Following the end to an El Niño early in the year, the major climate drivers that influence the NSW climate were neutral for the remainder of 2024.
At the start of 2024, 63% of New South Wales was in drought, including the coastal, central and north-western regions of the state. Wet weather over these regions in autumn and winter, followed by average spring rainfall, helped ease these dry conditions. This resulted in approximately 10% of the state in drought at the end of spring 2024.
Southern New South Wales became drier as 2024 progressed, with above-average rainfall during summer giving way to below-average and average rainfall totals during winter and spring respectively. This resulted in drought conditions in pockets of southern and south-western New South Wales by the end of 2024.
Overall, rainfall across New South Wales in 2024 was average to above average for much of the state, but below average in the south-east.
Temperatures continued to remain high across the state in 2024, with hot days as well as record-breaking average and minimum temperatures in August.
References
- Bureau of Meteorology climate driver update historyopens a new window
- Bureau of Meteorology rainfall map for NSW 1 January to 31 December 2024 opens a new window
- Bureau of Meteorology temperature map for NSW 1 January to 31 December 2024opens a new window
- NSW Department of Primary Industries drought map December 2023opens a new window
- NSW Department of Primary Industries drought map December 2024opens a new window