Record envelope, standing records and threshold days for Sydney (CA008205698), Nova Scotia, Canada, with 72 years of record.
Key Facts for Sydney
Sydney (CA008205698) is a weather station in Nova Scotia, Canada at 46.15 latitude and -60.20 longitude, 15 m (49 ft) above sea level.
The station reports from 1870 to 1941, 72 years of record.
1,464 records set at Sydney still stand.
Records are tracked for tmax, tmin, prcp, snow: an element needs 30 years of data to be eligible.
Sydney set a daily record precipitation of 20.6 mm (0.8 in) on 3 February 1941.
About the Station
Location: Nova Scotia, Canada, 46.15 latitude, -60.20 longitude.
Elevation: 15 m (49 ft).
Period of record: 1870 to 1941, 72 years.
Eligible elements: tmax, tmin, prcp, snow.
Daily Record Envelope and 2026
0 days at or beyond a record
Record highRecord low2026 daily maximum2026 daily minimum
The band shows the record high and record low for each calendar day at Sydney. 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 Sydney, with 2026 drawn through them
Month
Highest record high
Lowest record low
2026 highest maximum
2026 lowest minimum
Jan
14.4 C (57.9 F)
-31.7 C (-25.1 F)
n/a
n/a
Feb
15.0 C (59.0 F)
-31.7 C (-25.1 F)
n/a
n/a
Mar
18.3 C (64.9 F)
-31.1 C (-24.0 F)
n/a
n/a
Apr
25.6 C (78.1 F)
-17.8 C (0.0 F)
n/a
n/a
May
30.6 C (87.1 F)
-6.7 C (19.9 F)
n/a
n/a
Jun
33.3 C (91.9 F)
-2.8 C (27.0 F)
n/a
n/a
Jul
33.3 C (91.9 F)
0.6 C (33.1 F)
n/a
n/a
Aug
36.7 C (98.1 F)
2.2 C (36.0 F)
n/a
n/a
Sep
31.1 C (88.0 F)
-2.2 C (28.0 F)
n/a
n/a
Oct
27.2 C (81.0 F)
-4.4 C (24.1 F)
n/a
n/a
Nov
22.2 C (72.0 F)
-13.9 C (7.0 F)
n/a
n/a
Dec
14.4 C (57.9 F)
-23.3 C (-9.9 F)
n/a
n/a
Which Years Hold Standing Records
1,464 standing records
Year with most
1,464 records at Sydney still stand. 1875 holds the most, with 45.
Standing records at Sydney by the year they were set
Year set
Standing records
1870
18
1872
15
1873
37
1874
40
1875
45
1876
34
1877
25
1878
25
1879
43
1880
35
1881
29
1882
24
1883
16
1884
26
1885
18
1886
28
1887
21
1888
18
1889
22
1890
20
1891
16
1892
24
1893
12
1894
35
1895
22
1896
17
1897
32
1898
16
1899
11
1900
17
1901
13
1902
18
1903
18
1904
26
1905
18
1906
26
1907
29
1908
20
1909
24
1910
18
1911
21
1912
17
1913
31
1914
17
1915
24
1916
13
1917
9
1918
22
1919
11
1920
36
1921
13
1922
18
1923
18
1924
6
1925
16
1926
8
1927
14
1928
14
1929
11
1930
21
1931
13
1932
9
1933
19
1934
15
1935
12
1936
23
1937
25
1938
33
1939
21
1940
2
1941
1
All-Time Record Progression
6 new records
6 all-time records were set at Sydney between 3 January 1904 and 20 August 1935. Each dot is a new record.
When Sydney set new all-time records
Date
Kind
Detail
1904-01-03
Record daily snowfall
Record daily snowfall 50.8 cm (20.0 in)
1905-01-31
Record daily snowfall
Record daily snowfall 63.5 cm (25.0 in)
1912-07-08
Record high minimum temperature
Record high minimum temperature 20.6 C (69.1 F)
1914-02-12
Record low maximum temperature
Record low maximum temperature -20.6 C (-5.1 F)
1935-08-18
Record high maximum temperature
Record high maximum temperature 36.7 C (98.1 F)
1935-08-20
Record high minimum temperature
Record high minimum temperature 22.8 C (73.0 F)
Wettest Day of Each Month
Dec: 97.8 mm (3.9 in)
The wettest day on record for each calendar month at Sydney. The most was 97.8 mm (3.9 in) on 1 December 1890.
Record daily precipitation for each month at Sydney
Month
Record daily precipitation (mm)
Date
Jan
63.5 mm (2.5 in)
31 January 1905
Feb
54.4 mm (2.1 in)
5 February 1900
Mar
88.9 mm (3.5 in)
9 March 1940
Apr
71.1 mm (2.8 in)
19 April 1920
May
77.7 mm (3.1 in)
9 May 1886
Jun
75.9 mm (3.0 in)
6 June 1940
Jul
83.3 mm (3.3 in)
14 July 1884
Aug
95.8 mm (3.8 in)
30 August 1883
Sep
87.6 mm (3.4 in)
12 September 1882
Oct
84.3 mm (3.3 in)
1 October 1923
Nov
74.7 mm (2.9 in)
20 November 1937
Dec
97.8 mm (3.9 in)
1 December 1890
Period of Record Coverage
1870 to 1941
Complete yearUnder 90 percent of days
71 years of record at Sydney, 1870 to 1941. 3 years have data for under 90 percent of days and are left out of rankings: 1873, 1893, 1941.
Cooler than the station meanWarmer than the station mean
One stripe for each of 68 complete years at Sydney, 1870 to 1940. Blue stripes are years cooler than the station's own mean of 5.8 C (42.4 F); red stripes are warmer. The coolest year was 1875, at 3.6 C (38.4 F), and the warmest was 1931, at 7.4 C (45.4 F). The strongest colour marks a difference of 2.3 C (4.1 F).
Annual mean temperature at Sydney as warming stripes, 1870 to 1940
Year
Annual mean temperature
Difference from the station mean
1870
6.2 C
+0.41 C
1872
4.6 C
-1.17 C
1874
4.8 C
-1.04 C
1875
3.6 C
-2.21 C
1876
4.8 C
-0.98 C
1877
5.3 C
-0.45 C
1878
6.2 C
+0.45 C
1879
4.9 C
-0.90 C
1880
4.8 C
-1.00 C
1881
5.2 C
-0.64 C
1882
4.8 C
-1.02 C
1883
4.6 C
-1.19 C
1884
4.9 C
-0.92 C
1885
5.2 C
-0.60 C
1886
6.4 C
+0.56 C
1887
5.5 C
-0.32 C
1888
5.2 C
-0.61 C
1889
7.3 C
+1.51 C
1890
5.4 C
-0.40 C
1891
6.2 C
+0.42 C
1892
6.6 C
+0.77 C
1894
5.1 C
-0.67 C
1895
6.2 C
+0.40 C
1896
5.6 C
-0.17 C
1897
5.5 C
-0.28 C
1898
6.3 C
+0.54 C
1899
5.5 C
-0.25 C
1900
6.2 C
+0.42 C
1901
7.1 C
+1.26 C
1902
6.7 C
+0.91 C
1903
5.3 C
-0.45 C
1904
4.8 C
-0.95 C
1905
4.8 C
-0.97 C
1906
6.2 C
+0.40 C
1907
4.8 C
-0.99 C
1908
6.3 C
+0.53 C
1909
6.5 C
+0.68 C
1910
6.9 C
+1.14 C
1911
5.8 C
-0.02 C
1912
5.6 C
-0.21 C
1913
6.6 C
+0.80 C
1914
5.2 C
-0.63 C
1915
6.5 C
+0.71 C
1916
6.1 C
+0.31 C
1917
5.8 C
+0.05 C
1918
5.5 C
-0.31 C
1919
6.3 C
+0.51 C
1920
6.1 C
+0.32 C
1921
6.0 C
+0.20 C
1922
5.2 C
-0.56 C
1923
4.8 C
-1.00 C
1924
6.0 C
+0.22 C
1925
5.2 C
-0.57 C
1926
5.1 C
-0.68 C
1927
6.4 C
+0.64 C
1928
6.2 C
+0.42 C
1929
5.9 C
+0.09 C
1930
7.1 C
+1.27 C
1931
7.4 C
+1.63 C
1932
6.5 C
+0.69 C
1933
6.2 C
+0.38 C
1934
5.7 C
-0.08 C
1935
5.8 C
-0.01 C
1936
6.6 C
+0.85 C
1937
7.4 C
+1.61 C
1938
6.7 C
+0.94 C
1939
5.9 C
+0.07 C
1940
5.7 C
-0.12 C
The annual mean temperature here has risen by 0.2 C (0.1 to 0.3) per decade over 1870 to 1940. In Fahrenheit: 0.3 F (0.2 to 0.5) per decade. The slope is a straight line fitted to 68 complete years; the brackets give its 95 percent interval.
Fitted temperature trends per decade at Sydney
Measure
Per decade (C)
Per decade (F)
Period
Complete years
Reading
Annual mean temperature
0.2 C (0.1 to 0.3) per decade
0.3 F (0.2 to 0.5) per decade
1870 to 1940
68
Rise
Mean daily maximum
0.1 C (0.1 to 0.2) per decade
0.3 F (0.1 to 0.4) per decade
1870 to 1940
68
Rise
Mean daily minimum
0.2 C (0.1 to 0.3) per decade
0.4 F (0.2 to 0.5) per decade
1870 to 1940
68
Rise
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
1870 to 1941
Yearly extremes at Sydney: the record and the median year
Measure
Record
Year of the record
Median year
Years with a value
Hottest day (TXx)
36.7 C (98.1 F)
1935
30.6 C (87.1 F)
71
Coldest night (TNn)
-31.7 C (-25.1 F)
1873
-25.0 C (-13.0 F)
71
Wettest day (Rx1day)
97.8 mm (3.9 in)
1890
55.4 mm (2.2 in)
71
Wettest five days (Rx5day)
184.9 mm (7.3 in)
1906
90.2 mm (3.6 in)
71
Longest dry spell (CDD)
25 days
1889
14 days
71
Hottest day (TXx)
The hottest day of the year at Sydney, 1870 to 1941. The record is 36.7 C (98.1 F) in 1935, marked on the chart; the median year is 30.6 C (87.1 F).
Hottest day (TXx) at Sydney by year
Year
Hottest day (TXx)
1870
28.9 C (84.0 F)
1872
30.0 C (86.0 F)
1873
27.8 C (82.0 F)
1874
31.1 C (88.0 F)
1875
28.9 C (84.0 F)
1876
32.2 C (90.0 F)
1877
28.9 C (84.0 F)
1878
30.0 C (86.0 F)
1879
28.3 C (82.9 F)
1880
30.0 C (86.0 F)
1881
28.9 C (84.0 F)
1882
29.4 C (84.9 F)
1883
30.6 C (87.1 F)
1884
29.4 C (84.9 F)
1885
29.4 C (84.9 F)
1886
28.9 C (84.0 F)
1887
31.7 C (89.1 F)
1888
27.2 C (81.0 F)
1889
30.6 C (87.1 F)
1890
29.4 C (84.9 F)
1891
28.9 C (84.0 F)
1892
31.7 C (89.1 F)
1893
32.2 C (90.0 F)
1894
31.7 C (89.1 F)
1895
33.3 C (91.9 F)
1896
28.9 C (84.0 F)
1897
31.1 C (88.0 F)
1898
31.1 C (88.0 F)
1899
27.8 C (82.0 F)
1900
28.9 C (84.0 F)
1901
31.1 C (88.0 F)
1902
28.9 C (84.0 F)
1903
27.8 C (82.0 F)
1904
31.7 C (89.1 F)
1905
31.1 C (88.0 F)
1906
31.7 C (89.1 F)
1907
28.9 C (84.0 F)
1908
31.7 C (89.1 F)
1909
31.1 C (88.0 F)
1910
30.0 C (86.0 F)
1911
33.3 C (91.9 F)
1912
33.3 C (91.9 F)
1913
29.4 C (84.9 F)
1914
30.6 C (87.1 F)
1915
28.3 C (82.9 F)
1916
31.1 C (88.0 F)
1917
32.2 C (90.0 F)
1918
31.1 C (88.0 F)
1919
28.9 C (84.0 F)
1920
32.2 C (90.0 F)
1921
32.8 C (91.0 F)
1922
28.9 C (84.0 F)
1923
28.3 C (82.9 F)
1924
31.1 C (88.0 F)
1925
30.6 C (87.1 F)
1926
29.4 C (84.9 F)
1927
29.4 C (84.9 F)
1928
32.8 C (91.0 F)
1929
30.0 C (86.0 F)
1930
32.8 C (91.0 F)
1931
30.6 C (87.1 F)
1932
30.6 C (87.1 F)
1933
30.0 C (86.0 F)
1934
30.0 C (86.0 F)
1935
36.7 C (98.1 F)
1936
28.9 C (84.0 F)
1937
33.3 C (91.9 F)
1938
31.7 C (89.1 F)
1939
32.8 C (91.0 F)
1940
30.6 C (87.1 F)
1941
9.4 C (48.9 F)
Coldest night (TNn)
The coldest night of the year at Sydney, 1870 to 1941. The record is -31.7 C (-25.1 F) in 1873, marked on the chart; the median year is -25.0 C (-13.0 F).
Coldest night (TNn) at Sydney by year
Year
Coldest night (TNn)
1870
-23.9 C (-11.0 F)
1872
-23.3 C (-9.9 F)
1873
-31.7 C (-25.1 F)
1874
-30.6 C (-23.1 F)
1875
-31.1 C (-24.0 F)
1876
-26.1 C (-15.0 F)
1877
-31.7 C (-25.1 F)
1878
-25.0 C (-13.0 F)
1879
-30.6 C (-23.1 F)
1880
-31.1 C (-24.0 F)
1881
-29.4 C (-20.9 F)
1882
-25.0 C (-13.0 F)
1883
-28.9 C (-20.0 F)
1884
-25.6 C (-14.1 F)
1885
-27.2 C (-17.0 F)
1886
-25.6 C (-14.1 F)
1887
-27.2 C (-17.0 F)
1888
-21.1 C (-6.0 F)
1889
-26.1 C (-15.0 F)
1890
-28.3 C (-18.9 F)
1891
-23.3 C (-9.9 F)
1892
-17.2 C (1.0 F)
1893
-15.6 C (3.9 F)
1894
-23.9 C (-11.0 F)
1895
-27.2 C (-17.0 F)
1896
-25.6 C (-14.1 F)
1897
-28.3 C (-18.9 F)
1898
-25.6 C (-14.1 F)
1899
-22.8 C (-9.0 F)
1900
-18.9 C (-2.0 F)
1901
-20.6 C (-5.1 F)
1902
-18.9 C (-2.0 F)
1903
-22.2 C (-8.0 F)
1904
-28.9 C (-20.0 F)
1905
-25.0 C (-13.0 F)
1906
-17.2 C (1.0 F)
1907
-23.9 C (-11.0 F)
1908
-17.8 C (0.0 F)
1909
-25.0 C (-13.0 F)
1910
-22.2 C (-8.0 F)
1911
-25.0 C (-13.0 F)
1912
-25.0 C (-13.0 F)
1913
-23.9 C (-11.0 F)
1914
-26.7 C (-16.1 F)
1915
-22.8 C (-9.0 F)
1916
-31.7 C (-25.1 F)
1917
-26.1 C (-15.0 F)
1918
-25.0 C (-13.0 F)
1919
-20.6 C (-5.1 F)
1920
-25.6 C (-14.1 F)
1921
-26.1 C (-15.0 F)
1922
-28.3 C (-18.9 F)
1923
-26.7 C (-16.1 F)
1924
-23.9 C (-11.0 F)
1925
-30.6 C (-23.1 F)
1926
-24.4 C (-11.9 F)
1927
-22.8 C (-9.0 F)
1928
-23.3 C (-9.9 F)
1929
-23.3 C (-9.9 F)
1930
-23.9 C (-11.0 F)
1931
-23.9 C (-11.0 F)
1932
-22.2 C (-8.0 F)
1933
-23.3 C (-9.9 F)
1934
-30.6 C (-23.1 F)
1935
-24.4 C (-11.9 F)
1936
-18.9 C (-2.0 F)
1937
-20.6 C (-5.1 F)
1938
-23.3 C (-9.9 F)
1939
-19.4 C (-2.9 F)
1940
-17.8 C (0.0 F)
1941
-21.7 C (-7.1 F)
Wettest day (Rx1day)
The wettest day of the year at Sydney, 1870 to 1941. The record is 97.8 mm (3.9 in) in 1890, marked on the chart; the median year is 55.4 mm (2.2 in).
Wettest day (Rx1day) at Sydney by year
Year
Wettest day (Rx1day)
1870
75.7 mm (3.0 in)
1872
84.6 mm (3.3 in)
1873
67.8 mm (2.7 in)
1874
69.6 mm (2.7 in)
1875
39.4 mm (1.6 in)
1876
67.8 mm (2.7 in)
1877
46.0 mm (1.8 in)
1878
83.6 mm (3.3 in)
1879
47.5 mm (1.9 in)
1880
63.0 mm (2.5 in)
1881
54.4 mm (2.1 in)
1882
87.6 mm (3.4 in)
1883
95.8 mm (3.8 in)
1884
83.3 mm (3.3 in)
1885
67.3 mm (2.6 in)
1886
77.7 mm (3.1 in)
1887
61.2 mm (2.4 in)
1888
46.0 mm (1.8 in)
1889
46.5 mm (1.8 in)
1890
97.8 mm (3.9 in)
1891
50.8 mm (2.0 in)
1892
62.5 mm (2.5 in)
1893
91.9 mm (3.6 in)
1894
42.4 mm (1.7 in)
1895
54.1 mm (2.1 in)
1896
44.7 mm (1.8 in)
1897
44.2 mm (1.7 in)
1898
52.8 mm (2.1 in)
1899
49.8 mm (2.0 in)
1900
54.9 mm (2.2 in)
1901
46.7 mm (1.8 in)
1902
57.4 mm (2.3 in)
1903
45.7 mm (1.8 in)
1904
54.9 mm (2.2 in)
1905
63.5 mm (2.5 in)
1906
66.0 mm (2.6 in)
1907
56.4 mm (2.2 in)
1908
48.8 mm (1.9 in)
1909
68.1 mm (2.7 in)
1910
54.4 mm (2.1 in)
1911
59.4 mm (2.3 in)
1912
44.2 mm (1.7 in)
1913
45.7 mm (1.8 in)
1914
45.7 mm (1.8 in)
1915
38.6 mm (1.5 in)
1916
55.4 mm (2.2 in)
1917
60.5 mm (2.4 in)
1918
52.8 mm (2.1 in)
1919
39.1 mm (1.5 in)
1920
71.1 mm (2.8 in)
1921
45.7 mm (1.8 in)
1922
72.1 mm (2.8 in)
1923
84.3 mm (3.3 in)
1924
80.3 mm (3.2 in)
1925
52.8 mm (2.1 in)
1926
52.3 mm (2.1 in)
1927
67.6 mm (2.7 in)
1928
46.2 mm (1.8 in)
1929
56.9 mm (2.2 in)
1930
55.9 mm (2.2 in)
1931
51.3 mm (2.0 in)
1932
70.1 mm (2.8 in)
1933
49.3 mm (1.9 in)
1934
39.6 mm (1.6 in)
1935
78.0 mm (3.1 in)
1936
55.4 mm (2.2 in)
1937
77.7 mm (3.1 in)
1938
52.1 mm (2.1 in)
1939
33.8 mm (1.3 in)
1940
88.9 mm (3.5 in)
1941
21.1 mm (0.8 in)
Wettest five days (Rx5day)
The wettest five days of the year at Sydney, 1870 to 1941. The record is 184.9 mm (7.3 in) in 1906, marked on the chart; the median year is 90.2 mm (3.6 in).
Wettest five days (Rx5day) at Sydney by year
Year
Wettest five days (Rx5day)
1870
106.4 mm (4.2 in)
1872
106.3 mm (4.2 in)
1873
92.7 mm (3.6 in)
1874
88.4 mm (3.5 in)
1875
65.5 mm (2.6 in)
1876
85.1 mm (3.4 in)
1877
78.8 mm (3.1 in)
1878
109.7 mm (4.3 in)
1879
65.8 mm (2.6 in)
1880
90.2 mm (3.6 in)
1881
56.1 mm (2.2 in)
1882
167.9 mm (6.6 in)
1883
115.2 mm (4.5 in)
1884
112.8 mm (4.4 in)
1885
72.9 mm (2.9 in)
1886
93.2 mm (3.7 in)
1887
112.0 mm (4.4 in)
1888
78.3 mm (3.1 in)
1889
53.7 mm (2.1 in)
1890
118.9 mm (4.7 in)
1891
112.8 mm (4.4 in)
1892
87.7 mm (3.5 in)
1893
105.6 mm (4.2 in)
1894
62.5 mm (2.5 in)
1895
79.0 mm (3.1 in)
1896
95.4 mm (3.8 in)
1897
51.8 mm (2.0 in)
1898
96.5 mm (3.8 in)
1899
68.1 mm (2.7 in)
1900
102.0 mm (4.0 in)
1901
107.7 mm (4.2 in)
1902
106.5 mm (4.2 in)
1903
78.6 mm (3.1 in)
1904
75.2 mm (3.0 in)
1905
73.2 mm (2.9 in)
1906
184.9 mm (7.3 in)
1907
75.1 mm (3.0 in)
1908
78.2 mm (3.1 in)
1909
150.4 mm (5.9 in)
1910
87.9 mm (3.5 in)
1911
87.9 mm (3.5 in)
1912
72.4 mm (2.9 in)
1913
98.5 mm (3.9 in)
1914
76.2 mm (3.0 in)
1915
76.7 mm (3.0 in)
1916
70.6 mm (2.8 in)
1917
91.5 mm (3.6 in)
1918
114.3 mm (4.5 in)
1919
75.6 mm (3.0 in)
1920
131.5 mm (5.2 in)
1921
54.6 mm (2.1 in)
1922
100.0 mm (3.9 in)
1923
135.6 mm (5.3 in)
1924
117.5 mm (4.6 in)
1925
89.3 mm (3.5 in)
1926
80.2 mm (3.2 in)
1927
96.8 mm (3.8 in)
1928
104.6 mm (4.1 in)
1929
75.1 mm (3.0 in)
1930
64.5 mm (2.5 in)
1931
114.7 mm (4.5 in)
1932
169.7 mm (6.7 in)
1933
121.4 mm (4.8 in)
1934
79.8 mm (3.1 in)
1935
127.5 mm (5.0 in)
1936
84.2 mm (3.3 in)
1937
142.7 mm (5.6 in)
1938
94.3 mm (3.7 in)
1939
68.6 mm (2.7 in)
1940
160.5 mm (6.3 in)
1941
42.8 mm (1.7 in)
Longest dry spell (CDD)
The longest dry spell of the year at Sydney, 1870 to 1941. The record is 25 days in 1889, marked on the chart; the median year is 14 days.
Longest dry spell (CDD) at Sydney by year
Year
Longest dry spell (CDD)
1870
13 days
1872
8 days
1873
15 days
1874
13 days
1875
12 days
1876
10 days
1877
12 days
1878
22 days
1879
11 days
1880
10 days
1881
13 days
1882
11 days
1883
10 days
1884
11 days
1885
14 days
1886
14 days
1887
14 days
1888
12 days
1889
25 days
1890
11 days
1891
15 days
1892
24 days
1893
18 days
1894
15 days
1895
23 days
1896
9 days
1897
12 days
1898
22 days
1899
14 days
1900
9 days
1901
15 days
1902
9 days
1903
14 days
1904
14 days
1905
12 days
1906
12 days
1907
11 days
1908
18 days
1909
15 days
1910
14 days
1911
11 days
1912
17 days
1913
12 days
1914
17 days
1915
20 days
1916
14 days
1917
18 days
1918
13 days
1919
11 days
1920
15 days
1921
18 days
1922
11 days
1923
20 days
1924
12 days
1925
10 days
1926
10 days
1927
9 days
1928
11 days
1929
12 days
1930
18 days
1931
16 days
1932
15 days
1933
12 days
1934
16 days
1935
22 days
1936
10 days
1937
17 days
1938
14 days
1939
14 days
1940
25 days
1941
7 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.
Frost Dates and Growing Season
68 years with a frost
Across 68 years with a frost, the median last spring frost at Sydney falls on 29 May and the median first autumn frost on 13 October, which leaves a median of 139 days between them.
In 1911 to 1940 the median growing season was 145 days. That is 10 days more than in 1870 to 1902.
Fitted over all years, the growing season changes by +3.1 days per decade at this station.
Frost dates and growing season at Sydney
Measure
Median, all years
Earliest period (1870 to 1902)
Recent period (1911 to 1940)
Recent against earliest
Fitted trend
Last spring frost
29 May
1 June
24 May
8 days earlier
-0.9 days per decade
First autumn frost
13 October
8 October
17 October
9 days later
+2.1 days per decade
Growing days
139 days
135 days
145 days
10 days more
+3.1 days per decade
A frost day is a day with a daily minimum at or below 0 C (32 F). The last spring frost and the first autumn frost are the last and first such days of the cold season, and growing days are the days between them. A negative trend for the last spring frost means it comes earlier.
Rainfall Return Levels
68 years, 1870 to 1940
A day with at least 56.6 mm (2.2 in) of rain is expected about once in 2 years. A day with at least 109.9 mm (4.3 in) of rain is expected about once in 100 years.
Rainfall return levels at Sydney: the daily rain expected about once in a given number of years
Expected about once in
A day with at least
Note
2 years
56.6 mm (2.2 in)
5 years
70.5 mm (2.8 in)
10 years
79.8 mm (3.1 in)
25 years
91.8 mm (3.6 in)
50 years
100.8 mm (4.0 in)
100 years
109.9 mm (4.3 in)
Longer than the 68 years of record
The levels come from a generalised extreme value (GEV) distribution fitted by L-moments to the wettest-day total of each year, 68 years of values from 1870 to 1940.
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: 97.8 mm (3.9 in) in 1890; 95.8 mm (3.8 in) in 1883; 88.9 mm (3.5 in) in 1940.
Download the Data
Data for Sydney standing records by year: CSV or JSON. Field meanings are on the data page.
Data for Sydney 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.