Severe weather events in Sydney explained

Severe weather events or extreme weather events in Sydney, Australia, include hailstorms, thunderstorms, gale, bushfires, heatwaves, drought, and flash flooding from heavy rain (caused by East coast lows or black nor'easters). Sydney is rarely affected by cyclones, although remnants of cyclones do affect the city.^[1]

According to CSIRO and the Bureau of Meteorology, global warming has increased the chances of extreme rain and flash floods recently.^[2] ^[3] However, destructive heavy rainfall events have occurred in Australia, including the Sydney area, since records began in the 18th century.^[4] ^[2]

Annually, coastal Sydney sees five heat-related deaths per 100,000 people while the western suburbs see 14 per 100,000.^[5] Heat-related deaths in the city were common in the late 19th and early 20th century period where several individual cases were reported.^[6] ^[7] ^[8] ^[9]

Temperatures

On 10 January 1929, extreme heat kills thousands of fowls on poultry farms in the city as temperatures rose to 41.2C.^[10]
On 25 August 1954, Sydney recorded its warmest winter day as the temperature climbed from 13.8C at 5 am to 30.4C at 2:45 pm, where an 80 year old man died and twelve other people collapsed from heatstroke.^[11]
The highest recorded minimum in Sydney was registered at Masons Drive, North Parramatta at on 9 January 1983.^[12]
On 15 November 2010, the temperature stayed at exactly 21.7C for the entire 24 hour duration of the day.^[13]
On 23 August 2012, a foehn effect caused Sydney to record its 3rd warmest August day on record where it reached 29C at the CBD and 30C at Sydney Airport.^[14]
The highest recorded maximum temperature at Observatory Hill was on 18 January 2013 during a prolonged heat wave across Australia from early December 2012 to late January 2013.^[15]
July 2013 was the warmest on record, with an average maximum temperature of, which is above the historical average. This was due to persistent, warm northerly winds and clear conditions.^[16]
In September 2013, temperatures were 4C-change above average^[17] and the city had over seven days where temperatures reached, making it more similar to November's weather pattern.^[18]
October 2015 had the warmest nights on record, which were above average.^[19]
In the summer of 2016–17, Sydney CBD experienced a record-breaking of 26 days where temperatures were above and 11 days of temperatures higher than, with record numbers of days above recorded in western Sydney including 11 days at Richmond, in addition to the most warm nights on record.^[20]

On 7 January 2018, Sydney was the hottest place on Earth as Penrith reached .^[21]
In April 2018, Sydney had the longest running hot spell for that month with nine consecutive days of temperatures reaching . Furthermore, the airport and parts of the western suburbs also broke heat records in that month.^[22]
On New Years Eve 2019, Penrith recorded its hottest December day when the temperature peaked at 46.3°C (115°F).^[23]
The highest recorded maximum temperature in Sydney was recorded at Penrith with a high of 48.9 °C (120 °F) on 4 January 2020.^[24] Moreover, a heat logger registered a temperature of at Berkshire Park, making it the hottest temperature ever recorded in the Sydney basin, albeit being an unofficial one.^[25] ^[26] Also on that day, Penrith again earned the title of the "hottest place on earth".^[27] ^[28]
From 28-29 November 2020, Sydney Airport recorded its hottest two days in a row. The 28th registered whilst the 29th had registered .
During May 2021, Sydney CBD recorded its coldest stretch of May days in 54 years due to a polar blast that swept across Australia's southeast, which kept the temperatures below in the early mornings for five consecutive nights, in addition to the inland suburbs dipping down to in Camden and in Sydney Olympic Park.^[29]
On 10 June 2021, Sydney CBD had its coldest day since 1984 and the coldest June day since 1899, where it reached a maximum of just . Bankstown, a western suburb, only reached, its coldest day in 50 years, with nearby suburbs registering a similar temperature.^[30] These unusually cold maximums were caused by a cut-off low, which is a slow moving, sizeable Antarctic cold air mass that got "cut-off" from the westerly trough systems of cold air in the south where it reached the east coast.^[31]
August 2021 registered 15 consecutive winter days above, the first time in 163 years of records, which was achieved due to a lack of cold fronts or rain over NSW during the month and a blocking high in Southern Australia that prevented cold fronts from reaching the continent.^[32]
In September 2023, Western Sydney had six days in a row where the temperature was higher than, beating the previous September record of five consecutive days.^[33]
On 20 September 2023, Sydney Airport recorded its highest temperature that month at, where it just tipped the previous peak of in 2000.^[34]
On 1 October 2023, the city had the hottest start on record where temperatures were above average in most suburbs.^[35]
In December 2023, Sydney experienced the hottest first fortnight of summer on record where the average maximum temperature was, which beats the previous record of from the first fortnight of summer in 1976.^[36]
9 December 2023 was Sydney Airport's hottest December day ever recorded, where the temperature soared to .^[37]
On 11 January 2024, Sydney recorded its muggiest day on record, where the dew point reached, just beating the previous record of on 14 November 2011.^[38]

Bushfires and drought

In January 1994, severe bushfires affected the Sydney basin. Homes were threatened in Turramurra by a fire in the Lane Cove River reserve, and a scrub fire had briefly cut off the holiday village of Bundeena in the Royal National Park south of Sydney. Homes were lost at Menai, Illawong, Bangor and Alfords Point.^[39] ^[40] ^[41] ^[42]
On 23 October 2002, drought and record maximum temperatures in eastern Australia produced a large dust storm – The storm arrived in Sydney at about 11am, reducing visibility to a few kilometres. Previous dust storms in the city occurred in April 1994, September 1968, December 1957, and January 1942 – The most severe dust storm to hit Sydney, reducing visibility at Sydney Airport to 500 metres.^[43]
On 23 September 2009, a dust storm that started in South Australia and inland New South Wales blanketed the city with reddish orange skies early in the morning. Originating from the north-eastern region of South Australia, the dust storm lifted thousands of tons of dirt and soil which were then dumped in Sydney Harbour and the Tasman Sea.^[44] It stretched as far north as southern Queensland and it was the worst dust storm in 70 years.^[45] During that year, Sydney experienced a number of warm winter days, dry gusty winds and another milder dust storm.^[46] ^[47]
February 2011 was the driest in 30 years with only 18mm of rain falling, which is well below the average of 118mm. Some of the western suburbs recorded the lowest total February rainfall on record.^[48]
In October 2013, major bushfires impacted western Sydney and the Blue Mountains, resulting in some evacuations, closed roads, and destroyed homes.^[49]
The summer of 2013-14 was the driest since 1986–87, recording only 106.6mm of rain during the season, close to a third of the average of 297.7mm.^[50] Observatory Hill only received 17mm of rain in January.^[51]
September 2017 was the driest on record, with the gauge receiving only 0.2mm of rain. Furthermore, in that year, the city received less than half of its long-term average rainfall between July and December.^[52]
In 22 November 2018, a dust storm, stretching about 500 kilometres, swept through Sydney due to a low pressure trough and cold front that picked up dry soil in drought-ridden areas of far western NSW that week. Milder compared to the 2009 storm, the effect of the dust was still apparent across iconic locations such as the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge.^[53] 2018 in Sydney has been one of the driest in a century, with the Greater Western Sydney farming region being the worst affected.^[54]
Due to the widespread bushfires in December 2019, which even affected the western periphery of the city, the Sydney metropolitan area suffered from dangerous smoky haze for several days throughout the month, with the air quality being 11 times the hazardous level in some days,^[55] ^[56] even making it worse than New Delhi's,^[57] where it was also equalled to "smoking 32 cigarettes."^[58]
December 2019 only recorded 1.6mm of rain at Observatory Hill, overthrowing the previous 2.8mm recorded for the month in 1979.^[59]
June 2022 was the driest in 36 years, registering only 17.2mm of rain, despite the city having the wettest first half of a year on record.^[60]
July 2023 recorded the driest start to winter in 85 years, receiving only 22.2mm of rain since the start of June. It was the driest start to winter since 1938 and the third-driest on record since records began in 1859.^[61]
On 14 September 2023, Sydney was ranked third-worst in the world for air quality by IQAir due to severe haze from hazard reduction burns.^[62]
On 19 December 2023, the city was blanketed by haze and experienced poor air quality due to gusty winds bringing smoke from Pilliga forest bushfires.^[63]

Rainstorms and windstorms

18th–19th century

On 6 February 1788, Lieutenant Ralph Clark, an officer of the First Fleet, noted that he experienced "the most violent storm of lightning and rain", where he concludes, "The lightning was incessant during the whole night and I never heard it rain faster."^[64]
The first recorded tornado in Australia struck Sydney in 1795, during the early settlement, where it destroyed crops and trees.^[65]
On 20 August 1857, the Dunbar, a sailing ship carrying 122 people from England, was wrecked off South Head due to a powerful east coast low while trying to seek shelter in Sydney Harbour, leaving only one survivor.
Both in June 1816 and June 1864, the Hawkesbury River had overflowed after heavy rainfall, rising over 14 meters, where it flooded and caused widespread damage in nearby towns.^[66]
On 22 June 1867, heavy rain and winds caused the water of the Hawkesbury River to rise to 19.2 metres, submerging and ruining 16,000 homes and buildings from Pitt Town to Wisemans Ferry. The flood caused 12 deaths, which were dramatically represented in the Illustrated Sydney News in July 1867. Survivors were on rooftops waiting to be rescued by boatmen.^[67] Known as The Great Flood, it caused damage in the order of $1.4 billion in the Nepean region and it has about a one-in-280 chance of occurring again.^[68]
On 28 May 1889, the low-lying Inner West suburbs of Croydon Park, Canterbury and Marrickville were heavily affected by torrential rainfall. Residents were depicted in newspapers in their rowboats rescuing the homeless and rowing through the flooded streets besides partially sunken shopfronts and homes.^[69] Some suburbs, such as Prospect in the greater west, received 314.21NaN1 of rainfall in 24 hours.^[70]

20th century

1910s–1930s

On 26 November 1912, a powerful hail and thunderstorm passed over Sydney, where 12.7mm of rain fell in 10 minutes flooding streets, in addition to a lightning killing one labourer at a tramway construction site.^[71]
On 24 March 1914, Parramatta was flooded after 88.9mm of rain fell in just two hours. Parramatta railway station, businesses in Church Street and houses were partially submerged, and the Parramatta River was overflowed.^[72]
On 25 November 1914, a severe thunderstorm which was likely accompanying a tornado, hit Sydney's northern and harbour-side suburbs, and destructed through a line of shopfronts near Lindfield railway station.^[73]
On 6 October 1916, an east coast low brought 120.1mm of rain in 24 hours, flooding roads, overflowing rivers and damaging vegetable gardens.^[74]
On 25 October 1919, a powerful hailstorm caused severe damage to buildings when it blocked gutters and drains, thus allowing rainwater to overspill into ceilings and basements.^[73]
On 6 July 1931, Sydney was whipped by cyclonic winds and heavy rainfall, where it received 198.1mm of rain in 24 hours. In addition to thousands of pounds worth of damage to property, which included roofs and electricity, five deaths were recorded.^[75]
On 25 January 1937, a tornado tore through the suburbs of Marrickville, Mascot, Botany and Matraville, where five people died and dozens were injured in falling buildings.^[73]

1940s–1960s

On 31 October 1940, a tornado created a 19km (12miles) path of damage, where it tore through thousands of homes, killing two people. A gust of 153 km/h was recorded.^[73]
In the 1947 Sydney hailstorm, which occurred on 1 January 1947, a storm cell developed on the morning of New Year's Day, over the Blue Mountains, hitting the city and dissipating east of Bondi in the mid-afternoon. At the time, it was the most severe storm to strike the city since recorded observations began in 1792. The high humidity, temperatures and weather patterns of Sydney increased the strength of the storm. The cost of damages from the storm were, at the time, approximately GB£750,000 (US$3 million); this is the equivalent of around A$45 million in modern figures. The supercell dropped hailstones larger than in diameter, with the most significant damage occurring in the central business district and eastern suburbs of Sydney.^[76]
On 15 June 1949, 94.1mm of rain fell in just one hour, the highest at that time since the records began. Flash flooding swamped businesses, shopfronts and homes.^[77]
In June 1950, a series of east coast cyclones develop off the New South Wales coast during which Sydney registered its highest monthly rainfall on record, 642.71NaN1.^[78] ^[79]
On 26 July 1952, Sydney CBD received 203.2mm of rain and cyclonic winds caused local floods, two landslides in the north, traffic delays and as well as a death of a man.^[80]
On 10 February 1956, heavy rain caused the Georges River to overflow, which led to five deaths, flooding 1,000 homes and leading to the evacuation of 8,000 people. Homes in Bankstown, Panania, East Hills, Milperra, Moorebank and the surrounds were submerged. Stranded residents were rescued by the police, the army and by civilians in row boats.^[73]
On 9 July 1957, a tornado squall occurred at Warriewood and Narrabeen on the Northern Beaches that blew off house roofs and caused more than £40,000 ($80,000) worth of damage.^[73]
On 23 November 1961, Penrith was flooded, with many properties and businesses being destroyed, after receiving half its annual average rainfall in just two days.^[81] The Nepean River reached a height of 9.7m (31.8feet) after the area received 5461NaN1 of rain in two days.^[82]

1970s–1990s

On 24 April 1974, the western suburbs endured severe flash flooding that resulted in $20 million worth of damage and one death, as a consequence of 200mm of rain falling in three days.^[73]
On 10 March 1975, Sydney airport received 174.7mm of rainfall in six hours, in addition to flash flooding which caused more than $15 m worth of damage.^[73]
On 10 November 1976, intense thunderstorms caused severe damage in around Lidcombe and Auburn, with tennis-ball size (6 cm) hail and violent winds that injured 10 people. Damage costs were $40 million.^[73]
On 10–11 February 1978, a tornado tore through many homes in the Lower North Shore, injuring eight people. The damage cost was $15 million.^[73]
Between 19 and 24 March 1978, after an intense low pressure cell developed on the Coral Sea, travelling southwards, heavy rainfall occurred in the east coast which overflowed the Hawkesbury River, thereby flooding nearby homes and damaging roads. Several weather stations in the Sydney metropolitan area reported daily rainfall totals in excess of 250mm.^[83]
On 8 November 1984, Sydney CBD saw 235mm of rain with 120.3mm falling at Observatory Hill in just one hour. Causing damage to homes in the Sydney Harbour and burying vehicles in mud, the storm was caused by a coastal trough with very high humidity values which in turn spawned very slow moving thunderstorms.^[84] The cost of damages from the storm were, at the time, $80 million.^[85]
On 6 August 1986, a record 327.6mm of rainfall was dumped on the city in 24 hours, causing severe floods, major traffic problems and damage in many parts of the metropolitan area.^[86]
On 3 October 1986, ten people were injured and hundreds of homes were damaged after a hail up to 6 cm size hit the western suburbs. The total damage bill was $161 million.^[84]

On 3 February 1990, Sydney CBD received its record 24 hour February rainfall at 243.6mm, when ex-tropical cyclone Nancy was centred on Brisbane.^[87]
On 18 March 1990, in around Auburn and Bankstown, large hail up to 8 cm diameter with strong winds and flash flooding caused $550 million worth of damage, where more than 2000 houses had window and roof damage.^[88]
On 21 January 1991, the Northern Sydney area (Turramurra, Pymble and the surrounds) received hail 7 cm in size with winds up to 230 km/h, and as well as 60mm of rain in 30 minutes. With a damage cost of $670 million, the storm event damaged over 7000 houses from felled trees and floods.^[88]
On 12 February 1992, in the western and northern suburbs, a storm caused $335 million worth of damage after rain, large hail and flash flooding battered over 500 houses.^[88]
On 20 November 1994, a severe storm caused $29 million worth of damage in the Sydney region, namely in the north, where many trees were felled and houses wrecked.^[73]
In the early hours of 30 August 1996, an east coast low ravaged Sydney, bringing destructive winds that damaged properties and heavy rainfall that caused flash flooding and road blockage. Turramurra received 160mm of rainfall in 24 hours, Epping at 143mm and the CBD at 127mm. Wind gusts up to 160 km/h were recorded. Insurance payouts due to the storm were estimated to be up to $50 million.^[89] ^[90]
On 7–8 August 1998, parts of Sydney and the Illawarra region received in excess of 3000NaN0 of rain over four days.^[91]

The 14 April 1999 hailstorm was a notable storm event in Sydney, which caused severe damage in many suburbs and killed one man when his boat was struck by lightning. The storm produced hailstones of up to 9cm (04inches) in diameter and resulted in insurance losses of around A$1.7 billion in less than five hours.^[92]

21st century

2000s–2010s

On 3 December 2001, the state of New South Wales recorded a wind gust of 174 km/h during a freak thunderstorm in Richmond. In addition, two schoolchildren were killed after a tree fell on their tent in the northern suburbs.^[73]
On 8 January 2003, a powerful southerly buster brought a maximum wind gust of 109 km/h, as well as a lightning storm with small hail that caused blackouts in over 70 suburbs.^[73]
Between 1 and 2 February 2005, a powerful East Coast Low caused flash flooding in Sydney with reports of 6 cm size hail, in addition to roofs being blown off in Gladesville.^[73]
A major storm in early June 2007 brought over 500mm of rainfall in 5 days in the Sydney CBD and the eastern suburbs.^[93] ^[94]
On 9 December 2007, a powerful thunderstorm affected western Sydney with hail 7 cm in diameter. The State Emergency Service received over 6000 calls for assistance and the damage bill was $201 million.^[73]
In February 2010, Sydney received some of the highest rainfalls in 25 years with 65mm of rain falling in one night at Observatory Hill. In the first weeks of the month, some suburbs were hit by thunderstorms which brought heavy rain and gusty winds which cut out power and damaged homes.^[95] ^[96] ^[97] The heavy rain was caused by remnants of ex-tropical Cyclone Olga and humid north-easterly winds feeding into the low pressure trough.^[98] ^[99]
In 2011, Sydney recorded its wettest July since 1950. The CBD recorded 244mm of rain that month. 2011 was also the wettest year since records began in 1858.^[100]
On 18 November 2013, an EF1 tornado hit Hornsby, a suburb in the Upper North Shore, where winds reached .^[101] The tornado's path was 2km (01miles) long and 50m (160feet) wide.^[102] ^[103] Blowing off roofs and toppling large trees, the tornado injured a total of 12 people.^[101]
On 15 October 2014, a rainstorm described as a "once-in-a-decade event" hit the Sydney region. Parts of Sydney received the heaviest amount of rain in a span of hours in decades. 94mm of rain fell in Strathfield in just over three hours. The winds were cyclonic in nature, with Sydney Airport having over 107km/h gusts, reaching Category 1 strength. This event happened due to the formation of an east coast low, which ignited several other low pressure systems.^[104]

On 20 April 2015, Sydney recorded 119.4mm of rainfall, the most in any day since February 2002. Winds were "cyclonic" in nature, reaching 135km/h. Killing three people, this east coast low was formed with "a really pronounced upper level trough of cold air that had moved in from Victoria", Mr Sharpe said.^[105] The maximum temperature was only 15.4C, making it the coldest April day since 1983, according to BOM.^[106]
On 16 December 2015, a tornado with a windspeed of 213 km/h tore along Sydney's southern coast, where it ripped off roofs, destroyed homes and overturned trucks. Kurnell and Bondi Junction were the most hard hit.^[107]
On 5 June 2016, an east coast low brought heavy rainfall that passed the average total June rainfall of 132mm. The deluge led to flash floods across the city and caused coastal erosion, in addition to five deaths being reported. Bankstown received its highest daily rainfall in 15 years, with 141mm of rain within the 24 hours. Meanwhile, Pennant Hills, Sydney Airport and Prospect Reservoir experienced their wettest June day since 1991.^[108]
On 28 November 2018, a number of suburbs in the Sydney CBD recorded over 100mm of rainfall in just two hours from thunderstorms that formed due to an intense low pressure system, which came from the west, in what's been the city's wettest November day since 1984.^[109] The heavy deluge caused flash flooding, submerging cars in the suburb of Redfern, alongside wind gusts that peaked over 90 km/h, which brought down trees and also contributed to the deaths of two people.^[110] In Mosman on the North Shore 111mm of rain fell by 9am, making it the wettest spot in Sydney that day.^[111]
On 9 January 2019, Sydney was hit by a lightning storm that was "one of the biggest in recent years", where several houses were struck. Blacktown was the worst affected by the lightning storm, with over 20 homes reporting roof damage.^[112]
On 8 February 2019, intense thunderstorms, lightning and heavy rain caused significant damage to buildings, severe road flooding, which left 45,000 homes across Sydney without power. About 50mm fell in some inland suburbs in a span of just 30 minutes. Such heavy rainfall in a short period of time is expected once every ten years in the metropolitan area.^[113]

2020s–present

Between 7 and 9 February 2020, the Sydney metropolitan area received its heaviest rain in 30 years. The storm brought vast flooding and strong winds that caused commuter chaos and left over 100,000 homes without power.^[114] The city recorded around 391.6mm of rain within those three days, more than three times the average rainfall for February. Thousands of people living in depressed areas, such as those in Narrabeen and southwest of Sydney near Georges River, were told to evacuate due to billowing floodwaters and rising river levels. At least 200 people were rescued by emergency services during the stormy weekend. Warragamba Dam, which was only at 42% in capacity, reached as close to 70% after the deluge.^[115] ^[116] The last time more than 300mm of rain fell in two days in the city was in 1992, in addition to being the wettest four-day period since 1990.^[117]
In the late evening of 18 February 2020, over 60,000 lightning strikes hit the Sydney area,^[118] with wind gusts over 100km/h being recorded in some Sydney suburbs. In addition to a man being killed by a flying gas cylinder in The Rocks, the storm toppled trees, damaged properties and left tens of thousands of homes without power.^[119]

Between 17 and 23 March 2021, many parts of Sydney received heavy rainfall in a storm that was described as "dangerous and threatening" by the Bureau of Meteorology, killing two people in the metropolitan area.^[120] 330.5mm and 359.2mm of rain fell in Sydney CBD and Penrith, respectively, in a span of six days, which led to mass floods.^[121] In Chester Hill, a tornado damaged homes and toppled trees, leaving thousands without electricity.^[122] Parramatta received enough rain to flood the site of the new Parramatta Powerhouse and as well as the Parramatta ferry wharf, which was overflowed after Parramatta River broke its banks.^[123] Moreover, the Warragamba Dam began to spill, which was the first significant overflow of the reservoir since 1990.^[124] Because of rising floodwaters, Nepean River and Hawkesbury River were overflowed, with areas in the suburbs nearby such as Richmond, Windsor and Penrith being evacuated.^[125] The BOM had confirmed that flooding from Hawkesbury River was higher than a similar major flooding event in November 1961.^[126]
On 19 December 2021, a storm with extreme winds of 130 km/h quickly swept across multiple suburbs in the Northern Beaches area.^[127] ^[128] The storm caused a large amount of damage to property and powerlines, mostly due to trees toppling over from the wind, around 36,000 homes were left without power.^[129] In Narrabeen, three people were struck by a tree in a parking lot, causing the death of one woman and leaving two others critically injured.^[130] Volunteers from NSW SES worked alongside Fire and Rescue New South Wales and New South Wales Rural Fire Service to cleanup the damage left behind by the storm.^[131]
On 22 February 2022, a month's worth of rain fell in less than a few hours in parts of the Sydney metropolitan area, which submerged streets and businesses, damaged road pavements and felled trees, in addition to flooding the Parramatta River and the nearby Powerhouse Museum site. Many suburbs recorded rainfall up to 100mm in the day, with 110mm falling in Marrickville (98mm of it in just two hours).^[132] The 30-hour rainy event made Sydney have its wettest summer in 30 years (or since 1991/92).^[133]
On 3–8 March 2022, thousands of people in parts of western Sydney were told to evacuate as the Hawkesbury River, Nepean River and Georges rivers began to rise after 174mm of rain fell over in Warragamba in less than 24 hours on the 3rd. There was major flooding in North Richmond and Windsor as the rising river waters submerged many parts of these rural suburbs.^[134] On the 8th, a heavy deluge inundated streets in parts of southwestern Sydney and far western Sydney, killing two people in a car. Areas near the Georges River and Manly Dam were placed under an evacuation order by the State Emergency Service as floodwaters began to rise that day.^[135] On this day, Mona Vale recorded 72mm in just two hours and Mosman received 128mm in the six hours until the afternoon.^[136] Sydney recorded its wettest March on record with the rain gauge picking up 554mm of rain, beating 521.4mm from 1942 – this also brought Sydney's annual total up to 1076.2mm, which is the highest January-to-March total in records that date back to 1859.^[137]
On 6–7 April 2022, after two days of heavy rain, residents in Woronora, Camden, Wallacia and Chipping Norton were issued with a flood evacuation order as the Woronora, Nepean and Georges Rivers began to rise. Streets in Manly Vale and Casula were heavily flooded, with roads to them being cut off. 107mm of rainfall was recorded in Little Bay in just six hours, as well as 107mm at Cronulla in just three hours overnight.^[138] There were 25 flood rescues during the 24 hours of this event, with one death in Cobbitty.^[139]
Between 3–5 July 2022, an east coast low brought around eight months of rain in four days in Sydney's southwest, causing major flood and evacuation orders, in addition to one death.^[140] Camden, in Sydney's southwest, had received 197.4mm of rain between 2 and 3 July, with Sydney CBD accumulating 148.6mm over the span of four days.^[141] Sydney recorded its wettest July on record that year where 404mm of rain fell during the month, surpassing the July 1950 record.^[142]
On 18 February 2023, a severe windstorm ripped through the city that left over 60,000 people without power. In addition to that, the heavy winds felled trees in the metropolitan area and caused chaos at a sailing tournament where a boat's large sail was cast into the air, causing minor injuries among bystanders.^[143]
On the night of 2 December 2023, a thunderstorm surged through the city that abruptly ended a Good Things music event which featured US rock band Fall Out Boy, where thousands of revelers there were told to evacuate. In addition, the storm also halted an A-League soccer match between Sydney FC and Perth Glory.^[144]
On 19 February 2024, around 75,000 lightning strikes were detected within 100km of the city. Of those lightning strikes, one struck and injured four people who were sheltering from the storm system in Royal Botanic Gardens.^[145]
Between 5 and 6 April 2024, a black nor'easter dumped heavy rain in the Sydney region, killing one man in western Sydney. The deluge caused major public transport delays and flooding in the Northern Beaches. Penrith recorded its heaviest 24-hour rainfall on record for April at 167mm.^[146]

Temperature extremes

Parameter	Jan	Feb	March	April	May	June	July	Aug	Sept	Oct	Nov	Dec
Highest monthly average high temperature
Sydney CBD^[147]	29.6C (2017)	29C (1998)	27.1C (2006)	26.1C (2018)	23.2C (2014)	20.3C (1957)	19.9C (2018)	21.3C (1995)	24.4C (1988)	26.2C (1988)	26.6C (2019)	28.6C (2005)
Bankstown Airport (Western Sydney)^[148]	32.3C (2019)	30.8C (2017)	28.8C (1998)	27.8C (2018)	23.4C (2016)	19.7C (2004)	20C (2018)	21.9C (1995)	25.4C (2013)	27.6C (1988)	28.6C (2009)	30.8C (2017)
Penrith (Far-West)^[149]	34.9C (2019)	32.7C (2004)	30.5C (1998)	28.6C (2018)	23.5C (2016)	20.1C (2004)	20.3C (2018)	21.9C (2009)	26.3C (2013)	28.9C (2013)	31.8C (2009)	33.5C (2019)

Parameter	Jan	Feb	March	April	May	June	July	Aug	Sept	Oct	Nov	Dec
Lowest monthly average high temperature
Sydney CBD	23.1C (1948)	23.6C (1860)	22.4C (1870)	20C (1893)	16.6C (1898)	14.1C (1887)	13.4C (1896)	14.9C (1943)	17.4C (1889)	19.2C (1903)	20.6C (1943)	22.5C (1924)
Prospect Reservoir (Western Sydney)^[150]	24C (1965)	24.9C (1966)	22.6C (1967)	21.1C (1983)	18.1C (1968)	14.6C (1968)	14.4C (1966)	15.7C (1967)	17.6C (1966)	19.9C (1966)	22.5C (1971)	23.4C (2011)

Highest minimum (Sydney CBD)^[151]

Period	Record temperature	Date
	26.2C	8 Jan 1994
	27.6C	6 Feb 2011
	25.4C	26 Mar 1876
	24.3C	5 Apr 1986
	20.8C	3 May 1942
	18.4C	18 Jun 1873
	18.1C	2 Jul 1942
	19.7C	30 Aug 1885
	23C	24 Sep 2017
	25.6C	3 Oct 1981
	24.8C	14 Nov 1967
	27.1C	14 Dec 2016

Lowest maximum (Sydney CBD)^[151]

Period	Record temperature	Date
	17.2C	14 Jan 1948
	15.6C	28 Feb 1863
	16.2C	13 Mar 1886
	13.8C	22 Apr 1927
	11.3C	24 May 1904
	9.7C	13 Jun 1899
	7.7C	19 Jul 1868
	9.1C	9 Aug 1872
	9.5C	8 Sep 1869
	12.1C	2 Oct 1871
	12.6C	16 Nov 1988
	15.2C	24 Dec 1870

Rainfall extremes

Parameter	Jan	Feb	March	April	May	June	July	Aug	Sept	Oct	Nov	Dec
Highest daily rainfall
Sydney CBD	1911NaN1 (17 Jan 1988)	243.61NaN1 (3 Feb 1990)	280.71NaN1 (28 Mar 1942)	1911NaN1 (29 Apr 1860)	212.31NaN1 (28 May 1889)	150.61NaN1 (11 Jun 1991)	198.11NaN1 (7 Jul 1931)	327.61NaN1 (6 Aug 1986)	144.51NaN1 (10 Sep 1879)	161.81NaN1 (13 Oct 1902)	234.61NaN1 (8 Nov 1984)	1261NaN1 (14 Dec 1991)
Western Sydney (Prospect Reservoir)	161.21NaN1 (31 Jan 2001)	1651NaN1 (10 Feb 2020)	153.91NaN1 (20 Mar 1892)	163.11NaN1 (16 Apr 1946)	314.21NaN1 (28 May 1889)	163.41NaN1 (11 Jun 1991)	143.51NaN1 (10 Jul 1904)	3211NaN1 (6 Aug 1986)	96.51NaN1 (2 Sep 1970)	102.11NaN1 (5 Oct 1916)	126.21NaN1 (14 Nov 1969)	154.91NaN1 (13 Dec 1910)

Lowest monthly rainfall (Sydney CBD)^[151]

Period	Record rainfall	Year
Year	583mm	1888
January	5.6mm	1985
February	3mm	1939
March	8.4mm	1965
April	1.4mm	1868
May	3mm	2008
June	4.1mm	1962
July	1.8mm	1970
August	0mm	1995
September	0.2mm	2017
October	0.6mm	1988
November	1.9mm	1915
December	1.6mm	2019

Highest monthly rainfall (Sydney CBD)^[151]

Period	Record rainfall	Year
Year	2530mm	2022
January	387.1mm	1911
February	630.6mm	1990
March	554mm	2022
April	622.1mm	1861
May	585mm	1919
June	642.7mm	1950
July	404mm	2022^[152]
August	482.6mm	1998
September	355.8mm	1879
October	295.4mm	2022^[153]
November	517.2mm	1961
December	401.9mm	1920

Lowest monthly rainfall (Prospect Reservoir)^[154]

Period	Record rainfall	Year
Year	394.6mm	1944
January	3.9mm	1929
February	2.8mm	1902
March	5.1mm	1940
April	2mm	1997
May	1.2mm	2018
June	1mm	2001
July	0mm	1977
August	0mm	1995
September	0mm	1957
October	0mm	1988
November	0.8mm	1915
December	0mm	2019

Highest monthly rainfall (Prospect Reservoir)^[154]

Period	Record rainfall	Year
Year	1900mm	1950
January	426.7mm	1951
February	519.1mm	1956
March	380.7mm	1890
April	425mm	2015
May	556mm	1889
June	531.3mm	1950
July	323.7mm	1904
August	458.5mm	1986
September	186.3mm	1892
October	269mm	1916
November	391.3mm	1961
December	338.1mm	1920

Notes and References

Web site: Tropical cyclones could return to Sydney — and it's not because of climate change. 23 November 2022. www.abc.net.au.
News: Forecasters warn of potentially 'life-threatening flash-flooding' in Sydney. 29 May 2020.
https://www.smh.com.au/environment/weather/la-nina-a-nightmare-for-tourists-and-weather-forecasters-alike-20220119-p59pdo.html Turbulent La Nina season makes it even harder to predict the weather
Web site: Nicholls. Neville. Fires and floods: Australia already seesaws between climate extremes – and there's more to come . The Guardian . 2020-02-10 . 2020-05-29.
https://www.news.com.au/technology/environment/climate-change/heat-dome-surrounding-australian-cbds-leave-suburbs-to-scorch/news-story/3a1e3e464db9f34229ac3539bea19cd7 ‘Heat dome’ surrounding Australian CBDs leave suburbs to scorch
Web site: THE HEAT WAVE. HIGH SHADE TEMPERATURES. BURNING OUT THE OLD YEAR. A READING OF 114 DEG. RAIN STORM IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA.. Advertiser. 2 January 1905. Trove. 28 January 2024.
Web site: DEATH FROM HEAT EXHAUSTION. WEST WYALONG, Monday.. Sydney Morning Herald. 29 December 1896. Trove. 28 January 2024.
Web site: HIKER'S DEATH FROM HEAT STROKE SYDNEY. Trove. 28 January 2024.
News: Sydney heatwave: Is it hot enough for you?. 10 October 2013. The Sydney Morning Herald. 23 January 2014. 17 January 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140117045825/http://www.smh.com.au/comment/sydney-heatwave-is-it-hot-enough-for-you-20131010-2va5m.html. live.
Web site: HEAT WAVE IN SYDNEY TEMPERATURE REACHES 106.2 DEGREES HOTTEST SINCE 1896. Daily Advertiser. 10 January 1929. Trove. 27 January 2024.
Web site: HOTTEST AUGUST DAY IN SYDNEY ONE DEAD, OTHERS COLLAPSE SYDNEY. Cairns Post. 25 August 1954. Trove. 27 January 2024.
Web site: Climate Statistics for Australian Locations: Parramatta North (Masons Drive). Bureau of Meteorology. 9 November 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231109185923/http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_066124_All.shtml. 9 November 2023. 21 July 2024.
Web site: Sydney Weather in 2010. www.extremeweatherwatch.com.
https://www.smh.com.au/environment/weather/sydney-records-third-warmest-august-day-on-record-20120823-24ns5.html Sydney records third warmest August day on record
Web site: Special Climate Statement 43 – extreme heat in January 2013. Bureau of Meteorology. 2 February 2013. 1 February 2013. 23 September 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150923232139/http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/current/statements/scs43e.pdf. live.
Web site: Sydney in July 2013: Warmest July on record. WeatherZone. 27 January 2024.
Web site: Climate Council reports warmest September on record. Bridie. Smith. 3 October 2013. The Sydney Morning Herald. 27 March 2022. 27 March 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220327081258/https://www.smh.com.au/technology/climate-council-reports-warmest-september-on-record-20131003-2uv76.html. live.
Web site: September's average temperature for Sydney beats 33-year-old record . 25 October 2013 . 29 September 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130929083407/http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/september8217s-average-temperature-for-sydney-beats-33yearold-record/story-fni0cx12-1226729064074 . dead .
Web site: October blew away heat records for any month of any year: Bureau of Meteorology. Peter. Hannam. 2 November 2015. The Sydney Morning Herald. 27 March 2022. 27 March 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220327081259/https://www.smh.com.au/environment/weather/october-blew-away-heat-records-for-any-month-of-any-year-bureau-of-meteorology-20151102-gkoo51.html. live.
Web site: Sydney in summer 2016-17: Warmest summer on record. Bureau of Meteorology . 27 January 2024.
News: Sydney clocks the hottest place on Earth as hot weather continues. McInnes. William. 8 January 2018. The Sydney Morning Herald. 8 January 2018. en-US. 8 January 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180108091938/http://www.smh.com.au/environment/weather/sydney-clocks-the-hottest-place-on-earth-as-hot-weather-continues-20180107-h0etl6.html. live.
News: Sydney has its hottest April day on record and the endless summer looks set to continue. Kennedy. Jean. 8 January 2018. ABC News. 10 April 2018. en-US. 10 April 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180410004023/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-04-09/sydney-records-hottest-april-day-ever/9634696. live.
News: Penrith Sets New December Temperature Record. Dodds. Troy. 31 December 2019. Western Weekender. 21 July 2024.
Web site: 'Hottest place on the planet': Penrith in Sydney's west approaches 50 degrees . Janek Drevikovsky . Sally Rawsthorne . 2020-01-04. The Sydney Morning Herald. en. 2023-09-13. 25 January 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200125064216/https://www.smh.com.au/environment/weather/hottest-place-on-the-planet-penrith-in-sydney-s-west-tops-48-degrees-20200104-p53osu.html. live.
https://www.news.com.au/technology/environment/climate-change/new-data-shows-sydney-suburbs-reached-temperatures-over-50c-last-summer/news-story/9cdf03b09e60ee6b8f2d902b93c75595 New data shows Sydney suburbs reached temperatures over 50C last summer
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/the-sydney-suburbs-that-hit-50c-last-summer-20201002-p561by.html The Sydney suburbs that hit 50C last summer
Web site: Western Sydney to join the State's best swimming destinations. Department of Planning and Environment. 26 November 2023. 12 March 2024.
Web site: Sydney's Penrith the hottest place on Earth amid devastating bushfires. SBS News. 4 January 2020. 12 March 2024.
https://www.9news.com.au/national/record-cold-weather-for-may-in-sydney-as-southeast-australia-continues-to-shiver/69ced3d8-2087-41c8-9f70-0d7babcac7a3 Sydney records coldest stretch of May days in 54 years
https://www.9news.com.au/national/australia-national-weather-forecast-snow-heavy-rain-lashes-south-east/d7f66843-f996-44f0-a147-afcb62a1139f Sydney records coldest day in 37 years
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/sydney-set-for-coldest-day-in-25-years-while-orange-blanketed-in-snow-20210610-p57zq8.html Sydney shivers through coldest day since 1984 as snow blankets NSW
https://www.weatherzone.com.au/news/sydneys-record-15-day-spell-of-20-degree-winter-days/534824 Sydney's record 15-day spell of 20 degree winter days
https://www.skynews.com.au/australia-news/sydney-on-track-to-smash-weather-records-for-september-as-remarkable-hot-spell-continues-across-parts-of-nsw/news-story/162d846066e032beaf1cd8f16a2dcc45 Sydney on track to smash weather records for September as 'remarkable' hot spell continues across parts of NSW
Web site: Australia heatwave: Sydney sees hottest September day on record. News.com.au. 27 January 2024.
Web site: Sydney temperature records smashed for the start of October. October 2023. Sydney Morning Herald. 27 January 2024.
Web site: Sydney's hottest first fortnight of summer on record. WeatherZone. 27 January 2024.
Web site: Sydney swelters through day of extreme heat before southerly brings relief. amp.smh.com.au.
Web site: Sydney sweats through muggiest day on record. 11 January 2024. Sydney Morning Herald. 26 January 2024.
Bushfire threatens homes in Turramurra; The Sydney Morning Herald; 29 December 1993
http://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/about-us/history NSW Rural Fire Service: Our History
https://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/about-us/our-districts/mia/photovideo-gallery/2014-photovideo-gallery/twenty-years-on-since-the-1994-fires-seven-news-flashback Twenty years on since the 1994 fires - Seven News Flashback
Mr N. P. Cheney, CSIRO Division of Forestry; BUSHFIRES - AN INTEGRAL PART OF AUSTRALIA'S ENVIRONMENT; The Year Book of Australia 1995; www.abs.gov.au; online 25 Jan 2020
http://www.australianweathernews.com/news/2002/10/20021023.htm Worst dust storm in decades sweeps across four states
News: Sydney turns red: dust storm blankets city . The Sydney Morning Herald . Arjun . Ramachandran . 23 September 2009 . 20 January 2014 . 26 January 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140126151355/http://www.smh.com.au/environment/weather/sydney-turns-red-dust-storm-blankets-city-20090923-g0so.html . live .
News: Brisbane on alert as dust storms sweep east. ABC News. 23 September 2009. www.abc.net.au. 27 March 2022. 8 August 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220808153308/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2009-09-23/brisbane-on-alert-as-dust-storms-sweep-east/1439484. live.
Web site: Sydney in Autumn 2010 . Bom.gov.au . 1 June 2010 . 5 January 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100105041539/http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/current/season/nsw/sydney.shtml . live .
Web site: Third warmest winter on record for Sydney . Bom.gov.au . 27 August 1995 . 1 June 2010 . 20 May 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100520043831/http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/current/season/nsw/archive/200908.sydney.shtml . live .
Web site: Sydney in January 2011: Warm start to 2011. 2 March 2011. 29 June 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110629171829/http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/current/month/nsw/archive/201101.sydney.shtml. live.
Web site: NSW in September 2013: Warmest September on record. Monthly Climate Summary for New South Wales. Bureau of Meteorology. 14 October 2013. 20 October 2013.
Web site: Sydney in summer 2013-14: Driest summer since 1986-87. ABC News. 27 January 2024.
Web site: Sydney in midst of driest summer for more than 70 years. The Sydney Morning Herald. 3 February 2014. 28 January 2015. 9 June 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140609035503/http://www.smh.com.au/environment/weather/sydney-in-midst-of-driest-summer-for-more-than-70-years-20140203-31w82.html. live.
Web site: Sydney Morning Herald. 2017. 2017 brought another year of weather extremes as drought and heat took its toll. 2 January 2018. 3 January 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180103064330/http://www.smh.com.au/environment/weather/2017-brought-another-year-of-weather-extremes-as-drought-and-heat-took-its-toll-20171228-h0atea.html. live.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-11-22/dust-storm-on-way-to-sydney-prompts-health-warning/10520448 Dust storm hits Sydney, NSW Government issues air quality warning
https://www.news.com.au/national/nsw-act/worst-drought-in-more-than-100-years-now-on-sydneys-doorstep/news-story/7da02868172654cd5df0f059adf2b147 Worst drought in more than 100 years now on Sydney’s doorstep
Web site: Sydney smoke haze reaches 11 times the hazardous level. 1 Jan 2020. 1 January 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200101102625/https://www.news.com.au/national/sydney-smoke-haze-reaches-11-times-the-hazardous-level/video/1d45b28f8c2459ee9ecfb9fee65fbbfe. live.
News: Sydney smoke: bushfires haze smothers landmarks – in pictures . The Guardian . 10 December 2019 . 1 Jan 2020 . Hromas . Jessica . 1 January 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200101050649/https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/gallery/2019/dec/10/sydneys-top-landmarks-smothered-in-smoke-in-pictures . live .
Web site: Bushfire smoke makes Sydney air quality worse than Delhi. 1 Jan 2020. 28 March 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220328114042/https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/temperature-inversion-traps-smoke-in-sydney/news-story/b6d804cc21eaaaf9b88ec6a448285be8. live.
Web site: Sydney fire haze equal to 'smoking 32 cigarettes'. 1 Jan 2020. 31 December 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191231145659/https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/health/health-problems/sydney-fire-haze-equal-to-smoking-32-cigarettes/news-story/7ab680a39edd6d87ae76e35894f949f6. live.
Web site: 'There's clearly a warming trend. You can't not see it': Our year of wild weather. The Sydney Morning Herald. 2 January 2020. 2 January 2020. 2 January 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200102012019/https://www.smh.com.au/environment/weather/there-s-definitely-a-warming-trend-you-can-t-not-see-it-our-year-of-wild-weather-20191230-p53nld.html. live.
https://www.weatherzone.com.au/news/sydneys-driest-june-since-1986-amid-record-wet-start-to-year/661854 Sydney's driest June since 1986 amid record wet start to year
Web site: Sydney records driest start to winter in 85 years. 14 July 2023. Nine News. 27 January 2024.
News: Sydney smoke: air quality among worst in world due to hazard-reduction burns. The Guardian . 14 September 2023. 27 January 2024. Touma. Rafqa. Rachwani. Mostafa.
News: Sydney blanketed by haze as strong winds carry smoke from Duck Creek, Pilliga Forest bushfire. ABC News. 19 December 2023. 27 January 2024.
https://arthurphillipchapter.weebly.com/weather-secrets.html WEATHER SECRETS OF THE FIRST FLEET VOYAGE
Web site: Evershed . Nick . MULTIMEDIA: Tornadoes in Australia . The Courier . 2013-03-26 . 2014-01-22.
https://climatehistory.com.au/2012/09/27/la-nina-brings-flooding-rains-to-nsw-in-the-early-1860s/ La Niña brings flooding rains to NSW in the early 1860s
http://home.dictionaryofsydney.org/sydneys-wild-weather/ Sydney’s wild weather
https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/penrith-press/deadly-flood-remembered/news-story/2caddaf39ec64f01e9c2044bd0c3b1ad Sydney’s most devastating flood, the Great Flood of 1867, remembered
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/13724597 HEAVY FLOODS IN THE SUBURBS. INTERRUPTION TO RAILWAY AND TELE-GRAPHIC COMMUNICATION. FATALITY AT COOK'S RIVER. DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY.
Web site: Climate statistics for Prospect Reservoir . Bureau of Meteorology . 14 April 2020.
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/62550287 Flood in Sydney
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/15499442 PARRAMATTA FLOODED. BUILDINGS DESTROYED. MANY EXCITING EXPERIENCES.
https://www.aer.gov.au/system/files/Attachment%203%20-%20Bureau%20of%20Meteorology%20-%20A%20history%20of%20stormy%20weather.pdf Stormy weather - A century of storms, fire, flood and drought in New South Wales
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/1593063 THE FLOODS. SYDNEY- DOWNPOUR. Remarkable Rain Records.
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/83899166 SYDNEY LASHED BY STORM
News: ICE STORM LASHES CITY AND SUBURBS . . 34,018 . New South Wales, Australia . 2 January 1947 . 11 September 2016 . 1 . National Library of Australia.
News: SCENES OF DEVASTATION AFTER FREAK HAIL HIT CITY . . 34,018 . New South Wales, Australia . 2 January 1947 . 11 September 2016 . 1 . National Library of Australia.
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/63067446 SYDNEY HAS WORST FLOOD IN HISTORY
Web site: Australian East Coast Storm 2007: Impact of East Coast Lows. Guy Carpenter. 7 April 2013. October 2007.
Hopkins. Linda C.. Holland, Greg J.. Australian Heavy-Rain Days and Associated East Coast Cyclones: 1958–92. Journal of Climate. 1997. 10. 4. 621–635. 10.1175/1520-0442(1997)010<0621:AHRDAA>2.0.CO;2. 1997JCli...10..621H . free.
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/229780443 DEATH. FLOOD DAMAGE AND DELAYS IN SYDNEY STORM|TWO LANDSLIDES BLOCK. MAIN NORTHERN RAILWAY
https://westernweekender.com.au/2021/03/flashback-penriths-disastrous-1961-flood/ Flashback: Penrith’s disastrous 1961 flood
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/100982945 Floods Engulf Nepean Valley
https://web.archive.org/web/20220715231046/https://nsw-coastal-explorer.domorewithmaps.com/documents/THE%20MARCH%201978%20FLOOD%20ON%20THE%20HAWKESBURY%20AND%20NEPEAN%20RIVER%20BETWEEN%20PENRITH%20AND%20PITT%20TOWN%20-%20SJ%20RILEY%20-%20SCHOOL%20OF%20EARTH%20SCIENCES.pdf The March, 1978 flood on theHawkesbury and Nepean Riverbetween Penrith and Pitt Town
Web site: Bureau - Severe Storm events - 1980/1989. https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20120310130900/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/55864/20120311-0009/www.bom.gov.au/nsw/sevwx/8089summ.shtml. dead. 10 March 2012. webarchive.nla.gov.au. 24 May 2019.
https://knowledge.aidr.org.au/resources/flood-sydney-1984/ Sydney, New South Wales, November 1984 Flood - Sydney
https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20090317054300/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/96122/20090317-1643/www.bom.gov.au/lam/climate/levelthree/c20thc/cyclone8.html Rain in Sydney, 1986
http://web.science.unsw.edu.au/~mss/index_files/speeretal_published.pdf Low pressure systems off the New South Wales coast and associated hazardous weather: establishment of a database
https://www.ses.nsw.gov.au/media/2542/the_response_to_the_mother_of_all_storms.pdf The response to the ‘mother of all storms’: a combat agency view
http://australiasevereweather.com/storm_news/1996/docs/9608-01.htm East Coast Low: Saturday 31 August 1996
https://www.sydneyswans.com.au/news/561900/wet-weather-flashback-round-22-1996 Wet-weather flashback: Round 22, 1996
Web site: When were most recent major East Coast Lows?. Bureau of Meteorology. 6 April 2013.
Web site: The Sydney Hailstorm - 14 April 1999 . Bureau of Meteorology. 5 October 2006.
Web site: Summary of Significant Severe Thunderstorm Events in NSW - 2007/08 . Bureau of Meteorology . 2011 . 27 September 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110604130436/http://www.bom.gov.au/nsw/sevwx/0708summ.shtml . 4 June 2011 .
Web site: Sydney has wettest June for 57 years.
Web site: Storm drenches Sydney . UPI.com . 12 February 2010. 1 June 2010.
News: Sydney dries out but regional threatened . News.smh.com.au . 12 February 2010 . 1 June 2010.
Web site: Weather News - Wild storms lash Sydney . Weatherzone.com.au . 13 February 2010. 1 June 2010.
News: Rain swamps Sydney's water catchments . Smh.com.au . 7 February 2010. 1 June 2010.
Web site: Huffer . Julie . Heaviest rain in almost 20 years - Environment . Hornsby-advocate.whereilive.com.au . 10 February 2010. 1 June 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20130120043112/http://hornsby-advocate.whereilive.com.au/news/story/heaviest-rain-in-almost-20-years/ . 20 January 2013.
Web site: Sydney records its wettest July in 50 years as parts of NSW are declared disaster zones.
Web site: Hornsby hit by mini tornado which sounded like a freight train and ripped the roof of the Myer building.
Web site: Clean-up after tornado strikes in Sydney's north. 19 November 2013. www.abc.net.au.
News: Hornsby was hit by a tornado, Bureau of Meteorology confirms. Sydney Morning Herald .
Web site: 'Once every 100 years': what made the Sydney storm so ferocious . . 15 October 2014.
Web site: Sydney weather: It's not a cyclone but it sure felt like one. Peter. Hannam. 21 April 2015. The Sydney Morning Herald.
Web site: Three killed, homes washed away as 'cyclonic' low batters NSW. 20 April 2015. www.abc.net.au.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-12-16/tornado-hail-destructive-winds-hit-sydney/7032370?nw=0 Sydney tornado: Clean-up underway in Kurnell after 'unprecedented' storm delivers 213kph winds
https://www.smh.com.au/environment/rainy-records-broken-across-sydney-20160605-gpc04n.html Rain records broken across Sydney
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-11-28/sydney-weather-and-queensland-bushfires-linked/10561792 Sydney weather and Queensland bushfire extremes have a common thread
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/heavy-rain-and-storms-hit-sydney-causing-commuter-chaos-20181127-p50irv.html Two dead as heavy rain and storms cause commuter chaos in Sydney
https://www.news.com.au/technology/environment/wild-wetnesday-torrential-rain-expected-to-lash-sydney-and-surrounds/news-story/1385a57d99fde7796d39324aa1d40b5b Wild Wednesday: SES volunteer dies as torrential rain lashes Sydney and surrounds
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-01-09/sydney-hit-by-fierce-lightning-storm-but-hot-weather-to-return/9313516 Sydney hit by fierce lightning storm but hot weather forecast to return to the city's west
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-02-08/sydney-lashed-by-severe-thunderstorms/10795654 Sydney lashed by severe thunderstorms, power outages, flooding
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/nsw-and-qld-warned-of-lifethreatening-flash-floods/news-story/12c48458453ce5ee00b0c4aa2260ad4f Rain: Warragamba Dam gets huge boost as chaos reigns in wake of weekend deluge in NSW, Queensland
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-51439175 Sydney rains: Record rainfall brings flooding but puts out mega-blaze
https://10daily.com.au/news/australia/a200208dnzwj/nsw-copping-heaviest-rain-since-1990s-and-its-not-stopping-anytime-soon-20200208 Thousands Without Power As NSW Cops Heaviest Rain In Two Decades
https://7news.com.au/weather/nsw-weather-state-battered-by-rain-as-power-outages-and-flood-warnings-ensue-c-688433 Sydney weather: Monday, long term forecast, and current storm update
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/sydney-weather-man-killed-trees-felled-power-cut-as-storm-wreaks-havoc-across-nsw/news-story/5f7d0fcd45953c49869a856c3e72786b Sydney weather: Man killed, trees felled, power cut as storm wreaks havoc across NSW
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-02-19/severe-thunderstorm-hits-sydney-as-wind-gusts-hammer-nsw/11978818 Sydney thunderstorm lights up the night sky as lightning, wind gusts and hail hit NSW
https://www.9news.com.au/national/sydney-fatal-car-crash-mona-vale-road-terrey-hills-major-traffic-delays-flooding-nsw/68c67437-3fea-4c3b-8963-406e0a3a98d8 Man dies in crash on Sydney's Northern Beaches
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-03-20/sydney-weather-live-bom-warns-flooding-likely-for-nsw/100018434 NSW weather live: NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian warns of 'prolonged 'event
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-03-20/mini-tornado-rips-through-chester-hill-nsw-premier-says/100019350 NSW weather: mini-tornado damages homes in Chester Hill, says NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian
https://www.smh.com.au/national/parramatta-river-breaks-its-banks-flooding-powerhouse-museum-site-20210320-p57ci5.html Parramatta River breaks its banks, flooding Powerhouse Museum site
https://au.news.yahoo.com/mass-evacuations-rains-cause-record-012633356.html Record rains, flooding prompt evacuations in Australia
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-03-21/sydney-weather-live-bom-evacuation-warnings-flooding/100019438 Sydney weather live: Evacuation warnings across Western Sydney and Mid-North Coast as Warragamba Dam overflows
https://www.news.com.au/technology/environment/australia-weather-live-updates-nsw-qld-prepare-for-weekend-of-dangerous-storms/live-coverage/264d43588c549ab53802f7a93ca00d8a Australia weather live updates: 'Relentless' rain to continue into next week
Web site: 2021-12-20. Microbursts: what causes the deadly, high-speed weather events?. 2021-12-21. The Guardian. en.
Web site: Brickwood. Pallavi Singhal, James. 2021-12-19. One dead and multiple injured after tree collapse in northern beaches. 2021-12-21. The Sydney Morning Herald. en.
Web site: Thousands without power on Sydney's Northern Beaches after deadly storm. live. https://archive.today/20211221142710/https://amp.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/northern-beaches-storm-kills-one-causes-damage-and-injures-two-others/news-story/1b6f0db8d8aa4ccc197c45311a26ac51. 2021-12-21. 2021-12-21. The Daily Telegraph. en-AU.
Web site: Chung. Josh Dye, Laura. 2021-12-20. 'Freak accident': Yoga teacher killed after Christmas party. 2021-12-21. The Sydney Morning Herald. en.
News: 2021-12-20. Son says mother who was killed in Sydney storm will be 'sorely missed'. en-AU. ABC News. 2021-12-21.
https://www.9news.com.au/national/nsw-weather-sydney-road-swept-away-in-flash-flood-as-state-braces-for-more-wet-weather/63a9549e-8f58-4e73-b9c2-57d30e2bbfbe Hundreds of Sydney storm damage clean-up jobs underway after torrential rain
https://www.9news.com.au/wild-weather/weather-update-sydney-rain-smashes-summer-records-as-cleanup-from-deluge-continues/140583d2-0ea5-4fc9-a103-c9f5849da917 Sydney rain smashes summer records as cleanup from deluge continues
Web site: 3 March 2022 . Sydney weather warning cancelled as rain moves towards the Hunter. 3 March 2022 . ABC News.
Web site: 8 March 2022 . Woman found dead in Sydney's west as flood warnings force residents to evacuate. 8 March 2022 . Sydney Morning Herald .
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/dangerous-winds-to-lash-sydney-but-respite-from-rain-is-imminent-20220308-p5a2tr.html Dangerous winds to lash Sydney but respite from rain is imminent
https://www.weatherzone.com.au/news/wettest-march-on-record-rewrites-sydneys-climatology/536819 Wettest March on record rewrites Sydney's climatology
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-04-07/sydney-heavy-rain-sparks-evacuation-orders-/100972414 Evacuation orders issued, homes isolated in Sydney as torrential rain causes flash flooding
https://www.9news.com.au/national/nsw-weather-updates-man-dead-floodwaters-cobbity-southwest-sydney/3d65e33c-0596-482f-841e-4138871dc569 'We're still in disbelief': Popular dog breeder Tony Ikin killed in Sydney floodwaters
News: Australia floods: 50,000 on evacuation alert after deluge hits Sydney. 5 July 2022 . BBC News. 5 July 2022 .
News: More rain expected as Sydney deals with major flooding. 5 July 2022 . One News. 5 July 2022 .
Web site: ((404 mm breaks July rainfall record in Sydney)). Sydney Morning Herald. 1 August 2022. 1 August 2022. 1 August 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220801021843/https://www.weatherzone.com.au/news/404-mm-breaks-july-rainfall-record-in-sydney/723435. live.
https://au.news.yahoo.com/wild-scenes-as-ferocious-sydney-storm-rips-apart-sailboat-002259744.html Wild scenes as ferocious Sydney storm rips apart sailboat
News: Music festival evacuated as wild storm sweeps through Sydney. 2023-12-02 . www.smh.com.au.
News: Music festival evacuated as wild storm sweeps through Sydney. 2023-02-20 . . www.SBS.com.au.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-04-06/nsw-saturday-weather-sydney-rain-flood-warnings/103675980 Evacuation and extreme weather warnings issued after heavy rain falls across parts of Sydney and the Illawarra
http://www.bom.gov.au/jsp/ncc/cdio/weatherData/av?p_nccObsCode=36&p_display_type=dataFile&p_startYear=&p_c=&p_stn_num=066062 Monthly mean maximum temperature for Sydney (Observatory Hill)
http://www.bom.gov.au/jsp/ncc/cdio/weatherData/av?p_nccObsCode=36&p_display_type=dataFile&p_startYear=&p_c=&p_stn_num=066137 Monthly mean maximum temperature for Bankstown Airport AWS
http://www.bom.gov.au/jsp/ncc/cdio/weatherData/av?p_nccObsCode=36&p_display_type=dataFile&p_startYear=&p_c=&p_stn_num=067113 Monthly mean maximum temperature for Penrith Lakes AWS
http://www.bom.gov.au/jsp/ncc/cdio/weatherData/av?p_nccObsCode=36&p_display_type=dataFile&p_startYear=&p_c=&p_stn_num=067019 Monthly mean maximum temperature for Prospect Reservoir
Web site: Sydney (Observatory Hill) Period 1991-2020 . Bureau of Meteorology . 14 April 2020 . 9 February 2020 . 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 . live.
Web site: Greater Sydney in July 2022: wettest on record. Bureau of Meteorology. 15 August 2022. 20 March 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210320171420/http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/current/month/nsw/sydney.shtml. live.
Web site: Greater Sydney in October 2022: Very wet; cooler than average days and warmer than average nights. Bureau of Meteorology. 6 November 2022. 6 November 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221106171817/http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/current/month/nsw/archive/202210.sydney.shtml. live.
Web site: Climate statistics for Prospect Reservoir. Bureau of Meteorology. 8 August 2020. 14 November 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211114074133/http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_067019_All.shtml. live.