Climatology of Sydney

According to the Koppen - Geiger Climate Classification map, Sydney's climate is classified as Cfb, which is a warm temperate climate that is fully humid and has a warm summer. There are several meso-scale climate controls that have an affect on the city of Sydney. Geographically, Sydney is situated in a coastal basin and in very close proximity to the Pacific Ocean. This is why Sydney has a "fully humid" climate. The ocean moderates the climate of Sydney significantly. There is ample water vapor available so the relative humidity increases with the temperature being warm. The fact that Sydney has a warm and temperate climate is very important to it having the ability to be "fully humid." Orographically speaking, there is a mountain range about 2 hours southwest of Sydney. This range is known as the Blue Mountains. Most of the precipitation that occurs in the Blue Mountains is on the western slope much like the Rocky Mountains here in Colorado. Once the moist air from the Southern Ocean comes across the southern tip of Australia, it rises due to orographic uplift. Then the air cools and condenses, producing precipitation. Once the air has dropped its precipitation, it flows down the leeward side of the mountains leaving warm descending air for the Sydney basin. Since Sydney is situated on the eastern and leeward side of the Blue Mountains, it experiences descending air that is warming adabatically at the dry adabatic lapse rate. Due to the presence of the Pacific Ocean, Sydney is dominated by the Maritime Tropical air mass. This warm moist air invades Sydney, which is the reason for the warm and humid climate.
Some micro - scale climate controls around Sydney would include the urban heat island effect that is produced from industrial manufacturing along with the large presence of automobiles that both give off heat. Also, my weather station is located right on the coast of Botany Bay, which is right where an airport is. This may cause excessive heating from anthropogenic sources such as the pollution the airplanes produce and it probably is an area of increased smog due to the presence of the airport. The average precipitation for the month of November in Sydney is 0.00 inches and there have been no changes in the precipitation record for November going back to 1996. As far as temperature is concerned, the average mean temperature in Sydney in November in 1996 was 66 degrees Fahrenheit. The average mean temperature in November in Sydney in 2011 is 70 degrees Fahrenheit. The average mean temperature fluctuates some, but mainly stays in the upper 60's to lower 70's.

Below are some images to help illustrate some of the meso - scale climate controls affecting Sydney. Also look to the right to see a live webcam of Potts Point and the CBD of Sydney.

The Blue Mountains outside of Sydney. This formation is known as the Three Sisters at Echo Point
Image obtained from: http://www.toursydneyaustralia.com

Use the interactive webcam to view the Blue Mountains

This is a satellite image of the Sydney area with the coastal basin to
the north by the airport and CBD and the Blue Mountains to the southwest by the Georges river.
My weather location is right in Botany Bay by the airport, which is labeled in the image.
Also the famous natural Sydney Harbour is very visible as well.
Image obtained from: www.australian1.com

This is a chart the annual amount of rainfall and a
 graph of the annual temperatures for Sydney.
Image obtained from: www.weatherzone.com.au

These are the conditions for the month of November in 2011.
Obtained from: www.wunderground.com

These are the conditions for the month of November in 1996.
Obtained from: www.wunderground.com