Sydney experiences hottest December night since 1868

Weather stations in Sydney, Australia recorded the hottest December night in 159 years on December 13 and 14, 2016, breaking all weather bureau records for the city.

The lowest temperature reached was 27.1 °C (80.8 °F) at Sydney Observatory Hill between 09:00 AEDT on Tuesday, December 13 and 09:00 on Wednesday. The previous record was 26.3 °C (79.3 °F) set in 1868.

According to the BOM, the overnight heat also makes it the second hottest night on record for any month of the year. 

To put that in perspective, Weatherzone writes, by 01:30 AEDT, at Observatory Hill, it was still 28.3 °C (82.9 °F), and in Penrith, it was still a balmy 30 °C (86 °F) at 22:30 AEDT.

This heat will not last for long, though. Wednesday started hot, but clouds soon arrived over the region bringing light rain and temperature drop.

Credit: BOM

At 18:00 AEDT it was still 31 °C (87.8 °F) in the city, but the temperatures are expected to drop down to 17 °C (62.6 °F) or even lower during the night.

BOM forecasters said there is 90% chance of any rain on Thursday, December 15, with 6 to 20 mm (0.23 to 0.78 inches). Maximum daily temperatures expected are around 19 °C (66.2 °F).

Unstable weather conditions will last at least until December 21.

Featured image: Sydney, Australia on December 13, 2016. Credit: NASA Terra/MODIS

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