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

A swimmer at Bronte beach last month. Sydney recorded its hottest June since records began in 1859. Photograph: Dan Himbrechts/AAP View image in fullscreen A swimmer at Bronte beach last month. Sydney recorded its hottest June since records began in 1859. Photograph: Dan Himbrechts/AAP Sydney records hottest June since 1859 as expert warns new high a ‘signature’ of global warming Bureau of Meteorology says city’s mean temperature reached 16.1C, surpassing the previous record of 15.7C set in 1991 Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Sydney has officially experienced its hottest June since records began, following a winter month of spring-like warmth. While early weather data suggested the month was merely among the warmest, the Bureau of Meteorology confirmed on Friday that June 2026 broke the all-time mean temperature record at Observatory Hill, where tracking first began in 1859. The month was marked by 15 consecutive days with a maximum temperature of at least 20C between June 7 and 21. This overtook the previous June record of nine consecutive days in 1919. According to a bureau spokesperson, Sydney’s overall mean temperature – the standard metric for heat records that is the average across each day – in June hit a record-breaking 16.1C, eclipsing the previous 1991 record of 15.7C. While the average maximum (20C) and minimum (12.2C) both technically ranked as the second-highest on record individually, their sustained, unseasonal consistency was enough to secure June 2026 its place as the warmest overall. Prof Andy Pitman, a Sydney-based climate scientist, expressed a “complete lack of surprise” at the new record. “It’s got the signature of global warming all over it,” Pitman said. “With temperature, there’s no wiggle room around it anymore … We know that the warming is due to the failure of governments around the world to deeply cut emissions.” ‘Warming hotspot’ Experts said record-breaking ocean temperatures off the NSW coast had kept Sydney warm. Prof Matthew England said the ocean had become a global “warming hotspot” experiencing rapid temperature increases. “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,” the UNSW oceanographer and director of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Our Future Oceans said. “Those very warm oceans off Sydney would be a significant contributor to the record warmth we’ve had this winter.” Normally, southerly winds bring cold temperatures to the coast. However, England noted that as this air flow passes over the abnormally warm Tasman Sea, it absorbs the ocean’s surface heat, blunting its chill by the time it reaches Sydney. ‘A false sense of security’ On land, Pitman said vegetation that should be dormant during winter was “happily transpiring”, drawing moisture out of the soil. “Moving soil moisture out into the atmosphere and drying … amplifies the heating due to CO2 and unless