Unseasonal weather continues in Finland, storm activity throughout NSW

Those 3 cold weeks for Finland in January seem like a long time ago now. Since then unusually warm conditions have dominated. February last year was considered to be quite unusual with above average temperatures throughout the month, but the average minimum and maximum figures for February 2014 have been well above both the long term average and those of 2013.

The following graph compares the averages of the last 6 Februaries up to and including yesterday, February 18.

February averages at Jyväskylä Airport for the period 2009-2014 (as of February 18 2014)

So far this month there has only been 1 day below -10C, and that was coming off the back of the 3 week cold period on February 1. In addition to that, there have been 13 days above 0C already. That is compared to 2 for the whole month of February in both 2009 and 2010, 3 in 2011, 4 in 2012 and 5 in 2013. This month has also seen 2 daily minimums at or above zero. Not one daily minimum at or above zero was seen in the previous 5 Februaries.

Cloudy and wet conditions have been prominent in the past couple of weeks. The sun has disappeared and has been replaced with cloud full of snow and wet snow. Lake ice has thinned due to the warmer temperatures also.

The next couple of days, however, should see slightly cooler temperatures. Earlier this morning it already dropped below -3C for the first time since February 7 and just earlier at 7:30pm it was at -5.1C.

Storms and heavy rain swept through Sydney and surrounding regions this afternoon. A band of rain extended from as far south as Bateman's Bay to north of Newcastle. Sydney Airport saw a total of 23.2mm, which was almost as much as the 3 day total across last weekend. Observatory Hill saw exactly half that amount with only 11.6mm.

Like it was on the weekend, Gosford saw a higher total with 56.6mm. The Central Tablelands and Central West Slopes saw good falls as well. Bathurst Airport, for example, recorded 39.0mm while 28.6mm fell at Dubbo. The recording at Bathurst was highest daily fall since March 1 last year. The highest daily total for New South Wales was 99.0mm which was recorded in Newcastle at Nobby's Lighthouse.

Temperatures for Sydney just topped the predicted maximum of 29C today. Sydney Airport reached 29.3C. Tomorrow morning will be warm but a southerly change should cool things down in the afternoon as a weekend of cooler temperatures draws closer.