Sydney in Winter
In winter (December, January and February), Sydney sees average daytime highs around -0°C and overnight lows near -6°C, with 368 mm of precipitation over about 38 wet days across the season. It is the coldest season of the year and the wettest season of the year.
Over the season highs ease from about 4°C in early December to -1°C by late February. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 7% of the time across winter, and the air most often feels dry.
Winter is Sydney's weakest season of the year to visit on our travel score. For the whole year in context, see Sydney's year-round climate.
- Avg daytime high
- -0°C
- coldest season of the year
- Avg overnight low
- -6°C
- Precipitation
- 368 mm
- 38 wet days
- Avg wind
- 21 km/h
- Travel score
- 0.0
- weakest season of the year
- Months
- Dec · Jan · Feb
Temperature in Sydney in Winter
Over the season highs ease from about 4°C in early December to -1°C by late February.
A typical winter day in Sydney reaches about -0°C and drops to -6°C overnight. The warmest of the three months is December, the coolest February.
How winter really feels in Sydney
Once humidity and wind are folded in, winter brings about 0 days that feel above 32°C and 90 that feel at or below 0°C.
The story in winter is cold — wind chill drags the overnight "feels like" below the raw low.
Sydney weather by month
How the three winter months (December, January and February) compare with the rest of the year — the season's months are highlighted.
| Month | High / Low (°C) | Rainfall (mm) | Wet days | Snow days | Daylight (hours) | Travel score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | -1° / -7° | 118 | 12.9 | 11 | 8.8 | 0.0 |
| Feb | -2° / -9° | 111 | 11.2 | 9.7 | 10 | 0.0 |
| Mar | 1° / -5° | 108 | 12.4 | 8.3 | 11.6 | 0.0 |
| Apr | 6° / -1° | 106 | 12.3 | 4.9 | 13.3 | 0.4 |
| May | 11° / 4° | 86 | 11.7 | 0.5 | 14.7 | 2.4 |
| Jun | 16° / 10° | 89 | 11 | 0 | 15.5 | 4.8 |
| Jul | 21° / 15° | 85 | 10.5 | 0 | 15.2 | 6.3 |
| Aug | 22° / 16° | 89 | 10.9 | 0 | 14 | 6.4 |
| Sep | 18° / 12° | 104 | 10.5 | 0 | 12.3 | 5.6 |
| Oct | 12° / 8° | 131 | 12.3 | 0.2 | 10.7 | 3.1 |
| Nov | 7° / 3° | 124 | 12.7 | 2.4 | 9.2 | 0.9 |
| Dec | 2° / -2° | 139 | 14.1 | 9.5 | 8.5 | 0.0 |
Cloud cover in Winter
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 7% of the time across winter.
Chance of precipitation in Winter
Sydney gets around 368 mm of rain and snow over 38 wet days across winter. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.
Humidity in Winter
Most of winter feels dry — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.
Wind in Winter
Winds average 21 km/h across winter.
Sunrise & sunset in Winter
Daylight runs from about 8 h 42 min in early December to 10 h 42 min by late February. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.
Solar energy in Winter
Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day across winter, about 1.6 kWh/m².
Is winter a good time to visit Sydney?
Our two travel scores rate winter for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal), averaged across the three months.
winter is a weaker month for outdoor sightseeing in Sydney.
What to pack for Sydney in Winter
From winter's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In winter, Sydney sees daytime highs around -0°C and nights near -6°C. Pack a warm layer, a heavy coat and rain gear. Worth having: a windbreaker. About 38 days see rain.
Sea temperature near Sydney in Winter
The nearest coast averages about 2°C across winter — the other half of the beach question. The full-year curve and swim-comfort zones are below.
The sea at the nearest coast (about 27 km away) is warmest in August at about 19°C and coldest in March near -0°C.
The water stays below 20°C all year — cool enough that most swimmers want a wetsuit.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sea temperature (°C) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 9 | 16 | 19 | 16 | 12 | 8 | 4 |
| Comfort | Bracing | Bracing | Bracing | Bracing | Bracing | Bracing | Cool | Cool | Cool | Bracing | Bracing | Bracing |
| Sea temperature (°C) | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 1 | Bracing |
| Feb | 0 | Bracing |
| Mar | 0 | Bracing |
| Apr | 1 | Bracing |
| May | 4 | Bracing |
| Jun | 9 | Bracing |
| Jul | 16 | Cool |
| Aug | 19 | Cool |
| Sep | 16 | Cool |
| Oct | 12 | Bracing |
| Nov | 8 | Bracing |
| Dec | 4 | Bracing |
UV index in Sydney in Winter
Clear-sky midday UV across winter averages around 1. The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.
Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Sydney peaks around June 18 at about 9 (very high) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near January 1 at about 1 (low).
The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — in 7 months of the year.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UV index (midday) | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| Level | Low | Low | Moderate | Moderate | High | Very high | Very high | High | Moderate | Moderate | Low | Low |
| UV index (midday) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 1 | Low |
| Feb | 2 | Low |
| Mar | 3 | Moderate |
| Apr | 5 | Moderate |
| May | 7 | High |
| Jun | 9 | Very high |
| Jul | 8 | Very high |
| Aug | 5 | High |
| Sep | 5 | Moderate |
| Oct | 3 | Moderate |
| Nov | 1 | Low |
| Dec | 1 | Low |
Where is Sydney?
Sydney sits at 46.1°N, 60.2°W, 6 m above sea level, in Canada. The nearest listed city is Glace Bay, 19 km away.
Topography around Sydney
How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 3, 16 and 80 km of Sydney.
Within 3 km, the terrain around Sydney has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 90 m around an average of 31 m above sea level; within 16 km, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 200 m; within 80 km, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 535 m.
The land around Sydney is covered by trees (34%), grassland (26%) and artificial surfaces (22%) within 3 km, trees (66%) within 16 km, and water (53%) and trees (43%) within 80 km.
Canada travel facts
- Travel advisory
- Level 1
- Exercise Normal Precautions
- Power plugs
- Type A / B
- 120 V · 60 Hz
- Prices
- ≈ 83% of US
- price level, 2025
- GDP per capita
- $55,698
- 2025
- Happiness
- 6.7 / 10
- World Happiness, 2025
- Safe drinking water
- 97%
- of population, 2024
- Homicide rate
- 2
- per 100k, 2023
- Road deaths
- 5.3
- per 100k/yr, 2019
- Income group
- High
- World Bank
- Religion
Sources: World Bank, US State Department, World Happiness Report, WHO/UNICEF, EF EPI, CIA World Factbook.
Data sources
Temperature, precipitation, cloud, humidity, wind and solar figures are a 1991–2020 climatology for Sydney (46.1351°, -60.1831°, elevation 6 m), computed from hourly ERA5 reanalysis — contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information. Sun figures are astronomical calculations, not observations. City data © GeoNames, CC BY 4.0. Map outlines from Natural Earth (public domain); interactive map © Google.