What Is The Weather & Climate Like In Sydney?

Sydney has a pleasant, mild climate, with warm summers and mild winters. With an annual average of 340 sunny days, the city is always a bright spot. Due to their distance from the shore, those Western Suburbs in Sydney experience warmer daytime temperatures and colder nighttime lows than the rest of the city.

The summer months of December through February in Sydney have some of the most pleasant temperatures and humidity levels for enjoying the outdoors. The average temperature is around 26 °C, however it can rise up to 40 °C in the summer.

Dry winds & cold fronts from south act as a buffer against the humid conditions of such a Sydney summer. These can trigger short-lived storms that ultimately contribute to lower nighttime temperatures.

The months of March through May make up autumn, which features bright days and cooler evenings. The weather is still pleasant enough to enjoy outdoor pursuits like trips to the beach. Even if the weather is changing and getting cooler, tourists may still want to enjoy the harbour's attractions and ride the boat without the summertime crush.

Winter arrives in June and sticks around into August, bringing with it lower temperatures but not significant ones. The temperature in the winter is still pretty bearable, averaging at 17 degrees Celsius. However, it sometimes draws low-pressure systems out to sea, which can provide a sustained period of wet weather lasting many weeks.

The months of September through November are known as spring, and during that time, people can enjoy pleasant weather ideal for going out and about in the city or perhaps the great outdoors. The beaches were patrolled beginning in October, and the weather is nice and bright without being too hot. Before the crowds come in November, make the most of Sydney's beautiful weather by taking advantage of the city's many outdoor attractions.

This global ocean-atmosphere phenomena, the El Nino: Southern Oscillation (ENSO), generates hail storms and flash flooding in Sydney when it interacts with a La Nina weather pattern and East Coast low-pressure systems. These catastrophic events cause significant destruction but only occur every 3 to 8 years on average.

The following table shows how evenly distributed Sydney's annual rainfall is. Rainfall is more at the start of the year when the easterly winds are more prevalent, but this increase gradually fades by midyear.

Visitors To Sydney Should Know About The Weather And Climate

Being the largest city in Australia and spread out across a very large region, Sydney experiences climatic and temperature variations between its coastal and western suburbs.

Warm summers and cool winters, yet never so harsh that they're unbearable, characterise Sydney's temperate climate (in an average year). Heatwaves have become somewhat commonplace over the years, prompting the imposition of water restrictions for conservation purposes and, on occasion, the outbreak of bush fires in the region's driest areas.

Sydney's mild and pleasant climate makes it possible to enjoy the city's many landmarks and attractions throughout the year.

Temperatures And Precipitation

As mentioned before, the weather in the coastal sections of Sydney is very different from that in the Western suburbs. It is not unusual for the West to be 2–5 degrees warmer than the coast.

The average annual high in Sydney is around 21.7°C (71.1°F), with both the average annual low around 13.8°C (56.8°F) adding to the general pleasantness of the climate.

Sydney receives almost the same amount of precipitation year-round, with June becoming the rainiest and September being driest. Throughout the year, rain falls on average on 14 days in Sydney.

Seasons

If you're familiar with climates in other "temperate" cities, you'll find that Sydney's seasons are rather spot on. Yet, they tend towards to warmer end of a total temperature scale. Their differences from the city's Northern siblings are more noticeable. The four seasons of Sydney can indeed be summed up as:

Summer

While heatwaves and droughts are nothing new to Sydney, they have become more frequent in recent years due to the rise in average summer temperatures. Days with high temperatures and clear skies are perfect for trips to Bondi and Manly, two of Sydney's most famous beaches. As a result of their widespread appeal, however, they frequently become crowded with swimmers and sunbathers.

After a warm Christmas season, the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, a major Summer event, sets sail from Sydney Harbour and heads south to Hobart. Since bushfires have already been known to break out when temperatures are high and winds are gusty, outdoor pursuits like bushwalking may be dangerous during these times. However, these are not typically found around the waterfront area, which is where most of the major tourist attractions are located.

Autumn

Autumn is a wonderful opportunity to travel Sydney due to the pleasant weather (it's cooler, but still warm) and clear skies (it's not as sunny as summer, but it's not as cloudy, either).

In most cases, the cost of lodgings will be less as well. The beaches, though, should be good, and the harbour should be as welcoming and sparkling as usual.

You won't overheat or get too cold when strolling through Sydney's many beautiful gardens, parks, and other outdoor attractions in the autumn.

Winter

Sydney's Winters are not as warm as those in other parts of Australia; the average low temperature hovers around 8 degrees Celsius. However, the days are still mild, and the low quantity of rainfall ensures that the sky is rarely overcast.

Skiers and snowboarders, and others interested in winter sports, need only travel a few hours to reach the nearest snowfields. However, you should make reservations well in advance, as these resorts as well as fields are extremely during this time, especially among international tourists from of the Northern hemisphere who are seeking a second chance at Winter.

Spring

Spring is a great time to explore Sydney's many parks, botanical gardens, and other natural areas, as temperatures rise gradually from early to late in the season.

Festivals, concerts, and other large outdoor gatherings are frequently scheduled for the spring since it is both drier and brighter than just the summer, with low relative humidity and less rainfall. It's the beginning of the beach-going and watersports season leading back into Summer, and the weather is usually very warm and sunny.

In addition, if you are looking for further ideas on activities, attractions and other things to do in Sydney, don't hesitate to check out our main Sydney page for a comprehensive catalogue of options, general information about Sydney, and much more!

 When Is The Best Time To Visit Sydney, Australia?

The climate of Sydney is humid subtropical, therefore the winters are moderate and the summers are very warm. There is a very even distribution of wet and dry seasons.

When December rolls around, Sydney enters its summer season, which lasts until late March. The summer months are warm, with highs averaging between 22 - 30 degrees Centigrade (71.6 and 86 degrees Fahrenheit).

Drought and heatwaves have become increasingly regular in recent years. The coldest month is July, with an average daytime temperature of 17 celsius (62.7° F) and a nearly constant nighttime temperature of above zero.

Spring is prime time for a visit to Sydney. The months of September and October are characterised by low humidity and mild temperatures. Sydney is an ideal vacation spot thanks to its 105 sunny days each year.

From our archived climate data, we draw the following averages about the weather:

• In general, you can expect good weather with average temperatures between 20 and 25 degrees Celsius (68 and 77 degrees Fahrenheit) in the months of March, April, May, September, October, and November.
• January has the highest average high temperature at 26°C (78°F).
• Average highs in July only reach 16 degrees Celsius (60 degrees Fahrenheit), making it the coldest month of the year.
• In terms of precipitation, June is by far the worst month. If rain is not your thing, you should probably skip this month.
• The month of September had the fewest rain showers.
• The sunniest month is December.

Sydney's Climate And Average Weather Throughout The Year

Summers in Sydney are often warm and partially cloudy, while the winters are brief, chilly, and largely clear. The average annual temperature is around 47 degrees Fahrenheit (or 8.2 degrees Celsius), rarely falling below 42 degrees or rising over 90 degrees.

Based on the tourism score, the best time to visit Sydney for warm-weather activities is from late November to early April.

Clouds

The average percentage of cloud cover in the sky in Sydney shows only slight seasonal change from month to month.

Beginning approximately June 22 and ending around October 11, Sydney has 3.7 months of relatively clear skies each year. The sky is clear, partly clear, or partly cloudy on the clearest day of the year August 13. However, overcast or mostly cloudy conditions prevail 20% of the time.

Beginning on October 11 and lasting for 8.3 months till June 22 is the cloudier time of the year. On the cloudiest of the year, November 22, the sky is either overcast or largely cloudy 38% of a time either clear, mostly clear, or cloudy weather 62% of the time.

Precipitation

When liquid and liquid-equivalent precipitation amounts to at least 0.04 inches, we call it a rainy day. Sydney's rainy day probabilities shift throughout the year.

During the wetter season (October 21–June 7), the average daily chance of rain is over 23%. On January 31st, the likelihood of rainy days is at its highest, at 30%.

The dry season begins on June 7 and continues for 4.5 months, until October 21. On August 13, precipitation is least likely at 16%.

We classify wet days as either rain only, snow only, or a combination of the two. According to this classification, rain is the most prevalent type of precipitation year-round, with a high likelihood of 30% on the 31st of January.

Sun

Sydney's day length changes dramatically throughout the year. On December 22, 2021, there will be 14 hours and 25 minutes of daylight, but on June 21, 2021, there will be just 9 hours and 54 minutes of daylight.

On October 2, the sun rises at 5:31 AM, and on April 3, it rises 1 hour and 37 minutes later, at 7:08 AM. On June 12, sunset occurs at 4:52 PM, and on January 7, it occurs at 8:09 PM, a difference of 3 hours and 17 minutes.

Sydney observes DST in 2021, beginning in the spring in October 3 & ending in the fall on April 4.

Moon

Important lunar statistics for 2021 are condensed into the figure below. The days are represented horizontally, the hours vertically, and the times of day if the moon is visible are indicated by the various colours. Significant phases of the Moon are shown by the grey and blue vertical bands.

Humidity

The dew point is used as the basis for the moisture comfort level since it indicates whether or not perspiration can evaporate from skin, consequently cooling the body. When the dew point is low, the air seems dry, and when it's high, it's humid. It's common for temperatures to fluctuate widely from night to day, but dew points don't shift nearly as quickly. A humid day is usually followed by an equally muggy night, despite the fact that the temperature may fall at night.

The relative humidity in Sydney changes significantly throughout the year.

Between the dates of November 30 and April 1, a period of 4.1 months, at least 10% of time is spent in conditions that can be described as muggy, oppressive, or uncomfortable. On February 5, humidity levels are at their highest (41% of the time).

On July 11, humidity is at an all-time low and rain is highly unlikely.

Wind

The hourly average wind vectors (speed and direction) above 10 metres above ground is discussed in this section. Instantaneous wind speeds and directions change more than hourly averages since they are so dependent on local terrain and other variables.

Sydney's hourly earnings wind speed does not fluctuate by more than 0.5 mph from 7.8 mph throughout the year.

As the seasons change, so does the direction from which the average hourly wind blows in Sydney.

From March 22nd to May 26th, with the a peak percent of 36% on 29th december, the southerly direction of the wind is the most common. The westward direction of the wind is the most common for 3.9 months, of May 26 to Sept 23, with the highest percentage, 44%, on July 3. From November 8th to March 22nd, 4.5 months out of the year, the wind is predominantly from the east, with a peak percentage near 39% on January 1st.

Water Temperature

A big body of water can be found close to Sydney (e.g., ocean, sea, or large lake). In this section, we detail the typical surface temperature of such a water across a large geographical area.

There are seasonal shifts in the typical water temperature throughout the year.

From January 1st to April 16th, the year with surface waters lasts for 3.5 months, with only an average temperature of above 72°F. The average temperature of the water is 74 degrees Fahrenheit on February 11. This is the warmest day of the year.

The 3.8 months of the year when the water is cooler, with a mean temperature below 66°F, are from June 23 until October 17. The average temperature of the water is 64 degrees Fahrenheit on August 16th of each year.

Methodology

During the analysis time period (1980-2016), hourly scores are calculated for perceived temperatures, cloud cover, and precipitation data for each day between 8:00 AM and 9:00 PM. Each score is added together to form a composite hourly score, which is then divided by 24 to form a daily score, averaged throughout the analysis period's years, and smoothed.

If the sky is completely clear, we give it a 10, if it's somewhat clear, we give it a 9, and if it's completely cloudy, we give it a 1.

Based on the previous three hours of precipitation centred here on current hour, our precipitation score is 10 for dry conditions, 9 for light precipitation, and 0 for heavy precipitation of 0.04 inches or more.

When the outside temperature is below 50 degrees Fahrenheit, our tourism temperature value is zero; when it's between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit, it's nine; when it's between 80 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit, it's one.

Our rating for the beach/pool temperature is 0 for temperatures below 65 degrees Fahrenheit, 9 for 75 degrees, 10 for 82 degrees, 9 for 90 degrees, and 1 for temperatures above 100 degrees Fahrenheit or more.

Season Of Growth

The growing season is defined differently in different parts of the world. For the sake of this report, however, we will use the longest stretch of above-freezing weather of the year as our definition (the calendar year in the Northern Hemisphere, or from July 1 until June 30 in the Southern Hemisphere).

Growing seasons are somewhat arbitrary when discussing Sydney, where temperatures are consistently high enough to support plant growth throughout the year. Below is a chart that shows how consistently cold or warm it gets each month.

Conclusion

Sydney has a pleasant, mild climate, with warm summers and mild winters. With an annual average of 340 sunny days, the city is always a bright spot. Those Western Suburbs in Sydney experience warmer daytime temperatures and colder nighttime lows than the rest of the city. Sydney's mild and pleasant climate makes it possible to enjoy the city's many landmarks and attractions throughout the year. Warm summers and cool winters, yet never so harsh that they're unbearable, characterise Sydney's temperate climate (in an average year).

The average annual high in Sydney is around 21.7°C with the average annual low around 13.8°C adding to the general pleasantness of the climate. The climate of Sydney is humid subtropical, therefore the winters are moderate and the summers are very warm. There is a very even distribution of wet and dry seasons. Autumn is the best time to visit Sydney due to the pleasant weather (it's cooler, but still warm) and clear skies. Sydney has an average of 105 sunny days each year.

January has the highest average high temperature at 26°C (78°F). Average annual temperature is around 47 degrees Fahrenheit (8.2 degrees Celsius). Best time to visit Sydney for warm-weather activities is from late November to early April. The dry season begins on June 7 and continues for 4.5 months, until October 21. Rain is the most prevalent type of precipitation year-round, with a high likelihood of 30% on the 31st of January.

The sun rises at 5:31 AM, and on April 3, it rises 1 hour and 37 minutes later. Sydney's hourly earnings wind speed does not fluctuate by more than 0.5 mph from 7.8 mph throughout the year. From January 1st to April 16th, the year with surface waters lasts for only an average temperature of above 72°F. The 3.8 months of the year when the water is cooler, with a mean temperature below 66°F are from June 23 until October 17. The average temperature of the water is 64 degrees Fahrenheit on August 16th of each year.

If the sky is completely clear, we give it a 10, if it's somewhat clear and cloudy, a 9. If it's cloudy and  clear but not cloud-covered, our precipitation score is 10 for dry conditions.

Content Summary:

• Sydney has a pleasant, mild climate, with warm summers and mild winters.
• With an annual average of 340 sunny days, the city is always a bright spot.
• Due to their distance from the shore, those Western Suburbs in Sydney experience warmer daytime temperatures and colder nighttime lows than the rest of the city.
• The summer months of December through February in Sydney have some of the most pleasant temperatures and humidity levels for enjoying the outdoors.
• The average temperature is around 26 °C, however it can rise up to 40 °C in the summer.
• The weather is still pleasant enough to enjoy outdoor pursuits like trips to the beach.
• However, it sometimes draws low-pressure systems out to sea, which can provide a sustained period of wet weather lasting many weeks.
• The months of September through November are known as spring, and during that time, people can enjoy pleasant weather ideal for going out and about in the city or perhaps the great outdoors.
• Before the crowds come in November, make the most of Sydney's beautiful weather by taking advantage of the city's many outdoor attractions.
• This global ocean-atmosphere phenomena, the El Nino: Southern Oscillation (ENSO), generates hail storms and flash flooding in Sydney when it interacts with a La Nina weather pattern and East Coast low-pressure systems.
• These catastrophic events cause significant destruction but only occur every 3 to 8 years on average.
• The following table shows how evenly distributed Sydney's annual rainfall is.
• Being the largest city in Australia and spread out across a very large region, Sydney experiences climatic and temperature variations between its coastal and western suburbs.
• Warm summers and cool winters, yet never so harsh that they're unbearable, characterise Sydney's temperate climate (in an average year).
• Heatwaves have become somewhat commonplace over the years, prompting the imposition of water restrictions for conservation purposes and, on occasion, the outbreak of bush fires in the region's driest areas.
• Sydney's mild and pleasant climate makes it possible to enjoy the city's many landmarks and attractions throughout the year.
• Temperatures And Precipitation As mentioned before, the weather in the coastal sections of Sydney is very different from that in the Western suburbs.
• It is not unusual for the West to be 2–5 degrees warmer than the coast.
• The average annual high in Sydney is around 21.7°C (71.1°F), with both the average annual low around 13.8°C (56.8°F) adding to the general pleasantness of the climate.
• Sydney receives almost the same amount of precipitation year-round, with June becoming the rainiest and September being driest.
• Throughout the year, rain falls on average on 14 days in Sydney.weather & climate in sydney (2) Seasons If you're familiar with climates in other "temperate" cities, you'll find that Sydney's seasons are rather spot on.
• Yet, they tend towards the warmer end of a total temperature scale.
• Their differences from the city's Northern siblings are more noticeable.
• The four seasons of Sydney can indeed be summed up as:Summer While heatwaves and droughts are nothing new to Sydney, they have become more frequent in recent years due to the rise in average summer temperatures.
• Days with high temperatures and clear skies are perfect for trips to Bondi and Manly, two of Sydney's most famous beaches.
• After a warm Christmas season, the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, a major Summer event, sets sail from Sydney Harbour and heads south to Hobart.
• Autumn is a wonderful opportunity to travel to Sydney due to the pleasant weather (it's cooler, but still warm) and clear skies (it's not as sunny as summer, but it's not as cloudy, either).In most cases, the cost of lodgings will be less as well.
• You won't overheat or get too cold when strolling through Sydney's many beautiful gardens, parks, and other outdoor attractions in the autumn.
• Sydney's Winters are not as warm as those in other parts of Australia; the average low temperature hovers around 8 degrees Celsius.
• Skiers and snowboarders, and others interested in winter sports, need only travel a few hours to reach the nearest snowfields.
• Spring is a great time to explore Sydney's many parks, botanical gardens, and other natural areas, as temperatures rise gradually from early to late in the season.
• Festivals, concerts, and other large outdoor gatherings are frequently scheduled for the spring since it is both drier and brighter than just the summer, with low relative humidity and less rainfall.
• It's the beginning of the beach-going and watersports season leading back into Summer, and the weather is usually very warm and sunny.
• In addition, if you are looking for further ideas on activities, attractions and other things to do in Sydney, don't hesitate to check out our main Sydney page for a comprehensive catalogue of options, general information about Sydney, and much more!
• When Is The Best Time To Visit Sydney, Australia?
• The climate of Sydney is humid subtropical, therefore the winters are moderate and the summers are very warm.
• The summer months are warm, with highs averaging between 22 - 30 degrees Centigrade (71.6 and 86 degrees Fahrenheit).Drought and heatwaves have become increasingly regular in recent years.
• Spring is prime time for a visit to Sydney.
• The months of September and October are characterised by low humidity and mild temperatures.
• Sydney is an ideal vacation spot thanks to its 105 sunny days each year.
• From our archived climate data, we draw the following averages about the weather:In general, you can expect good weather with average temperatures between 20 and 25 degrees Celsius (68 and 77 degrees Fahrenheit) in the months of March, April, May, September, October, and November.
• January has the highest average high temperature at 26°C (78°F).
• Average highs in July only reach 16 degrees Celsius (60 degrees Fahrenheit), making it the coldest month of the year.
• In terms of precipitation, June is by far the worst month.
• The month of September had the fewest rain showers.
• The sunniest month is December.
• Summers in Sydney are often warm and partially cloudy, while the winters are brief, chilly, and largely clear.
• Based on the tourism score, the best time to visit Sydney for warm-weather activities is from late November to early April.weather & climate in sydney (3) Clouds The average percentage of cloud cover in the sky in Sydney shows only slight seasonal change from month to month.
• Beginning approximately June 22 and ending around October 11, Sydney has 3.7 months of relatively clear skies each year.
• When liquid and liquid-equivalent precipitation amounts to at least 0.04 inches, we call it a rainy day.
• The dry season begins on June 7 and continues for 4.5 months, until October 21.
• On August 13, precipitation is least likely at 16%.We classify wet days as either rain only, snow only, or a combination of the two.
• According to this classification, rain is the most prevalent type of precipitation year-round, with a high likelihood of 30% on the 31st of January.
• Sydney's day length changes dramatically throughout the year.
• Sydney observes DST in 2021, beginning in the spring in October 3 & ending in the fall on April 4.Moon Important lunar statistics for 2021 are condensed into the figure below.
• The days are represented horizontally, the hours vertically, and the times of day if the moon is visible are indicated by the various colours.
• When the dew point is low, the air seems dry, and when it's high, it's humid.
• The relative humidity in Sydney changes significantly throughout the year.
• On February 5, humidity levels are at their highest (41% of the time).On July 11, humidity is at an all-time low and rain is highly unlikely.
• The hourly average wind vectors (speed and direction) above 10 metres above ground is discussed in this section.
• Instantaneous wind speeds and directions change more than hourly averages since they are so dependent on local terrain and other variables.
• Sydney's hourly earnings wind speed does not fluctuate by more than 0.5 mph from 7.8 mph throughout the year.
• As the seasons change, so does the direction from which the average hourly wind blows in Sydney.
• From March 22nd to May 26th, with the a peak percent of 36% on 29th december, the southerly direction of the wind is the most common.
• From November 8th to March 22nd, 4.5 months out of the year, the wind is predominantly from the east, with a peak percentage near 39% on January 1st.
• Temperature A big body of water can be found close to Sydney (e.g., ocean, sea, or large lake).
• In this section, we detail the typical surface temperature of such a water across a large geographical area.
• There are seasonal shifts in the typical water temperature throughout the year.
• From January 1st to April 16th, the year with surface waters lasts for 3.5 months, with only an average temperature of above 72°F.
• The average temperature of the water is 74 degrees Fahrenheit on February 11.
• This is the warmest day of the year.
• The average temperature of the water is 64 degrees Fahrenheit on August 16th of each year.
• During the analysis time period (1980-2016), hourly scores are calculated for perceived temperatures, cloud cover, and precipitation data for each day between 8:00 AM and 9:00 PM.
• Each score is added together to form a composite hourly score, which is then divided by 24 to form a daily score, averaged throughout the analysis period's years, and smoothed.
• If the sky is completely clear, we give it a 10, if it's somewhat clear, we give it a 9, and if it's completely cloudy, we give it a 1.Based on the previous three hours of precipitation centred here on current hour, our precipitation score is 10 for dry conditions, 9 for light precipitation, and 0 for heavy precipitation of 0.04 inches or more.
• When the outside temperature is below 50 degrees Fahrenheit, our tourism temperature value is zero; when it's between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit, it's nine; when it's between 80 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit, it's one.
• Our rating for the beach/pool temperature is 0 for temperatures below 65 degrees Fahrenheit, 9 for 75 degrees, 10 for 82 degrees, 9 for 90 degrees, and 1 for temperatures above 100 degrees Fahrenheit or more.
• The growing season is defined differently in different parts of the world.
• For the sake of this report, however, we will use the longest stretch of above-freezing weather of the year as our definition (the calendar year in the Northern Hemisphere, or from July 1 until June 30 in the Southern Hemisphere).Growing seasons are somewhat arbitrary when discussing Sydney, where temperatures are consistently high enough to support plant growth throughout the year.