August is one of the cooler months of the year in Sydney, with average highs near 17.1°C and lows around 11.7°C (mean 14.4°C). It is one of the drier months, averaging 63 mm of rainfall and 71% relative humidity across the period.
August is one of the cooler months of the year in Sydney. Across 45 years of records, the warmest August in Sydney was 2024 — when the month averaged 16.6°C — while the coldest were 1989, 1991 and 2008 at 12.9°C. Typical August days reach 17.1°C with nights near 11.7°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.4°C per decade.
August is one of the drier months in Sydney, averaging 63 mm of rainfall. The wettest August on record was 1998 with 358 mm, while the driest was 1995 at 1 mm.
Relative humidity in Sydney during August averages 71%. The most humid August was 1987 at 81%, and the least humid was 2018 at 63%.
August receives about 3.6 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Sydney. The sunniest Augusts were 1991 and 1995 at 4.1 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest were 1987, 1998 and 2025 at 3.1.
Average wind speed in Sydney during August is 3.3 m/s. The windiest August was 1990 at 4.3 m/s, while the calmest was 1982 at 2.5 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 13.7°C | 14.1°C | 14.7°C | 14.5°C | 15.3°C | +1.6°C |
| Avg High | 16.3°C | 16.8°C | 17.5°C | 17.3°C | 17.9°C | +1.6°C |
| Avg Low | 11.1°C | 11.5°C | 11.9°C | 11.8°C | 12.7°C | +1.6°C |
| Avg Rain | 81 mm | 87 mm | 39 mm | 49 mm | 57 mm | -24 mm |
August temperatures in Sydney have risen by about 1.9°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
August has ranged from a record low of 7°C (2008) to a record high of 25.5°C (1982).
Rainfall in August is one of the drier months, averaging 63 mm, with a wettest year of 358 mm.
A quieter season to visit Sydney
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of December and March tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Sydney. That said, August — with days averaging 17.1°C and nights around 11.7°C (mean 14.4°C) and moderate rainfall (63 mm) — can still be rewarding for travellers who don't mind the cooler conditions, and often means fewer crowds.
| Year | Avg High | Avg Temp | Avg Low | Hottest Day | Coldest Day | Rainfall | Humidity | Wind | Solar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 17.0°C | 15.2°C | 13.5°C | 20.8°C | 10.6°C | 134 mm | 76% | 3.6 m/s | 3.1 |
| 2024 🔥 | 19.1°C | 16.6°C | 14.0°C | 25.5°C | 9.6°C | 17 mm | 72% | 2.6 m/s | 3.3 |
| 2023 | 18.8°C | 16.0°C | 13.2°C | 22.9°C | 10.8°C | 43 mm | 71% | 2.7 m/s | 3.7 |
| 2022 | 17.2°C | 14.7°C | 12.3°C | 21.2°C | 9.8°C | 35 mm | 78% | 3.4 m/s | 3.4 |
| 2021 | 18.6°C | 15.3°C | 12.1°C | 22.4°C | 9.8°C | 40 mm | 68% | 3.3 m/s | 3.8 |
| 2020 | 16.6°C | 13.9°C | 11.1°C | 20.3°C | 7.5°C | 73 mm | 72% | 3.4 m/s | 3.9 |
| 2019 | 17.9°C | 14.9°C | 11.9°C | 22.5°C | 8.3°C | 33 mm | 64% | 3.6 m/s | 3.8 |
| 2018 | 17.1°C | 14.1°C | 11.2°C | 21.4°C | 8.8°C | 12 mm | 63% | 3.5 m/s | 3.8 |
| 2017 | 17.8°C | 14.9°C | 12.1°C | 22.4°C | 10.3°C | 13 mm | 64% | 3.8 m/s | 3.9 |
| 2016 | 17.5°C | 14.8°C | 12.0°C | 21.3°C | 9.4°C | 68 mm | 72% | 3.2 m/s | 3.4 |
| 2015 | 17.3°C | 14.4°C | 11.6°C | 23.3°C | 7.0°C | 62 mm | 72% | 3.2 m/s | 3.6 |
| 2014 | 16.4°C | 14.4°C | 12.3°C | 20.2°C | 9.4°C | 182 mm | 75% | 3.5 m/s | 3.2 |
| 2013 | 18.0°C | 14.9°C | 11.7°C | 24.3°C | 9.1°C | 11 mm | 68% | 3.2 m/s | 4 |
| 2012 | 17.2°C | 14.1°C | 11.0°C | 22.8°C | 8.8°C | 13 mm | 67% | 3.6 m/s | 3.9 |
| 2011 | 17.3°C | 14.9°C | 12.5°C | 20.2°C | 9.5°C | 57 mm | 77% | 2.9 m/s | 3.3 |
| 2010 | 16.4°C | 13.8°C | 11.3°C | 20.2°C | 9.1°C | 39 mm | 70% | 3.8 m/s | 3.9 |
| 2009 | 19.0°C | 15.4°C | 11.8°C | 22.9°C | 9.6°C | 6 mm | 63% | 2.9 m/s | 3.9 |
| 2008 | 15.7°C | 12.9°C | 10.2°C | 19.3°C | 7.0°C | 31 mm | 69% | 3.5 m/s | 3.6 |
| 2007 | 17.3°C | 14.9°C | 12.4°C | 21.7°C | 9.2°C | 82 mm | 76% | 3.2 m/s | 3.5 |
| 2006 | 17.4°C | 15.1°C | 12.8°C | 21.4°C | 8.1°C | 53 mm | 69% | 3.2 m/s | 3.6 |
| 2005 | 17.6°C | 14.5°C | 11.4°C | 22.9°C | 8.3°C | 12 mm | 67% | 3.3 m/s | 3.8 |
| 2004 | 18.0°C | 15.3°C | 12.5°C | 23.9°C | 9.8°C | 60 mm | 68% | 3.4 m/s | 3.6 |
| 2003 | 17.0°C | 14.4°C | 11.7°C | 21.1°C | 8.7°C | 46 mm | 69% | 3.4 m/s | 3.6 |
| 2002 | 18.0°C | 15.2°C | 12.4°C | 23.1°C | 10.5°C | 20 mm | 67% | 3.2 m/s | 3.6 |
| 2001 | 17.5°C | 14.7°C | 12.0°C | 21.7°C | 9.2°C | 54 mm | 70% | 3.8 m/s | 3.6 |
| 2000 | 17.3°C | 14.7°C | 12.1°C | 19.3°C | 9.7°C | 30 mm | 69% | 3.3 m/s | 3.5 |
| 1999 | 16.9°C | 14.7°C | 12.4°C | 20.3°C | 9.2°C | 53 mm | 76% | 3.2 m/s | 3.6 |
| 1998 🌧️ | 17.1°C | 15.4°C | 13.7°C | 19.2°C | 9.7°C | 358 mm | 78% | 3.7 m/s | 3.1 |
| 1997 | 17.1°C | 14.3°C | 11.5°C | 22.2°C | 8.5°C | 18 mm | 68% | 3.3 m/s | 3.9 |
| 1996 | 17.1°C | 14.0°C | 10.9°C | 21.1°C | 8.2°C | 119 mm | 70% | 3.5 m/s | 3.5 |
| 1995 | 18.9°C | 15.5°C | 12.0°C | 25.3°C | 8.0°C | 1 mm | 69% | 2.9 m/s | 4.1 |
| 1994 | 16.5°C | 13.7°C | 11.0°C | 22.5°C | 8.2°C | 17 mm | 67% | 3.1 m/s | 3.9 |
| 1993 | 16.9°C | 14.2°C | 11.5°C | 19.7°C | 9.7°C | 50 mm | 74% | 2.8 m/s | 3.6 |
| 1992 | 16.2°C | 13.5°C | 10.9°C | 21.5°C | 8.0°C | 34 mm | 70% | 3.6 m/s | 3.6 |
| 1991 | 15.8°C | 12.9°C | 10.1°C | 19.0°C | 8.6°C | 17 mm | 71% | 3.7 m/s | 4.1 |
| 1990 | 15.4°C | 13.0°C | 10.6°C | 18.6°C | 8.0°C | 205 mm | 76% | 4.3 m/s | 3.4 |
| 1989 ❄️ | 15.2°C | 12.9°C | 10.5°C | 17.8°C | 7.9°C | 32 mm | 73% | 3.5 m/s | 3.8 |
| 1988 | 16.7°C | 14.2°C | 11.7°C | 21.2°C | 8.9°C | 49 mm | 78% | 3.3 m/s | 3.5 |
| 1987 | 16.3°C | 14.1°C | 11.9°C | 18.9°C | 8.4°C | 211 mm | 81% | 3.2 m/s | 3.1 |
| 1986 | 15.6°C | 13.1°C | 10.7°C | 18.7°C | 7.2°C | 322 mm | 75% | 3.5 m/s | 3.6 |
| 1985 | 15.7°C | 13.4°C | 11.0°C | 19.4°C | 8.4°C | 35 mm | 73% | 3.2 m/s | 3.5 |
| 1984 | 16.0°C | 13.1°C | 10.3°C | 17.8°C | 7.8°C | 18 mm | 74% | 3.3 m/s | 3.8 |
| 1983 | 16.1°C | 13.7°C | 11.2°C | 18.5°C | 9.1°C | 37 mm | 76% | 3.1 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 18.8°C | 15.3°C | 11.9°C | 25.5°C | 8.5°C | 9 mm | 69% | 2.5 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 16.1°C | 13.2°C | 10.3°C | 19.3°C | 8.4°C | 16 mm | 68% | 3.7 m/s | — |
Actual recorded August data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in August is around 17.1°C with lows near 11.7°C (mean 14.4°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
August averages 63 mm of rainfall in Sydney, one of the drier months. The wettest on record was 358 mm in 1998.
The hottest August reached 25.5°C in 1982. The coldest dipped to 7°C in 2008.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average August temperatures have risen by about 1.9°C. Daytime highs moved from 16.5°C to 18.1°C and overnight lows from 10.9°C to 13°C over the same span.
August is one of the cooler months of the year in Sydney and one of the drier months, so plan for around 17.1°C daytime highs and 11.7°C at night.
Not quite — August is the 2nd coolest month in Sydney, averaging 14.4°C.
For August in Sydney, pack light layers you can adjust through the day, with typical highs of 17.1°C and lows of 11.7°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in August averages 71% — moderately humid.
Average wind speed in August is 3.3 m/s. The windiest August on record averaged 4.3 m/s (1990).
The wettest August on record was 1998 with 358 mm. On average, August sees 63 mm.
All figures are derived from NASA POWER (Prediction Of Worldwide Energy Resources), based on MERRA-2 satellite reanalysis, covering 1981–2025.
Explore how the weather in Sydney behaves each August, based on 45 years of NASA POWER climate data from 1981 to 2025. This page breaks down average temperatures, rainfall, humidity, wind and solar radiation for August specifically, along with year-by-year records and how the month has changed over the decades.
