Highest Temperature Ever Recorded in Sydney: 47.3°C (117.1°F)
The highest temperature ever officially recorded in the Sydney metropolitan area is 47.3 °C (117.1 °F), measured on 18 January 1939 at Richmond (RAAF Base), ~50 km northwest of the CBD.
Context & Caveats
- Station: Richmond RAAF (067105) — inland, prone to higher extremes than coastal Sydney (Observatory Hill).
- Coastal Sydney (Observatory Hill, 1859–present): Record 45.8 °C (114.4 °F) on 7 Jan 2018.
- Penrith (Lakes, 1995–present): 48.9 °C (120.0 °F) on 4 Jan 2020 — highest in Greater Sydney basin.
- NSW state record: 49.7 °C (121.5 °F) at Menindee (10 Jan 1939) — same heatwave.
The 1939 Heatwave
- Part of Black Friday bushfire week (Victoria, NSW, SA).
- Preceded by severe drought; strong northerly winds advected interior heat.
- 71 deaths in NSW; 71 in Victoria (bushfires).
Recent Extreme Heat (Climate Change Signal)
| Date | Location | Temp (°C) | Note |
|---|
| 4 Jan 2020 | Penrith Lakes | 48.9 | Greater Sydney record |
| 7 Jan 2018 | Observatory Hill | 45.8 | Coastal Sydney record |
| 18 Jan 2013 | Sydney Airport | 45.8 | Tied coastal record |
| 20 Nov 2015 | Richmond | 45.3 | Spring record |
Measurement Standards
- Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) Stevenson screen, 1.2 m above ground, calibrated.
- Urban heat island adds 1–3°C in dense suburbs vs. parks.
- Climate change: +1.5°C avg since 1910; extreme heat days doubling.
For official records, always cite station name — "Sydney" alone is ambiguous. Richmond 1939 remains the benchmark for the metro region; Penrith 2020 is the modern extreme.
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