Sydney has received an entire year’s worth of rain in less than six months following yet another sodden weekend in the city, with more forecast in the days ahead.
Last week the New South Wales capital recorded 60mm of rain during the 48 hours ending at 9am on Sunday.
This latest downpour brought the city’s running monthly total up to 361mm, which is more than double the long-term monthly average and Sydney’s wettest June since 2007.
It’s also the city’s sixth wettest start to winter in records dating back to 1859.
Sydney’s exceptionally wet first half of this year was underpinned by frequent periods of easterly winds that drove moisture-laden air from the Tasman Sea towards NSW.
These onshore winds were more persistent than usual due to abnormally high pressure to the south and southeast of Australia, particularly in May and June.
The winds also carried more moisture than usual thanks to above-average sea surface temperatures over the Tasman Sea.
Aussies brave icy cold waters to mark the winter solstice
Sydney’s largely sunny conditions are forecast to continue this week, until a spell of wet weather on the weekend.
There is a 30 per cent chance of rain on Saturday, becoming 80 per cent on Sunday.
Looking ahead, warmer-than-average sea surface temperatures are predicted to persist in the Tasman Sea during the rest of winter.
While this doesn’t guarantee more abnormally wet weather, it does increase the potential for rain in the coming months.