March 2014 Review - Sydney

Sydney experienced a fairly warm March. As usual, temperatures were above the long term average. Of the past 6 editions of March, 2014 had the equal second highest average maximum. In addition to the warm temperatures, March also accounted for the lack of the rain in January and for most of February. It was the wettest month since November last year and fifth wettest March of the last 20 years.

The graph below shows the March averages at Sydney Airport during the last 6 years.

March averages at Sydney Airport for the period 2009-2014 plus the long term average

There were 3 days that topped 30C. The month's highest temperature of 30.8C came on March 18. That was the lowest such figure since 2008 when the highest March temperature was 30.2C. March 24 was responsible for the lowest daily maximum of 22.6C. This was unusually high. You have to go back to 1981 to find a higher figure. The lowest temperature of the month of 15.3C came on March 17 and the highest minimum of 21.8C was recorded on March 10.

Rain and storm activity for the month of March was high. The monthly total was more than the previous 3 months combined. A total of 151.4mm fell at Sydney Airport during the calendar month. The Bureau of Meteorology recorded 152.6mm; keeping in mind the recordings are made for the period 24 hours to 9am. It turned out to be the fifth wettest March since 1995. Elsewhere in Sydney, Observatory Hill recorded a much lower total of 102.6mm, while south of the city at Bellambi the monthly total was 290.4mm.

Daily rainfall totals during March 2014

The wettest day of the month at the Airport was the 24th, also the day with the lowest maximum, when a large storm hit the Sydney region and dumped 39.8mm. March 13 saw 32.0mm also. There were quite a few storms around throughout the month. Rain was recorded on a total of 21 days, including the first 6 and last 11 days.

The maximum daily wind gusts were down on last year's figures. A westerly gust at 72km/h recorded during the storm on the 24th was equal to last March's strongest gust, but the average of the maximum daily gusts was 5km/h less. In addition, there were 3 days with a maximum gust below 30km/h compared to none last year. March 28 saw a strongest gust of only 24km/h, the lowest such figure since July 13 last year.