Bondi Beach, Sydney, New South Wales © Destination NSW, Daniel Boud

Bondi Beach, Sydney, New South Wales © Destination NSW, Daniel Boud

Weather in Sydney

Frequently Asked Questions about the weather in Sydney

Daylight saving begins at 2am, Eastern Standard Time, on the first Sunday in October and ends at 3am Eastern Daylight Saving Time on the first Sunday in April. During this time Sydney moves to Australian Eastern Daylight Time (AEDT), UTC +11.

December experiences the longest hours of daylight with sunrise at approximately 5:30am and sunset at 8pm. June has the least hours of daylight with sunrise at approximately 7am and sunset at 5pm. 

In March and April water temperature sits around 22 - 23°C (72 - 73°F) so visitors can still make the most of Sydney's beaches. Many locales continue to swim and surf (wearing wetsuits) during winter, when average water temperatures fall to 18.8 - 19.3°C (65.8 - 66.7°F).

Snow in Sydney is extremely rare. Jindabyne is the gateway to the Snowy Mountains and is a 6 hour drive south of Sydney. Snow can also fall in regional parts of New South Wales including the Blue MountainsOrange and the Upper Hunter.

In winter temperatures rarely drop below 7°C (44.6°F). Dress in layers and make sure to have a waterproof jacket on hand, as June can be rainy. Pack a warm jacket for the evening.

Sydney's pleasant summer days and balmy nights means that light clothing is ample. Pack your swimmers - Sydney has an abundance of beautiful harbour and ocean beaches.

Visitors to Sydney should look out for the UV index in local weather reports, which describes the daily solar UV radiation intensity. Protect yourself from sunburn by using SPF30+ sunscreen, which is readily available throughout Australia at supermarkets, convenience stores and pharmacies, and wearing sun-smart clothing, including a hat and sunglasses.

Seasonal weather in Sydney

SUMMER

  Dec Jan Feb
Maximum temp Maximum temp
ºC | ºF
25.7 78 26.4 80 26.3 79
Minimum temp Minimum temp
ºC | ºF
17.5 64 18.8 66 19 66
Average hours of sunshine daily Average hours of sunshine daily
Avg rainfall mm Avg rainfall mm
74 94 113
Avg rainy days Avg rainy days
11 11 11

AUTUMN

  Mar Apr May
Maximum temp Maximum temp
ºC | ºF
25.2 77 22.9 73 20 68
Minimum temp Minimum temp
ºC | ºF
17.8 64 14.1 57 10.9 52
Average hours of sunshine daily Average hours of sunshine daily
Avg rainfall mm Avg rainfall mm
115 106 101
Avg rainy days Avg rainy days
12 11 11

WINTER

  Jun Jul Aug
Maximum temp Maximum temp
ºC | ºF
17.6 64 17 63 18.3 65
Minimum temp Minimum temp
ºC | ºF
8.6 47 7.1 45 8.1 47
Average hours of sunshine daily Average hours of sunshine daily
Avg rainfall mm Avg rainfall mm
120 69 77
Avg rainy days Avg rainy days
11 9 9

SPRING

  Sep Oct Nov
Maximum temp Maximum temp
ºC | ºF
20.5 69 22.5 73 24 75
Minimum temp Minimum temp
ºC | ºF
10.3 51 13.1 56 15.3 60
Average hours of sunshine daily Average hours of sunshine daily
Avg rainfall mm Avg rainfall mm
61 72 81
Avg rainy days Avg rainy days
9 11 11