NSW weather: Sydney, coastal regions had hottest year on record in 2016, BOM says

Updated

Sydney and large parts of the New South Wales coast sweltered through the hottest year on record as extreme weather events left their mark on the state in 2016.

Key points: The year saw a warm start and finish, but spring was the coolest since 1993

2016 was Sydney's warmest year on record

Annual rainfall was 17 per cent above average in Australia

In the state capital, every month had maximum temperatures at least 1 degree Celsius above average.

The data is part of the Bureau of Meteorology's Annual Climate Statement, released today.

Most of NSW's coastal areas — including a strip from the areas around Newcastle to the Victorian border — also had their hottest year on record.

All parts of the state recorded above average temperatures in 2016.

According to the report, Sydney recorded its most days above 25C on record.

Extreme events leave their mark

As well as the heat, 2016 will be remembered for extreme weather events in NSW.

A dry period from February to April in the state was followed by the wettest May through to September on record, with major and persistent flooding in inland regions.

In Forbes, at least 100 properties were affected when the Lachlan River peaked at 10.67 metres in September.

Wild weather left a trail of destruction from June 4 to 6, with major coastal flooding and erosion at Collaroy on Sydney's northern beaches.

Annual rainfall was 17 per cent above average in Australia.

The bureau's assistant director of climate information services, Neil Plummer, described the year as "eventful".

"Widespread, drought-breaking rains led to flooding in multiple states. Even northern Australia saw widespread rainfall during what is usually the dry season, greening regions that had been in drought for several years," he said.

Despite a drier-than-normal year in north-east NSW, the state recorded higher than average rainfall overall.

The World Meteorological Organisation has announced 2016 is likely to have been the warmest year on record for global mean temperatures.

Topics: weather, disasters-and-accidents, floods, sydney-2000

First posted