A spell of unusually dry and warm weather that gripped NSW during winter has spilled over into the start of spring.
The state experienced its driest September on record and the sixth warmest in terms of maximum temperatures.
A lack of cloud cover and rain-bearing systems last month lead to a statewide average maximum temperature that was more than two degrees above the long term average. It was also the sixth warmest September on record for NSW as a whole.
A notably hot day occurred on September 23, when the statewide average maximum temperature reached 35.8C, setting a new record for September.
Wilcannia Airport’s 40.5 degrees on the same day became the highest temperature ever recorded in NSW during September. This record was re-broken three days later when Wilcannia Post Office reached 41.4C.
Pockets of eastern, central and western NSW received no rainfall at all during September. The rain gauges at Griffith, Wilcannia, Menindee and Hay remained completely dry throughout the month.
The statewide average rainfall last month was close to 90pc below the long-term average for September. Last month was also the driest September on record for the Murray Darling Basin.
Locations that experienced the driest September on record and have more than 100 years of observational history included: Mundarlo (4mm), Barmedman (0.3mm), Berry (0.6mm), Moss Vale (2.8mm) and Drakes Forest (0.8mm).
While days were warm, clear skies at night caused near-to-below average minimum temperatures for many areas in NSW. Taralga (-6C) and Barraba (-5) both registered the lowest September temperature on record.
Rain and thunderstorms will become more active over NSW during the next week as a series of low pressure troughs move across the state. The best and most widespread falls are likely to occur between Sunday and Tuesday, with some areas expected to receive more than 50mm of rain during this time.
