Sydney records hottest June since 1859 as expert warns new high is ‘signature’ of global warming

Sydney has officially recorded its hottest June since meteorological tracking began in 1859, experiencing spring-like warmth throughout the winter month. The Bureau of Meteorology confirmed that the city's mean temperature in June reached a record 16.1C, surpassing the previous record of 15.7C set in 1991.

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It’s got the signature of global warming all over it.

The month was characterized by an unprecedented 15 consecutive days where the maximum temperature remained at or above 20C, from June 7 to 21. This streak shattered the prior June record of nine such days in 1919. While the average maximum and minimum temperatures ranked second highest individually, their sustained consistency secured June's overall record.

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The basic balance in our climate system is that the oceans absorb a lot of heat during summer and they radiate that heat back into the atmosphere during winter.

Climate scientist Professor Andy Pitman stated the record "has the signature of global warming all over it," attributing it to governments' failure to cut emissions. He warned that while the mild winter might feel pleasant, it contributes to drier soils and amplifies heating, leading to amplified fire risks in spring and summer.

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The big issue here is not that lots of people in Sydney are enjoying a warm winter. It’s downstream in spring and summer, when everything is drier than it should have been.

Experts also pointed to record ocean temperatures off the New South Wales coast as a significant factor. Professor Matthew England described the ocean as a global "warming hotspot." He explained that warm oceans radiate heat into the atmosphere during winter, blunting the chill of southerly winds that normally bring cold air to Sydney. This phenomenon, combined with "happily transpiring" vegetation on land that should be dormant, dries out the soil and exacerbates the warming effect.

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the actual cost of high-end events is severe