31/08/2010: Sydneysiders can blame cloud and rain for this winter being the coldest in 13 years, according to weatherzone.com.au.

"In a normal winter Sydney will have quite a few brisk mornings and sunny days but not this year. An excess of cloudy and rainy days has led to it being a dull, cold and gloomy one, at least in June and July," Weatherzone meteorologist Brett Dutschke said.

"There has been so much cloud that Sydney has had fewer days warmer than 20 degrees than in any other winter since 1990," Dutschke said.

With so many cloudy days, this winter has delivered 39 days of rain, eight more than in a normal winter.

"It finally brightened up a bit in August and we even managed a 25-degree day in the second half of the month."

"But it was too late to stop this winter being colder than recent winters. There hasn't been a colder winter since 1997."

This winter was still warmer than the long-term average.

Daytime maximums averaged 17.7 degrees, compared to the long-term winter norm of 17.0. Overnight minimums averaged 9.4 degrees, compared to the long-term 8.7.

When both daytime and overnight temperatures were combined, Sydney's average temperature came in at 13.5 degrees. This makes it the coldest winter since 1997, but equal to 2008 and 2000.

Despite eight more rain days than normal, Sydney only gained 289 millimetres, 21mm short of the long-term winter average.

However, it was still the wettest winter in three years, largely due to a wetter than normal June and July.

"The outlook for spring is for near-or-above average rainfall with the aid of relatively frequent northwest cloud bands. Also, the current La Nina is a chance to peak late in spring, which will be a boost, particularly when storm season kicks in," Dutschke said.

"The likelihood of above average rainfall will favour a season of warmer than normal nights. There's a chance of cooler than normal days once we get into late spring if La Nina does a good job with rain."

Media Inquiries:

Brett Dutschke
media@weatherzone.com.au
02 9965 9269

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