Record dry and warm July for parts of NSW

The state as a whole just registered its lowest rainfall, its warmest daytime temperatures and its coldest nights for July in 15 years.

This follows on from a similar scenario last month, which was the state’s driest June in 15 years, warmest in nine years based on maximums and even the coldest in a decade for overnight minimums.

The past two months have been dominated by unusually strong high pressure systems over Australia.

This pattern limited the amount of cloud and rainfall across many parts of the country, including NSW, and hindered the strength and northward progression of seasonal cold fronts.

Most of the state received less than 20 per cent of the average July rainfall, with the exception of the far southern ranges.

Remarkably, the alps actually made up for a slow start to the snow season during July - receiving close to a metre of natural snow during the month - while the rest of the state missed out.

Places that experienced their driest July on record included Parkes (8.2 millimetres), Orange (11.2mm) and Mandurama (16mm).

At the same time, Mittagong (1.1mm), Dunedoo (0.8mm), Coonabarabran (0.5mm) and Gulgong (1.5mm) all registered their driest July in more than 40 years.

New high July maximum temperature records were set in Bathurst (13.8 degrees Celsius), Brewarrina (21.5C) , Trangie (18.3C), Williamtown (19C), and Tocal (18.9C).

The abundance of cold nights last month caused the towns of Bathurst (-1.9C), Bega (-0.1C), Bombala (-1.9C), Condobolin (0.5C) and Cooma (-4.5C) to all experience their low July average minimum temperature in more than 20 years.

Australia as a whole experienced its warmest July on record in terms of maximum temperatures and the driest July in a decade.

While minimum temperatures were below average in parts of southern and western Australia, the national average minimum was still one degree warmer than usual and the equal 13th warmest on record.

Looking back over the historical records, July was a dry and warm month for Australia as a whole.

In the absence of any strong influence from climate drivers in the Indian or Pacific Oceans in the near future, the end of winter and early spring will most likely continue the recent trend of above average temperatures and below average rainfall for most of the country, including NSW.