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Warm Sydney weather set to continue into May before possible cold snap and heavy rains

SOME parts of Sydney are expecting temperatures close to 30 degrees well into next week with cooler Autumn temperatures nowhere in sight.

A spectacular sunrise over Sydney Harbour seen from Barangaroo this morning. Picture: John Grainger
A spectacular sunrise over Sydney Harbour seen from Barangaroo this morning. Picture: John Grainger

SOME parts of Sydney are expecting temperatures close to 30 degrees well into next week with cooler Autumn temperatures nowhere in sight

Penrith can look forward to a top of 29 tomorrow, followed by 28 on Saturday and 27 on Sunday. While there will be a little dip on Monday when the mercury drops to 25, it’s back up to 28 and 29 on Tuesday and Wednesday.

It will be a little milder closer to the city, but still well above average and only dropping below 25 on Monday.

At least the leaves are turning brown. A man walks his dog through colourful Byng St. Picture: Braden Fastier
At least the leaves are turning brown. A man walks his dog through colourful Byng St. Picture: Braden Fastier
But then you would expect the trees in Orange to make an effort. Picture: Braden Fastier
But then you would expect the trees in Orange to make an effort. Picture: Braden Fastier

Autumn temperatures have pretty much failed to materialise so far this year with averages for March and April significantly higher than their long-term averages.

The average temperature for March was 26.8, two degrees above the long-term average of 24.8 and so far in April the average has been 24.8, 2.4 degrees higher than the long-term average.

Just three days in April saw the maximum temperature fall below the long-term average of 22.4 degrees.

And things aren’t looking to cool down much as we move into May with the first few days expected to be in the mid to late 20s in the city and up to 30 in the west.

Another warmer-than-average day dawns over Sydney Harbour.
Another warmer-than-average day dawns over Sydney Harbour.

That is significantly higher than the long-term average of 19.5 for the month.

“We’ve had a persistent high over the Tasman for quite a few days now and it’s not going to move away any time soon and continues to drag warmer air from the north,” Bureau of Meteorology senior forecaster Neale Fraser told The Daily Telegraph.

“We’ve got a rain band coming through ahead of a front but the front itself is not very strong so there won’t be much of an air mass change.”

But don’t get too used to life in the new tropics, with a good chance that temperatures will plummet and the clouds will roll in filled with heavy rain towards the end of winter.

Moana Elliot, 4, and mum Karuna swimming at Bronte Beach yesterday / Picture: Tim Hunter
Moana Elliot, 4, and mum Karuna swimming at Bronte Beach yesterday / Picture: Tim Hunter

The higher temperatures are a result of El Niño which brings hot, dry conditions to the country, but that system is currently breaking down and could make way for the opposite - La Nina.

Based on international models, there is a 50 per cent chance of La Niña forming and with that often comes the depressing combination of lower than average temperatures and higher than usual rainfall.

“La Niña is often, but not always, associated with above-average winter-spring rainfall over northern, central and eastern Australia,” the Bureau of Meteorology warned.

Moana Elliot, 4, and mum Karuna swimming at Bronte Beach yesterday / Picture: Tim Hunter
Moana Elliot, 4, and mum Karuna swimming at Bronte Beach yesterday / Picture: Tim Hunter

Significant rainfall in the second half of the year is also being influenced by record warm temperatures in the Indian Ocean.

“The warmth in the Indian Ocean will likely provide extra moisture for rain systems as they cross Australia during the southern autumn,” the Bureau’s statement read.

So keep the thongs and swimmers at the ready for the next week or so, but make sure your woollies (and umbrella) aren’t too far from reach.

Originally published as Warm Sydney weather set to continue into May before possible cold snap and heavy rains

Read related topics:SydneyWeather

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Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/national/nsw-act/warm-sydney-weather-set-to-continue-into-may-before-possible-cold-snap-and-heavy-rains/news-story/d3bc5dcc938dd0ba1892aa44c944901a