/ncc/cdio/cvg/av?p_stn_num=066062&p_prim_element_index=0&p_comp_element_index=0&redraw=null&p_display_type=full_statistics_table&normals_years=1991-2020&tablesizebutt=normal |url-status=dead }}</ref> Due to the inland location, [[frost]] is recorded early in the morning in [[Western Sydney]] a few times in winter. Autumn and spring are the transitional seasons, with spring showing a larger temperature variation than autumn.<ref>MacDonnell, Freda. Thomas Nelson (Australia) Limited, 1967. ''Before King's Cross''</ref>

Sydney experiences an [[urban heat island]] effect.<ref name="UrbanHeatIsland">{{cite web |url=http://www.smh.com.au/environment/sydney-area-an-urban-heat-island-vulnerable-to-extreme-temperatures-20160113-gm4v14.html |title=Sydney area an 'urban heat island' vulnerable to extreme temperatures |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=14 January 2016 |access-date=14 January 2016 |archive-date=14 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160114173411/http://www.smh.com.au/environment/sydney-area-an-urban-heat-island-vulnerable-to-extreme-temperatures-20160113-gm4v14.html |url-status=live }}</ref> This makes certain parts of the city more vulnerable to extreme heat, including coastal suburbs.<ref name="UrbanHeatIsland" /><ref>{{Cite journal |title=Urban Heat Island and Overheating Characteristics in Sydney, Australia. An Analysis of Multiyear Measurements |journal=Sustainability |volume=9 |issue=5 |pages=712 |year=2017 |first1=Mat |last1=Santamouris |first2=Shamila |last2=Haddad |first3=Francesco |last3=Fiorito |first4=Paul |last4=Osmond |first5=Lan |last5=Ding |first6=Deo |last6=Prasad |first7=Xiaoqiang |last7=Zhai |first8=Ruzhu |last8=Wang |doi=10.3390/su9050712 |doi-access=free}}</ref> In late spring and summer, temperatures over {{cvt|35|C|0}} are not uncommon,<ref>{{cite web |title=Special Climate Statement 43 – extreme heat in January 2013 |url=http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/current/statements/scs43e.pdf |publisher=Bureau of Meteorology |access-date=2 February 2013 |date=1 February 2013 |archive-date=23 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923232139/http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/current/statements/scs43e.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> though hot, dry conditions are usually ended by a [[southerly buster]],<ref>Batt, K, 1995: Sea breezes on the NSW coast, Offshore Yachting, Oct/Nov 1995, Jamieson Publishing.</ref> a powerful southerly that brings [[gale]] winds and a rapid fall in temperature.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article18401582 |title="Southerly Buster" Relieves City. |newspaper=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |date=17 December 1953 |access-date=27 March 2015 |page=1 |publisher=National Library of Australia |archive-date=21 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240221023753/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/18401582 |url-status=live }}</ref> Since Sydney is downwind of the [[Great Dividing Range]], it occasionally experiences dry, westerly [[Australian foehn winds|foehn winds]] typically in winter and early spring (which are the reason for its warm maximum temperatures).<ref>Sharples, J.J. Mills, G.A., McRae, R.H.D., Weber, R.O. (2010) ''Elevated fire danger conditions associated with foehn-like winds in southeastern Australia. Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology''.</ref><ref>Sharples, J.J., McRae, R.H.D., Weber, R.O., Mills, G.A. (2009) ''Foehn-like winds and fire danger anomalies in southeastern Australia''. Proceedings of the 18th IMACS World Congress and MODSIM09. 13–17 July, Cairns.</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-05-09/sydney-temperatures-to-plummet-in-cold-snap/11097536 |title=BOM predicts NSW and ACT temperatures to plummet as cold snap sweeps through |work=ABC News |author=Bellinda Kontominas |date=9 May 2019 |access-date=5 October 2021 |archive-date=5 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211005111322/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-05-09/sydney-temperatures-to-plummet-in-cold-snap/11097536 |url-status=live }}</ref> Westerly winds are intense when the [[Roaring Forties]] (or the [[Southern Annular Mode]]) shift towards southeastern Australia,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/may/12/roaring-forties-shift-south-means-more-droughts-for-southern-australia |title=Roaring Forties' shift south means more droughts for southern Australia |work=The Guardian |author=Helen Davidson |date=12 May 2014 |access-date=2 November 2022 |archive-date=31 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221031230652/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/may/12/roaring-forties-shift-south-means-more-droughts-for-southern-australia |url-status=live }}</ref> where they may damage homes and [[Flight cancellation and delay|affect flights]], in addition to [[apparent temperature|making the temperature]] seem [[wind chill|colder than it actually is]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theleader.com.au/story/6319272/update-dozens-of-flights-grounded-as-wild-winds-lash-sydney-and-melbourne/|title=Cold, damaging winds blast Sydney|work=The Leader|date=9 August 2019|access-date=2 November 2022|archive-date=9 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190809215130/https://www.theleader.com.au/story/6319272/update-dozens-of-flights-grounded-as-wild-winds-lash-sydney-and-melbourne/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-08-09/bom-weather-warnings-nsw-roof-ripped-off-nursing-home-stockton/11399816|title=BOM warns NSW to brace for worse weather as strong winds tear roof off Newcastle nursing home|work=ABC News|date=9 August 2019|access-date=2 November 2022|archive-date=7 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201107231007/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-08-09/bom-weather-warnings-nsw-roof-ripped-off-nursing-home-stockton/11399816|url-status=live}}</ref>

Rainfall has a moderate to low variability and has historically been fairly uniform throughout the year, although in recent years it has been more summer-dominant and erratic.<ref>[https://www.bioregionalassessments.gov.au/assessments/11-context-statement-sydney-basin-bioregion/1123-climate Context statement for the Sydney Basin bioregion – Climate] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210410151105/https://www.bioregionalassessments.gov.au/assessments/11-context-statement-sydney-basin-bioregion/1123-climate |date=10 April 2021 }} by Bioregional Assessments from the [[Australian Government]]. Retrieved 11 April 2021.</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-02-25/australian-rainfall-zones/7200050?nw=0 |title=Australia's new seasonal rainfall zones |website=ABC News |date=25 February 2016 |access-date=11 April 2021 |archive-date=21 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211021090953/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-02-25/australian-rainfall-zones/7200050?nw=0 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Sydney future: high temps, erratic rain |url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/sydney-future-high-temps-erratic-rain-20081028-5a7x.html |publisher=The Sydney Morning Herald |access-date=29 September 2020 |archive-date=18 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210118051756/https://www.smh.com.au/national/sydney-future-high-temps-erratic-rain-20081028-5a7x.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Commuters in Sydney and eastern NSW brace for erratic weather |url=https://www.news.com.au/technology/environment/commuters-in-sydney-and-eastern-nsw-brace-for-erratic-weather/news-story/5b8e9db5c801b8a93ce86c8ad37fc5f8 |publisher=[[News.com.au]] |access-date=29 September 2020 |archive-date=24 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210124034706/https://www.news.com.au/technology/environment/commuters-in-sydney-and-eastern-nsw-brace-for-erratic-weather/news-story/5b8e9db5c801b8a93ce86c8ad37fc5f8 |url-status=live }}</ref> Precipitation is usually higher in summer through to autumn,<ref name=bom2/> and lower in late winter to early spring.<ref name="ABC news"/><ref>{{Cite journal|url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/joc.1196|title=The latitude of the subtropical ridge over Eastern Australia: TheL index revisited|first=Wasyl|last=Drosdowsky|date=2 August 2005|journal=International Journal of Climatology|volume=25|issue=10|pages=1291–1299|access-date=2 July 2022|doi=10.1002/joc.1196|bibcode=2005IJCli..25.1291D|s2cid=140198125|archive-date=21 February 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240221023739/https://rmets.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/joc.1196|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="acn"/><ref>Australian [[Bureau of Meteorology]]. 2005. Ellyard, D. 1994. Droughts and Flooding Rains. Angus & Robertson {{ISBN|0-207-18557-3}}</ref> In late autumn and winter, [[Australian east coast low|east coast lows]] may bring large amounts of rainfall, especially in the CBD.<ref name="BOMECL" >{{cite web |title=About East Coast Lows |url=http://www.bom.gov.au/nsw/sevwx/facts/ecl.shtml |publisher=Bureau of Meteorology |access-date=6 April 2013 |archive-date=2 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130402033212/http://www.bom.gov.au/nsw/sevwx/facts/ecl.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref> In the warm season [[black nor'easter]]s are usually the cause of heavy rain events, though other forms of [[low-pressure area]]s, including remnants of [[Post-tropical cyclone|ex-cyclones]], may also bring heavy deluge and afternoon thunderstorms.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article15284763 |title=Black Nor-Easter. |newspaper=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |date=30 October 1911 |access-date=27 March 2015 |page=7 |publisher=National Library of Australia |archive-date=12 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230912221536/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/15284763 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>Power, S., Tseitkin, F., Torok, S., Lavery, B., Dahni, R. and McAvaney, B. 1998. ''Australian temperature, Australian rainfall and the Southern Oscillation, 1910–1992: coherent variability and recent changes.'' Aust. Met. Mag., 47, 85–101</ref> 'Snow' was last alleged in 1836, more than likely a fall of [[graupel]], or soft hail; and in July 2008 the [[North Shore (Sydney)|Upper North Shore]] saw a fall of graupel that was mistaken by many for 'snow'.<ref>{{cite web |title=Sydney winter not snow, just hail |url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/it-looked-like-snow-it-felt-like-snow/2008/07/27/1217097051268.html |quote=Mr Zmijewski doubted the 1836 snow report, saying weather observers of the era lacked the expertise of today. "We are almost in the sub-tropics in Sydney", he said. |work=Sydney Morning Herald |access-date=15 November 2013 |date=27 July 2008 |archive-date=23 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140723051600/http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/it-looked-like-snow-it-felt-like-snow/2008/07/27/1217097051268.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2009, dry conditions brought a severe [[2009 Australian dust storm|dust storm towards the city]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/current/annual/nsw/archive/2009.sydney.shtml |title=Sydney in 2009 |publisher=Bom.gov.au |date=4 January 2010 |access-date=10 February 2012 |archive-date=20 March 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150320201433/http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/current/annual/nsw/archive/2009.sydney.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/current/annual/nsw/archive/2010.sydney.shtml |title=Sydney in 2010 |publisher=Bom.gov.au |date=4 January 2011 |access-date=10 February 2012 |archive-date=12 January 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120112162124/http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/current/annual/nsw/archive/2010.sydney.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref>
{{Sydney weatherbox|width=auto}}