Nelson Bay (Nelson Head) Weather Records (ASN00061054)

Record envelope, standing records and threshold days for Nelson Bay (Nelson Head) (ASN00061054), Australia, with 143 years of record.

Key Facts for Nelson Bay (Nelson Head)

Nelson Bay (Nelson Head) (ASN00061054) is a weather station in Australia at -32.71 latitude and 152.16 longitude, 25 m (82 ft) above sea level.
The station reports from 1881 to 2023, 143 years of record.
1,464 records set at Nelson Bay (Nelson Head) still stand.
Records are tracked for prcp: an element needs 30 years of data to be eligible.
Nelson Bay (Nelson Head) set a daily record precipitation of 35.4 mm (1.4 in) on 27 November 2021.

About the Station

Location: Australia, -32.71 latitude, 152.16 longitude.
Elevation: 25 m (82 ft).
Period of record: 1881 to 2023, 143 years.
Eligible elements: prcp.

Daily Record Envelope and 2026

0 days at or beyond a record

The band shows the record high and record low for each calendar day at Nelson Bay (Nelson Head). The lines show the 2026 daily maximum and minimum. 0 days in 2026 matched or passed a record. Temperatures are in degrees Celsius.

Daily record high and record low at Nelson Bay (Nelson Head), with 2026 drawn through them
Month	Highest record high	Lowest record low	2026 highest maximum	2026 lowest minimum
Jan	38.5 C (101.3 F)	10.0 C (50.0 F)	n/a	n/a
Feb	39.1 C (102.4 F)	11.9 C (53.4 F)	n/a	n/a
Mar	36.3 C (97.3 F)	11.5 C (52.7 F)	n/a	n/a
Apr	32.4 C (90.3 F)	9.0 C (48.2 F)	n/a	n/a
May	26.7 C (80.1 F)	5.6 C (42.1 F)	n/a	n/a
Jun	24.6 C (76.3 F)	4.4 C (39.9 F)	n/a	n/a
Jul	24.7 C (76.5 F)	2.2 C (36.0 F)	n/a	n/a
Aug	28.5 C (83.3 F)	1.1 C (34.0 F)	n/a	n/a
Sep	34.2 C (93.6 F)	5.0 C (41.0 F)	n/a	n/a
Oct	34.5 C (94.1 F)	6.1 C (43.0 F)	n/a	n/a
Nov	40.6 C (105.1 F)	6.7 C (44.1 F)	n/a	n/a
Dec	39.3 C (102.7 F)	9.0 C (48.2 F)	n/a	n/a

Which Years Hold Standing Records

1,464 standing records

1,464 records at Nelson Bay (Nelson Head) still stand. 1970 holds the most, with 88.

Standing records at Nelson Bay (Nelson Head) by the year they were set
Year set	Standing records
1968	40
1969	60
1970	88
1971	74
1972	48
2001	20
2002	47
2003	41
2004	53
2005	66
2006	58
2007	42
2008	50
2009	69
2010	51
2011	52
2012	40
2013	63
2014	48
2015	50
2016	51
2017	60
2018	56
2019	60
2020	30
2021	63
2022	41
2023	43

Wettest Day of Each Month

Feb: 257.8 mm (10.1 in)

The wettest day on record for each calendar month at Nelson Bay (Nelson Head). The most was 257.8 mm (10.1 in) on 9 February 1889.

Record daily precipitation for each month at Nelson Bay (Nelson Head)
Month	Record daily precipitation (mm)	Date
Jan	155.7 mm (6.1 in)	21 January 1971
Feb	257.8 mm (10.1 in)	9 February 1889
Mar	217.7 mm (8.6 in)	26 March 1946
Apr	168.0 mm (6.6 in)	21 April 2015
May	225.0 mm (8.9 in)	22 May 1949
Jun	148.1 mm (5.8 in)	17 June 1949
Jul	137.2 mm (5.4 in)	7 July 1885
Aug	130.0 mm (5.1 in)	2 August 1990
Sep	208.3 mm (8.2 in)	24 September 1892
Oct	74.9 mm (2.9 in)	12 October 1902
Nov	191.8 mm (7.6 in)	12 November 1987
Dec	191.5 mm (7.5 in)	13 December 1912

Period of Record Coverage

1968 to 2023

28 years of record at Nelson Bay (Nelson Head), 1968 to 2023. 5 years have data for under 90 percent of days and are left out of rankings: 1968, 1969, 1972, 2001, 2020.

Days with data per year at Nelson Bay (Nelson Head)
Year	Days with data	Share of year	Complete
1968	167	46%	No
1969	281	77%	No
1970	357	98%	Yes
1971	364	100%	Yes
1972	243	66%	No
2001	128	35%	No
2002	347	95%	Yes
2003	363	99%	Yes
2004	360	98%	Yes
2005	358	98%	Yes
2006	365	100%	Yes
2007	361	99%	Yes
2008	366	100%	Yes
2009	365	100%	Yes
2010	354	97%	Yes
2011	365	100%	Yes
2012	355	97%	Yes
2013	365	100%	Yes
2014	363	99%	Yes
2015	362	99%	Yes
2016	362	99%	Yes
2017	363	99%	Yes
2018	362	99%	Yes
2019	361	99%	Yes
2020	207	57%	No
2021	357	98%	Yes
2022	362	99%	Yes
2023	331	91%	Yes

Latest Records

Latest records at Nelson Bay (Nelson Head)
Date	Station	Record	Value	Beat old record by	Old record stood	Significance
27 November 2021	Nelson Bay (Nelson Head), AU	daily rain	35.4 mm (1.4 in)	10.5 mm (0.4 in)	100 years	48 of 100 (Notable)
10 July 2021	Nelson Bay (Nelson Head), AU	daily rain	46.6 mm (1.8 in)	7.2 mm (0.28 in)	62 years	32 of 100 (Routine)
20 March 2021	Nelson Bay (Nelson Head), AU	daily rain	105.4 mm (4.1 in)	25.4 mm (1.0 in)	108 years	54 of 100 (Notable)
19 March 2021	Nelson Bay (Nelson Head), AU	daily rain	202.5 mm (8.0 in)	152.0 mm (6.0 in)	58 years	67 of 100 (Major)
18 March 2021	Nelson Bay (Nelson Head), AU	daily rain	150.0 mm (5.9 in)	90.0 mm (3.5 in)	16 years	54 of 100 (Notable)
27 October 2020	Nelson Bay (Nelson Head), AU	daily rain	66.0 mm (2.6 in)	15.2 mm (0.6 in)	120 years	54 of 100 (Notable)
8 February 2020	Nelson Bay (Nelson Head), AU	daily rain	120.4 mm (4.7 in)	5.4 mm (0.21 in)	29 years	20 of 100 (Routine)
19 September 2019	Nelson Bay (Nelson Head), AU	daily rain	48.0 mm (1.9 in)	16.2 mm (0.6 in)	113 years	51 of 100 (Notable)
18 September 2019	Nelson Bay (Nelson Head), AU	daily rain	72.0 mm (2.8 in)	18.9 mm (0.7 in)	109 years	53 of 100 (Notable)
29 November 2018	Nelson Bay (Nelson Head), AU	daily rain	25.8 mm (1.0 in)	6.0 mm (0.24 in)	108 years	44 of 100 (Notable)
11 October 2018	Nelson Bay (Nelson Head), AU	daily rain	23.8 mm (0.9 in)	6.5 mm (0.26 in)	104 years	20 of 100 (Routine)
22 March 2018	Nelson Bay (Nelson Head), AU	daily rain	85.5 mm (3.4 in)	8.1 mm (0.32 in)	25 years	21 of 100 (Routine)
26 February 2018	Nelson Bay (Nelson Head), AU	daily rain	66.4 mm (2.6 in)	10.0 mm (0.4 in)	71 years	36 of 100 (Notable)
5 June 2016	Nelson Bay (Nelson Head), AU	daily rain	134.8 mm (5.3 in)	67.4 mm (2.7 in)	8 years	50 of 100 (Notable)
7 January 2016	Nelson Bay (Nelson Head), AU	daily rain (Tie)	28.0 mm (1.1 in)	tie	9 years	3 of 100 (Routine)
6 January 2016	Nelson Bay (Nelson Head), AU	daily rain	78.0 mm (3.1 in)	51.4 mm (2.0 in)	24 years	49 of 100 (Notable)
22 April 2015	Nelson Bay (Nelson Head), AU	daily rain	140.0 mm (5.5 in)	14.3 mm (0.6 in)	65 years	37 of 100 (Notable)
21 April 2015	Nelson Bay (Nelson Head), AU	monthly rain	168.0 mm (6.6 in)	42.3 mm (1.7 in)	65 years	65 of 100 (Major)
19 August 2014	Nelson Bay (Nelson Head), AU	daily rain	50.4 mm (2.0 in)	8.0 mm (0.31 in)	124 years	45 of 100 (Notable)
18 November 2013	Nelson Bay (Nelson Head), AU	daily rain	93.4 mm (3.7 in)	68.0 mm (2.7 in)	24 years	57 of 100 (Notable)

Climate Trend

22 complete years, 1970 to 2022

One stripe for each of 22 complete years at Nelson Bay (Nelson Head), 1970 to 2022. Blue stripes are years cooler than the station's own mean of 19.1 C (66.4 F); red stripes are warmer. The coolest year was 1970, at 18.2 C (64.8 F), and the warmest was 2017, at 19.7 C (67.4 F). The strongest colour marks a difference of 0.9 C (1.6 F).

Annual mean temperature at Nelson Bay (Nelson Head) as warming stripes, 1970 to 2022
Year	Annual mean temperature	Difference from the station mean
1970	18.2 C	-0.86 C
1971	18.3 C	-0.79 C
2002	19.0 C	-0.07 C
2003	18.8 C	-0.31 C
2004	18.9 C	-0.21 C
2005	19.3 C	+0.20 C
2006	19.2 C	+0.13 C
2007	19.4 C	+0.25 C
2008	18.7 C	-0.45 C
2009	19.5 C	+0.37 C
2010	19.4 C	+0.28 C
2011	19.1 C	+0.00 C
2012	18.8 C	-0.27 C
2013	19.5 C	+0.41 C
2014	19.5 C	+0.35 C
2015	19.3 C	+0.15 C
2016	19.6 C	+0.54 C
2017	19.7 C	+0.57 C
2018	19.2 C	+0.08 C
2019	19.5 C	+0.39 C
2021	18.6 C	-0.48 C
2022	18.7 C	-0.38 C

This station does not have enough complete years (30 are needed) to fit a temperature trend.

A year is complete when all 12 months have at least 20 days of both daily maximum and daily minimum readings. The annual mean is the mean of the monthly means. The trend describes this one station over this period; it does not say what caused the change.

Extremes by Year

1881 to 2023

Yearly extremes at Nelson Bay (Nelson Head): the record and the median year
Measure	Record	Year of the record	Median year	Years with a value
Hottest day (TXx)	40.6 C (105.1 F)	1968	35.0 C (94.9 F)	28
Coldest night (TNn)	1.1 C (34.0 F)	1971	6.4 C (43.4 F)	28
Wettest day (Rx1day)	257.8 mm (10.1 in)	1889	88.9 mm (3.5 in)	128
Wettest five days (Rx5day)	559.9 mm (22.0 in)	2021	170.1 mm (6.7 in)	128
Longest dry spell (CDD)	54 days	1946	21 days	128

Hottest day (TXx)

The hottest day of the year at Nelson Bay (Nelson Head), 1881 to 2023. The record is 40.6 C (105.1 F) in 1968, marked on the chart; the median year is 35.0 C (94.9 F).

Hottest day (TXx) at Nelson Bay (Nelson Head) by year
Year	Hottest day (TXx)
1881	n/a
1882	n/a
1883	n/a
1884	n/a
1885	n/a
1886	n/a
1887	n/a
1888	n/a
1889	n/a
1890	n/a
1891	n/a
1892	n/a
1893	n/a
1894	n/a
1895	n/a
1896	n/a
1897	n/a
1898	n/a
1899	n/a
1900	n/a
1901	n/a
1902	n/a
1903	n/a
1904	n/a
1905	n/a
1906	n/a
1907	n/a
1908	n/a
1909	n/a
1910	n/a
1911	n/a
1912	n/a
1913	n/a
1914	n/a
1915	n/a
1916	n/a
1917	n/a
1918	n/a
1919	n/a
1920	n/a
1921	n/a
1922	n/a
1923	n/a
1924	n/a
1925	n/a
1931	n/a
1932	n/a
1933	n/a
1934	n/a
1935	n/a
1936	n/a
1937	n/a
1938	n/a
1939	n/a
1940	n/a
1941	n/a
1942	n/a
1943	n/a
1944	n/a
1945	n/a
1946	n/a
1947	n/a
1948	n/a
1949	n/a
1950	n/a
1951	n/a
1952	n/a
1953	n/a
1954	n/a
1955	n/a
1956	n/a
1957	n/a
1958	n/a
1959	n/a
1960	n/a
1961	n/a
1962	n/a
1963	n/a
1964	n/a
1965	n/a
1966	n/a
1967	n/a
1968	40.6 C (105.1 F)
1969	33.9 C (93.0 F)
1970	36.4 C (97.5 F)
1971	33.9 C (93.0 F)
1972	31.2 C (88.2 F)
1983	n/a
1984	n/a
1985	n/a
1986	n/a
1987	n/a
1988	n/a
1989	n/a
1990	n/a
1991	n/a
1992	n/a
1993	n/a
1994	n/a
1995	n/a
1996	n/a
1997	n/a
1998	n/a
1999	n/a
2000	n/a
2001	35.0 C (95.0 F)
2002	36.0 C (96.8 F)
2003	36.5 C (97.7 F)
2004	38.3 C (100.9 F)
2005	39.3 C (102.7 F)
2006	34.2 C (93.6 F)
2007	34.2 C (93.6 F)
2008	33.0 C (91.4 F)
2009	34.5 C (94.1 F)
2010	34.9 C (94.8 F)
2011	38.5 C (101.3 F)
2012	33.0 C (91.4 F)
2013	36.5 C (97.7 F)
2014	35.0 C (95.0 F)
2015	37.0 C (98.6 F)
2016	34.2 C (93.6 F)
2017	38.5 C (101.3 F)
2018	35.1 C (95.2 F)
2019	34.7 C (94.5 F)
2020	39.1 C (102.4 F)
2021	32.9 C (91.2 F)
2022	30.5 C (86.9 F)
2023	33.9 C (93.0 F)

Coldest night (TNn)

The coldest night of the year at Nelson Bay (Nelson Head), 1881 to 2023. The record is 1.1 C (34.0 F) in 1971, marked on the chart; the median year is 6.4 C (43.4 F).

Coldest night (TNn) at Nelson Bay (Nelson Head) by year
Year	Coldest night (TNn)
1881	n/a
1882	n/a
1883	n/a
1884	n/a
1885	n/a
1886	n/a
1887	n/a
1888	n/a
1889	n/a
1890	n/a
1891	n/a
1892	n/a
1893	n/a
1894	n/a
1895	n/a
1896	n/a
1897	n/a
1898	n/a
1899	n/a
1900	n/a
1901	n/a
1902	n/a
1903	n/a
1904	n/a
1905	n/a
1906	n/a
1907	n/a
1908	n/a
1909	n/a
1910	n/a
1911	n/a
1912	n/a
1913	n/a
1914	n/a
1915	n/a
1916	n/a
1917	n/a
1918	n/a
1919	n/a
1920	n/a
1921	n/a
1922	n/a
1923	n/a
1924	n/a
1925	n/a
1931	n/a
1932	n/a
1933	n/a
1934	n/a
1935	n/a
1936	n/a
1937	n/a
1938	n/a
1939	n/a
1940	n/a
1941	n/a
1942	n/a
1943	n/a
1944	n/a
1945	n/a
1946	n/a
1947	n/a
1948	n/a
1949	n/a
1950	n/a
1951	n/a
1952	n/a
1953	n/a
1954	n/a
1955	n/a
1956	n/a
1957	n/a
1958	n/a
1959	n/a
1960	n/a
1961	n/a
1962	n/a
1963	n/a
1964	n/a
1965	n/a
1966	n/a
1967	n/a
1968	4.3 C (39.7 F)
1969	3.2 C (37.8 F)
1970	2.2 C (36.0 F)
1971	1.1 C (34.0 F)
1972	4.6 C (40.3 F)
1983	n/a
1984	n/a
1985	n/a
1986	n/a
1987	n/a
1988	n/a
1989	n/a
1990	n/a
1991	n/a
1992	n/a
1993	n/a
1994	n/a
1995	n/a
1996	n/a
1997	n/a
1998	n/a
1999	n/a
2000	n/a
2001	9.0 C (48.2 F)
2002	6.1 C (43.0 F)
2003	6.0 C (42.8 F)
2004	6.5 C (43.7 F)
2005	6.2 C (43.2 F)
2006	6.7 C (44.1 F)
2007	6.5 C (43.7 F)
2008	5.5 C (41.9 F)
2009	7.2 C (45.0 F)
2010	7.9 C (46.2 F)
2011	8.0 C (46.4 F)
2012	5.0 C (41.0 F)
2013	5.2 C (41.4 F)
2014	7.0 C (44.6 F)
2015	6.5 C (43.7 F)
2016	6.1 C (43.0 F)
2017	6.5 C (43.7 F)
2018	6.7 C (44.1 F)
2019	6.7 C (44.1 F)
2020	7.5 C (45.5 F)
2021	5.6 C (42.1 F)
2022	7.7 C (45.9 F)
2023	5.9 C (42.6 F)

Wettest day (Rx1day)

The wettest day of the year at Nelson Bay (Nelson Head), 1881 to 2023. The record is 257.8 mm (10.1 in) in 1889, marked on the chart; the median year is 88.9 mm (3.5 in).

Wettest day (Rx1day) at Nelson Bay (Nelson Head) by year
Year	Wettest day (Rx1day)
1881	88.9 mm (3.5 in)
1882	89.9 mm (3.5 in)
1883	80.0 mm (3.1 in)
1884	80.0 mm (3.1 in)
1885	137.2 mm (5.4 in)
1886	167.6 mm (6.6 in)
1887	83.1 mm (3.3 in)
1888	96.8 mm (3.8 in)
1889	257.8 mm (10.1 in)
1890	84.3 mm (3.3 in)
1891	92.7 mm (3.6 in)
1892	208.3 mm (8.2 in)
1893	160.0 mm (6.3 in)
1894	93.2 mm (3.7 in)
1895	152.9 mm (6.0 in)
1896	95.0 mm (3.7 in)
1897	86.9 mm (3.4 in)
1898	208.3 mm (8.2 in)
1899	111.8 mm (4.4 in)
1900	68.6 mm (2.7 in)
1901	94.5 mm (3.7 in)
1902	74.9 mm (2.9 in)
1903	117.6 mm (4.6 in)
1904	75.4 mm (3.0 in)
1905	73.9 mm (2.9 in)
1906	59.4 mm (2.3 in)
1907	88.9 mm (3.5 in)
1908	101.6 mm (4.0 in)
1909	55.9 mm (2.2 in)
1910	109.2 mm (4.3 in)
1911	73.4 mm (2.9 in)
1912	191.5 mm (7.5 in)
1913	76.7 mm (3.0 in)
1914	104.1 mm (4.1 in)
1915	116.1 mm (4.6 in)
1916	63.5 mm (2.5 in)
1917	117.3 mm (4.6 in)
1918	51.6 mm (2.0 in)
1919	104.1 mm (4.1 in)
1920	132.1 mm (5.2 in)
1921	76.2 mm (3.0 in)
1922	89.7 mm (3.5 in)
1923	51.6 mm (2.0 in)
1924	64.3 mm (2.5 in)
1925	70.9 mm (2.8 in)
1931	56.6 mm (2.2 in)
1932	95.8 mm (3.8 in)
1933	52.8 mm (2.1 in)
1934	61.5 mm (2.4 in)
1935	56.6 mm (2.2 in)
1936	70.1 mm (2.8 in)
1937	91.4 mm (3.6 in)
1938	83.1 mm (3.3 in)
1939	67.6 mm (2.7 in)
1940	65.0 mm (2.6 in)
1941	66.0 mm (2.6 in)
1942	59.9 mm (2.4 in)
1943	82.8 mm (3.3 in)
1944	46.7 mm (1.8 in)
1945	78.5 mm (3.1 in)
1946	217.7 mm (8.6 in)
1947	130.8 mm (5.1 in)
1948	81.3 mm (3.2 in)
1949	225.0 mm (8.9 in)
1950	96.5 mm (3.8 in)
1951	59.7 mm (2.4 in)
1952	89.4 mm (3.5 in)
1953	91.4 mm (3.6 in)
1954	116.8 mm (4.6 in)
1955	124.5 mm (4.9 in)
1956	90.2 mm (3.6 in)
1957	64.3 mm (2.5 in)
1958	75.2 mm (3.0 in)
1959	73.2 mm (2.9 in)
1960	141.0 mm (5.6 in)
1961	54.6 mm (2.1 in)
1962	127.5 mm (5.0 in)
1963	90.7 mm (3.6 in)
1964	104.1 mm (4.1 in)
1965	64.8 mm (2.6 in)
1966	80.3 mm (3.2 in)
1967	105.4 mm (4.1 in)
1968	134.9 mm (5.3 in)
1969	67.8 mm (2.7 in)
1970	71.4 mm (2.8 in)
1971	155.7 mm (6.1 in)
1972	105.9 mm (4.2 in)
1983	28.0 mm (1.1 in)
1984	97.8 mm (3.9 in)
1985	61.0 mm (2.4 in)
1986	117.4 mm (4.6 in)
1987	191.8 mm (7.6 in)
1988	87.8 mm (3.5 in)
1989	67.4 mm (2.7 in)
1990	141.8 mm (5.6 in)
1991	120.4 mm (4.7 in)
1992	91.8 mm (3.6 in)
1993	68.8 mm (2.7 in)
1994	54.2 mm (2.1 in)
1995	65.8 mm (2.6 in)
1996	123.2 mm (4.9 in)
1997	99.4 mm (3.9 in)
1998	108.2 mm (4.3 in)
1999	70.4 mm (2.8 in)
2000	21.0 mm (0.8 in)
2001	120.0 mm (4.7 in)
2002	137.0 mm (5.4 in)
2003	79.6 mm (3.1 in)
2004	87.2 mm (3.4 in)
2005	66.0 mm (2.6 in)
2006	66.4 mm (2.6 in)
2007	113.0 mm (4.4 in)
2008	78.1 mm (3.1 in)
2009	210.6 mm (8.3 in)
2010	66.6 mm (2.6 in)
2011	80.6 mm (3.2 in)
2012	55.0 mm (2.2 in)
2013	93.4 mm (3.7 in)
2014	76.5 mm (3.0 in)
2015	168.0 mm (6.6 in)
2016	134.8 mm (5.3 in)
2017	92.5 mm (3.6 in)
2018	85.5 mm (3.4 in)
2019	106.8 mm (4.2 in)
2020	120.4 mm (4.7 in)
2021	202.5 mm (8.0 in)
2022	84.4 mm (3.3 in)
2023	61.4 mm (2.4 in)

Wettest five days (Rx5day)

The wettest five days of the year at Nelson Bay (Nelson Head), 1881 to 2023. The record is 559.9 mm (22.0 in) in 2021, marked on the chart; the median year is 170.1 mm (6.7 in).

Wettest five days (Rx5day) at Nelson Bay (Nelson Head) by year
Year	Wettest five days (Rx5day)
1881	181.6 mm (7.1 in)
1882	227.0 mm (8.9 in)
1883	162.6 mm (6.4 in)
1884	150.7 mm (5.9 in)
1885	233.2 mm (9.2 in)
1886	318.5 mm (12.5 in)
1887	189.0 mm (7.4 in)
1888	117.1 mm (4.6 in)
1889	290.8 mm (11.4 in)
1890	190.5 mm (7.5 in)
1891	160.5 mm (6.3 in)
1892	230.9 mm (9.1 in)
1893	273.3 mm (10.8 in)
1894	173.7 mm (6.8 in)
1895	292.3 mm (11.5 in)
1896	182.9 mm (7.2 in)
1897	175.3 mm (6.9 in)
1898	317.8 mm (12.5 in)
1899	282.7 mm (11.1 in)
1900	162.3 mm (6.4 in)
1901	185.1 mm (7.3 in)
1902	198.1 mm (7.8 in)
1903	221.2 mm (8.7 in)
1904	144.0 mm (5.7 in)
1905	115.5 mm (4.5 in)
1906	125.6 mm (4.9 in)
1907	111.6 mm (4.4 in)
1908	266.0 mm (10.5 in)
1909	105.1 mm (4.1 in)
1910	173.2 mm (6.8 in)
1911	142.9 mm (5.6 in)
1912	268.5 mm (10.6 in)
1913	170.6 mm (6.7 in)
1914	206.9 mm (8.1 in)
1915	181.0 mm (7.1 in)
1916	108.6 mm (4.3 in)
1917	153.6 mm (6.0 in)
1918	101.2 mm (4.0 in)
1919	126.6 mm (5.0 in)
1920	288.1 mm (11.3 in)
1921	128.0 mm (5.0 in)
1922	204.2 mm (8.0 in)
1923	119.4 mm (4.7 in)
1924	85.7 mm (3.4 in)
1925	123.2 mm (4.9 in)
1931	76.7 mm (3.0 in)
1932	177.8 mm (7.0 in)
1933	136.6 mm (5.4 in)
1934	129.8 mm (5.1 in)
1935	85.6 mm (3.4 in)
1936	100.1 mm (3.9 in)
1937	239.0 mm (9.4 in)
1938	155.4 mm (6.1 in)
1939	141.5 mm (5.6 in)
1940	109.3 mm (4.3 in)
1941	95.9 mm (3.8 in)
1942	186.3 mm (7.3 in)
1943	191.6 mm (7.5 in)
1944	70.8 mm (2.8 in)
1945	202.2 mm (8.0 in)
1946	393.4 mm (15.5 in)
1947	187.7 mm (7.4 in)
1948	112.3 mm (4.4 in)
1949	359.2 mm (14.1 in)
1950	181.6 mm (7.1 in)
1951	160.0 mm (6.3 in)
1952	166.4 mm (6.6 in)
1953	157.2 mm (6.2 in)
1954	144.2 mm (5.7 in)
1955	271.8 mm (10.7 in)
1956	134.9 mm (5.3 in)
1957	80.5 mm (3.2 in)
1958	127.3 mm (5.0 in)
1959	125.2 mm (4.9 in)
1960	235.5 mm (9.3 in)
1961	101.1 mm (4.0 in)
1962	194.5 mm (7.7 in)
1963	187.5 mm (7.4 in)
1964	195.1 mm (7.7 in)
1965	122.4 mm (4.8 in)
1966	134.4 mm (5.3 in)
1967	184.1 mm (7.2 in)
1968	255.3 mm (10.1 in)
1969	105.5 mm (4.2 in)
1970	174.0 mm (6.9 in)
1971	269.8 mm (10.6 in)
1972	247.6 mm (9.7 in)
1983	46.8 mm (1.8 in)
1984	158.2 mm (6.2 in)
1985	131.2 mm (5.2 in)
1986	130.6 mm (5.1 in)
1987	224.4 mm (8.8 in)
1988	161.2 mm (6.3 in)
1989	112.4 mm (4.4 in)
1990	309.2 mm (12.2 in)
1991	210.6 mm (8.3 in)
1992	186.0 mm (7.3 in)
1993	81.6 mm (3.2 in)
1994	81.2 mm (3.2 in)
1995	110.2 mm (4.3 in)
1996	187.2 mm (7.4 in)
1997	235.6 mm (9.3 in)
1998	302.0 mm (11.9 in)
1999	156.4 mm (6.2 in)
2000	55.2 mm (2.2 in)
2001	333.9 mm (13.1 in)
2002	157.4 mm (6.2 in)
2003	151.3 mm (6.0 in)
2004	174.5 mm (6.9 in)
2005	142.1 mm (5.6 in)
2006	167.7 mm (6.6 in)
2007	194.6 mm (7.7 in)
2008	216.5 mm (8.5 in)
2009	290.0 mm (11.4 in)
2010	127.0 mm (5.0 in)
2011	238.9 mm (9.4 in)
2012	150.2 mm (5.9 in)
2013	169.7 mm (6.7 in)
2014	143.6 mm (5.7 in)
2015	351.4 mm (13.8 in)
2016	206.6 mm (8.1 in)
2017	141.6 mm (5.6 in)
2018	193.6 mm (7.6 in)
2019	163.9 mm (6.5 in)
2020	295.7 mm (11.6 in)
2021	559.9 mm (22.0 in)
2022	222.4 mm (8.8 in)
2023	106.5 mm (4.2 in)

Longest dry spell (CDD)

The longest dry spell of the year at Nelson Bay (Nelson Head), 1881 to 2023. The record is 54 days in 1946, marked on the chart; the median year is 21 days.

Longest dry spell (CDD) at Nelson Bay (Nelson Head) by year
Year	Longest dry spell (CDD)
1881	17 days
1882	24 days
1883	21 days
1884	17 days
1885	27 days
1886	17 days
1887	18 days
1888	23 days
1889	18 days
1890	22 days
1891	18 days
1892	16 days
1893	18 days
1894	21 days
1895	25 days
1896	32 days
1897	44 days
1898	33 days
1899	22 days
1900	23 days
1901	23 days
1902	22 days
1903	14 days
1904	30 days
1905	28 days
1906	24 days
1907	35 days
1908	25 days
1909	26 days
1910	37 days
1911	28 days
1912	16 days
1913	26 days
1914	28 days
1915	24 days
1916	18 days
1917	46 days
1918	41 days
1919	21 days
1920	21 days
1921	24 days
1922	16 days
1923	20 days
1924	16 days
1925	16 days
1931	12 days
1932	24 days
1933	22 days
1934	15 days
1935	23 days
1936	18 days
1937	17 days
1938	24 days
1939	39 days
1940	38 days
1941	18 days
1942	18 days
1943	24 days
1944	25 days
1945	19 days
1946	54 days
1947	20 days
1948	27 days
1949	16 days
1950	16 days
1951	26 days
1952	14 days
1953	23 days
1954	32 days
1955	16 days
1956	28 days
1957	22 days
1958	23 days
1959	16 days
1960	18 days
1961	22 days
1962	23 days
1963	19 days
1964	24 days
1965	36 days
1966	27 days
1967	14 days
1968	41 days
1969	22 days
1970	43 days
1971	16 days
1972	31 days
1983	12 days
1984	24 days
1985	17 days
1986	14 days
1987	22 days
1988	30 days
1989	15 days
1990	21 days
1991	24 days
1992	20 days
1993	21 days
1994	13 days
1995	28 days
1996	21 days
1997	14 days
1998	13 days
1999	12 days
2000	8 days
2001	16 days
2002	27 days
2003	29 days
2004	20 days
2005	44 days
2006	17 days
2007	20 days
2008	16 days
2009	16 days
2010	14 days
2011	17 days
2012	19 days
2013	18 days
2014	15 days
2015	21 days
2016	20 days
2017	25 days
2018	46 days
2019	27 days
2020	37 days
2021	20 days
2022	13 days
2023	16 days

Each chart shows one value per year; the dot marks the record year. TXx is the hottest daily maximum, TNn the coldest daily minimum, Rx1day and Rx5day the largest one-day and five-day rain totals, and CDD the longest run of days with less than 1 mm of rain. A year with missing days can understate an extreme.

Rainfall Return Levels

114 years, 1882 to 2022

A day with at least 88.6 mm (3.5 in) of rain is expected about once in 2 years. A day with at least 267.0 mm (10.5 in) of rain is expected about once in 100 years.

Rainfall return levels at Nelson Bay (Nelson Head): the daily rain expected about once in a given number of years
Expected about once in	A day with at least	Note
2 years	88.6 mm (3.5 in)
5 years	122.2 mm (4.8 in)
10 years	149.3 mm (5.9 in)
25 years	190.0 mm (7.5 in)
50 years	225.9 mm (8.9 in)
100 years	267.0 mm (10.5 in)

The levels come from a generalised extreme value (GEV) distribution fitted by L-moments to the wettest-day total of each year, 114 years of values from 1882 to 2022.

A return level is an estimate. It is least reliable for the long periods, 50 and 100 years, and for any period longer than the record behind the fit, where the fit has to reach past the largest day actually observed. It is not a forecast.

The largest wettest-day totals in the fit: 257.8 mm (10.1 in) in 1889; 225.0 mm (8.9 in) in 1949; 217.7 mm (8.6 in) in 1946.

Download the Data

Data for Nelson Bay (Nelson Head) standing records by year: CSV or JSON. Field meanings are on the data page.
Data for Nelson Bay (Nelson Head) threshold days by year: CSV or JSON. Field meanings are on the data page.

Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Global Historical Climatology Network Daily (GHCN-Daily). Records are computed by World Extreme Weather Monitor and are not official NOAA products. (US Government open data (NOAA NCEI)) Data as of 2026-10-14 (14 October 2026). Records are computed by this site and are not official.

Data as of 2026-10-14. Last revised 14 October 2026 (2026-10-14).