New South Wales in July 2018: Fifth-driest July on record

Desdemona Despair

1 August 2018 (Bureau of Meteorology) – Rainfall was very much below average for most of New South Wales in July 2018, except in the northeast. Daytime temperatures were very much warmer than average, while night time temperatures were mostly cooler than average, including areas of coldest on record in parts of the northwest.

Much drier than average

• Fifth-driest July on record and driest since 2002 for New South Wales as a whole.
• Drier than average across all but the northeast which was generally close to average.
• Much of the State’s northwest had little or no rain for the month.
• Many sites had either their lowest total July rainfall on record or their lowest total July rainfall for at least 20 years.
• Fewer or weaker rain-bearing systems crossed New South Wales, with more high pressure systems influencing the State’s weather.
• July 2018 continued a run of seven consecutive months of below average rainfall for New South Wales as a whole.
• NSW had its driest January to July period since 1965.
• Longer term rainfall deficiencies in New South Wales increased in severity and spatial extent.
• The highest totals were observed in parts of the northeast and South West Slopes and Snowy Mountains where monthly totals exceeded 40 mm.
• In the Northern Tablelands, there was heavy rain early in the month with July totals there close to average; Point Lookout had its highest July daily rainfall on record and its highest total July rainfall on record.
• The highest recorded total for the month was 171.2 mm at Perisher Valley.
• July 2017 was also much drier than average in many parts of New South Wales.

Warm days, cool nights

• With the dry conditions, the mean maximum temperature for New South Wales was 2.23 °C warmer than average.
• For New South Wales as a whole, it was the fourth-warmest July on record.
• NSW had its warmest January to July period on record for daytime temperatures.
• On the 5th and 6th, numerous sites had their highest July temperature on record.
• Many sites had either their highest July mean daily maximum temperature on record or their highest July mean daily maximum temperature for at least 20 years.
• Clear nights and dry soils resulted in cooler than average nighttime temperatures.
• The mean minimum temperature for New South Wales was 0.24 °C cooler than average.
• On 15 July, minimum temperatures were more than 8 °C cooler than average in some areas, dropping below zero across most of the State and resulting in widespread frosts.
• On the 15th and 16th, several sites had their lowest July temperature on record.
• For New South Wales as a whole, the 15th was the State’s second-coldest night on record (the coldest was on 11 July 1958).
• On the 6th, Cooma Airport and Glen Innes had their warmest July night on record.
• Overall, some sites had either their lowest July mean daily minimum temperature on record or their lowest July mean daily minimum temperature for at least 20 years.

Strong winds at times, and snow

• Thredbo recorded the highest wind gusts of the month with a gust of 126 km/h on the 29th, followed by gusts of 120 km/h on the 5th, 6th, and 17th, all with cold fronts.
• Snow depths in alpine regions were slightly above the July average.

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New South Wales in July 2018: much drier than average with warm days and cool nights