Sydney is seeing an incredible stretch of warm winter weather and is on target to match an all-time winter record, according to weatherzone.com.au. Today will be the 8th consecutive day with a maximum temperature at or above 20 degrees, which is already a mid-winter record. If this string of 20 degree plus days continues into Saturday, it will equal the all-time winter record of 10 consecutive days.

“Sydney also had its second warmest mid-winter day on record on Wednesday, reaching 25.7 degrees. The mid-winter record was set on 24th July 1990, when Sydney’s temperature reached 25.9 degrees. It is not out of the question that Sydney will exceed this mark today, with the moderating effect of an afternoon sea breeze being the only impediment to breaking this record,” said Alex Zadnik, chief meteorologist at Weatherzone.

“The reason for the build up of warmth over NSW can be attributed to a very slow moving weather pattern. A large high pressure system that has been centred near NSW has been blocking the approach of cold fronts from the west, maintaining a persistent northwest airstream across central and southeastern Australia. These northwesterly winds have been with us for over a week now, transporting a warmer airmass 1000km’s from the interior of the continent to the Sydney region,” said Mr Zadnik.

The other benefit of the large high pressure system has been the resultant clear skies across southeastern Australia This has allowed lengthy breaks of sunshine to warm the ground, giving temperatures an extra kick each day.

It looks like warmer than usual weather will be with us until at least Saturday, but then the weather will take a turn for the worse in Sydney. An increase in cloud cover into Sunday, plus a cooler wind change from the south, should keep Sydney’s maximum temperature below 20 degrees on this day.

“There is then the potential for a deep low pressure system to form off the coast during Monday and Tuesday, bringing a blast of cool, wet and windy weather to the city. Therefore you’ll want to make the most of the current warmth and sunshine, as the city will plunge back into more winter-like weather next week,” concluded Mr Zadnik.

– Weatherzone