May 2015 Review - Sydney

May in 2015 at Sydney Airport saw average temperatures a little closer to the long term figures when compared against the previous two years. They were still higher than average though. Rainfall was more than four times last year's figure, and the month was the wettest May of the past few years, but it still fell short of the average.

May averages since 2009 are shown below against the long term values.

May averages at Sydney Airport for the period 2009-2015 plus the long term average

Other than 2011, Sydney Airport hasn't seen an average minimum for May below the long term figure since 1984. 2006 was the prior year for an average maximum below the 20.0C average. The Bureau of Meteorology recorded average figures for May of 12.6C and 20.7C.

The highest temperature for May 2015 was 28.6C on the 5th. This was the hottest May day since 2007 and the seventh highest on record at the Airport. The warmest minimum was also unusually high. The May 3 recording of 19.0C, more typical of figures in March, was one of the highest on record as well. May 2 and 4, with minimums of 17.5C and 16.5C were also higher than the highest May minimum between 2009 and 2014 of 16.3C. 2012's figure was 14.3C, almost 5C less.

The lowest temperature of the month was 7.3C. That recording on May 14 was the coldest May temperature since 2011. Since 2009, only 2011 saw temperatures lower than that; there were four daily minimums below 7.3C then. The coldest day was the final day of the month. It only reached as high as 16.5C. This was, however, the second highest respective figure since 2009.

Daily minimums and maximums at Sydney Airport for May 2015

Rainfall totals for Sydney Airport were below average during the month. The calendar month saw 77.2mm while the Bureau recorded 85.8mm. The long term average is 98.6mm. 2014 saw far less with only 18.0mm. According to Bureau records, the 85.8mm total is the highest May total since 2011.

There were 13 days on which precipitation was recorded at the Airport. The wettest was May 2 when 27.2mm fell. The 1st and 22nd also recorded a daily figure above 15mm with respective totals of 17.2mm and 20.2mm. The longest dry streak was nine, from the 4th to the 12th, and is now the second longest dry streak of the year. May 19 to 23 all saw some precipitation, making it the longest run of rain days.

Wind gusts at the Airport were up during May this year comparing with 2013 and 2014. The strongest gust of the month came on the 22nd when a southerly at 87km/h was recorded. Earlier on May 13 there was a southwesterly at 69km/h recorded also. Both of these were higher figures than any gusts during the two previous Mays. May 18 was the calmest day when a strongest gust of only 22km/h was recorded. The south-southwesterly gust was the lowest strongest daily gust in exactly one year; May 18 in 2014 saw a strongest gust of 20km/h.