Sydneysiders flock to the beach over rain-free weekend

Residents in a major capital city are flocking to the beach in just their thirteenth rain-free weekend this year.

Sydneysiders have taken advantage of a long-awaited weekend of sun following weeks of deluges, severe storms and unpleasant weather.

Beach-derived residents flocked to the water in droves on Saturday, with pleasant maximum temperatures of 26 degrees experienced throughout the day.

Coogee Beach in the city’s south east started to fill with people from early in the day, before being littered with beach towels, umbrellas and children‘s toys when the sunshine hit its peak.

A big crowd gathered at Coogee Beach in Sydney Picture: NCA NewsWire / Monique Harmer

Saturday and Sunday are shaping to be just the thirteenth weekend this year where Sydney hasn’t been soaked in rain.

The capital city has copped rainfall on 30 out of 42 weekends this year, according to data from Sydney’s Observation Hill weather station.

There is a 0 per cent chance of rain on Saturday, while the Bureau of Meteorology has forecast a sunny 13 to 23 degrees on Sunday and just a five per cent chance of falls.

Suzannah, Calum, Alexa (four) and Amelia (two) Katris took advantage of the nice weather. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Monique Harmer

But while the sky is expected to stay clear until Monday, the summer temperatures are unfortunately not expected to stick around for long .

A new storm front will move over inland NSW and southeast Queensland by Tuesday, leaving a cold snap in its wake that will drop temperatures to below 20 degrees for a number of days next week.

The overall outlook for spring and summer still looks grim with the country‘s third consecutive La Nina weather event continuing.

This increases the chance of above average rainfall for northern and eastern Australia, with the latest climate driver update from the bureau indicating La Nina will not stop until early 2023.

The wet start to spring is expected to continue for the rest of the season and heading into summer. Monash University Climate Change Communication Research Hub

A negative Indian Ocean Dipole, positive Southern Annular Mode and Madden-Julian Oscillation are also forecast to bring more rainfall to eastern parts of the country.

The negative Indian Ocean Dipole is likely to persist into late spring before rapidly decaying, while a positive Southern Annular Mode is likely through November into early summer.