Sydney is currently undergoing an unfamiliar weather phenomenon: a prolonged dry spell which has now stretched for 17 days (from August 25 to September 10 inclusive) – and it's not done yet.

The city is almost certain to make it through to 9 am Wednesday without any rain in the gauge, which would make it 18 totally dry days – the city's longest stretch without rain since the 24-day rainless run from April 11 through to May 4, 2021.

Sydney is Australia's second-wettest capital city after Darwin, and has become synonymous with rain in recent years:

• In 2022, Sydney squelched its way through its wettest year on record with a total of 2530 mm, which was just over double the long-term annual average. 
• This year, Sydney exceeded its annual average rainfall way back in June.
• As any cricket fan knows, Sydney has lost by far the most full days of Test cricket due to wet weather over the years (check the numbers here).

August and September are typically Sydney's two driest months – as the weather systems which bring rainy, windy weather to southern capitals like Melbourne, Perth and Adelaide usually produce dry westerly winds over the Sydney basin, with moisture failing to cross the ranges west of the city.

But even by Sydney's modest late winter and early spring rainfall averages, the last couple of months have been relatively dry, as the 12-month rainfall graph below shows.

So when will the dry spell break?

As lawns turn yellow and crunchy and subtropical plants cry out for a soaking, the good news is there is at least some rain on the horizon.

Showers are possible on Thursday, especially along the coastal fringe, while the weekend has the potential for more frequent showers, again heavier near the coast.

Image: Sydney lawns are starting to get a little crunchy as the city approaches three weeks without a drop. Source: Weatherzone.

Cooler temperatures can also be expected in coming days, with top temps dropping from the mid-twenties to the high teens – and maximums as low as 17°C on Sunday as cold air from a Tasman Sea cold front and associated low pressure system is pushed onshore.