Sydney weather is characterised as having the most severe weather out of any capital city in Australia. From October-April, you should watch out for wild storms that are accompanied by hail, destructive winds, flash floods and occasionally tornadoes.  However, this is not the only weather hazards you'll encounter during these months. From December-February, Sydney weather conditions can become hot. That is, the temperatures will exceed 40°C (104°F) at least once during the summer months. If you're thinking of travelling up into the Blue Mountains in the summer, then make sure you are on the lookout for smoke from bushfires. Even in the winter months you'll find that there will be at least one flash flooding event in Sydney due to the formation of an 'east coast cyclone'. As a side note: If you're confused about the term cyclone, don't be. Cyclones are just areas where the weight of a column of air above at specified area is lower than outside this region. That is, a cyclone is an area of low pressure. The term east coast cyclone indicates its location, which is on the east coast of Australia. Compare that to tropical cyclones and you'll understand. Although the processes that drive their formation are different, they are still labelled by the same name! Best time to visit Sydney If you're looking to escape the wet Sydney weather, then your best time to travel here is during early spring (i.e. September). Thankfully Sydney weather isn't as changeable as Melbourne or Hobart's weather is. General Sydney weather conditions Sydney has quite a lot of rain throughout the year. The city has just over 1200mm every year whereas the western suburbs normally only get between 810-960mm per year. Sydney weather during the summer (December, January and February) Sydney weather varies depending upon where you're located in Sydney. The eastern suburbs (this includes the city itself) are generally cooler during the day than the western suburbs. You shouldn't feel cold at anytime during the summer in Sydney.The overnight temperature normally drops to about 18°C in the eastern suburbs but may be a degree cooler away from the coast. The maximum temperature ranges from around 25°C in the east to nearly 30°C in the west. You'll find that summer is the cloudiest time of year since thunderstorms frequently affect the region during the afternoon. Most of the rain that falls during the summer is associated with these thunderstorms. During the autumn (March, April and May) From March through to May there is a rapid drop in temperature. You may also notice that less rain begins to fall in the western suburbs from late April and May but there's still frequent rainy days in the eastern suburbs throughout this period.The temperatures in March in the city range from 17.5°C at night to just under 25°C by day. Whereas the western suburbs are again colder at night and warmer by day (15.5°C - 27°C). In April, the city has a minimum of about 15°C before rising to a comfortable 22°C. By May, the daytime maximum dips to 19°C but overnight it hovers around 11.5°C. As you can see, it certainly isn't cold in Sydney during this time. It may be a little wet but if you take some water-proof clothing where ever you go, you won't feel cold. Sydney weather during the winter (June, July and August) Most of the city region doesn't receive any frosts in winter but the inland suburbs of Sydney certainly do. The daytime temperatures are cool (around 16°C on the coast and a degree warmer further inland). In early June, not a day goes by without some form of rain. Thankfully from July into August, the sun becomes the dominant feature of Sydney weather. July is the coldest month of the year in Sydney but I would never call it cold. During the spring (September, October and November) September is one of Sydney's driest months, but that doesn't mean it won't rain. You should still bring your water-proof clothing with you (just in case). The temperatures in September start rising again. You can expect a temperature range from 11°C - 20°C in the city and 7.5°C - 21.5°C in the western suburbs. You'll notice the return of afternoon thunderstorm activity in October into November. Some of these storms may be quite dangerous so you'll need to watch the skies to make sure you're not caught in it. So that naturally leads me into the main topic on this page - Severe Sydney weather Hailstorms - how do you avoid them? The most common time when a hailstorm is likely to hit Sydney is from November to February. They normally occur during the peak-hour rush (i.e. around 4-5pm). That's why so many people get caught since there's no escape when you're stuck in traffic. Having said that hail can occur anytime between 2pm and 7pm from August through to April. Now that I've got you worried, please don't become overly concerned if you have to visit Sydney during these months. It's highly likely you won't get caught in one during this time as Sydney only gets around 5-10 hailstorms every year. I've compiled a list of interesting facts that you may find helpful concerning hailstorms that impact Sydney:
Most of the severe storms are associated with the progression of a cold front moving up the eastern coastline of New South Wales. You may hear the locals talk of the "southerly burster" or "buster". Well these terms represent a particularly severe southerly change (i.e. winds that blow in from the south) where the inland part of the cold front becomes trapped by the mountains but the easterly part accelerates. The main point I'm trying to make is that the "buster" leads to formation of very severe thunderstorms over Sydney. Some of these hailstorms spawn tornadoes. Flash flooding Sydney certainly gets its fair share of flooding. One of the worst flooding event to hit Sydney occurred on the 8th November 1984 when nearly 200mm (~8 inches) of rain fell in just three hours. The flooding was so severe that any car parked on the side of the road was swept some distance before being buried in thick mud. Houses didn't escape the rapid rise in water levels either. However, the worst flooding in Sydney occurred on the 5-8 August 1986. Almost half of Sydney's rainfall fell on the city during this time. Six people died due to flooded-related causes. The Sydney weather during this time was dreadful to say the least. People had to spend many days indoors as it was simply to dangerous to venture outside due to the gale force winds and torrential rain. Worse still no one wanted to drive on the roads for fear of being swept away by the flood waters. Okay, now that I've told you what the worst Sydney weather can be like it's time to help understand what months are the most likely to get hit by floods.
Bushfires
Air pollution - at times you can see the air before you breathe it! Air pollution continues to be a problem in Sydney due to the large number of people who drive cars. However, there's plenty of additional factors that contribute to the overall smog problem in Sydney. Should you wish to visit Sydney, you'll find that smog levels are at their highest levels during the winter. The Sydney weather conditions in the winter encourage the smog to become trapped over low-lying regions in Sydney. In the winter at night, when the sky is clear, both the temperature and the wind speed drops. This leads to the formation of a temperature inversion. Any smoke or other air pollutant becomes trapped beneath this warm blanket of air. Over time, if there's no wind or surface heating on the ground to disperse this layer, then it can irritate your eyes and respiratory tract. Generally, as you fly into Sydney you'll notice a purplish haze that sits like a dome over the city. This is smog and unfortunately you'll be flying right into it. In the warmer months, air pollution generally isn't a problem in Sydney since the wind and surface heating act to break any temperature inversion that might be trying to form over Sydney. The only time in summer that pollutants can be a problem is due to the presence of thick smoke from a nearby bushfire. Return from Sydney weather to Australian weather 
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