Wollongong experiences an oceanic climate (K�ppen climate classification Cfb), with average maximum temperatures varying from 17 �C in winter to 26 �C in summer tempered by sea breezes. The highest recorded temperature is 44.1 �C in January, and the lowest 0.8 �C in July.
Hot summer evenings are sometimes relieved by a front of rapidly moving cool air known as a southerly buster.
Rainfall is fairly evenly distributed throughout the seasons, with a bias to the first half of the year. It is often associated with orographic lift caused by the escarpment. Short high intensity rainfall events may happen at any time of the year and can lead to local flooding. A significant flood event occurred on 18 August 1998 when Wollongong recorded 316 mm of rainfall (the nearby suburb of Mt Ousley recorded in excess of 445 mm), mostly falling in a 3 hour period. Wollongong also experiences thunderstorms during the warmer months bringing lightning, heavy rain and occasionally hail.
Yearly rainfall is influenced by the El Ni�o-Southern Oscillation.
July and August are known as the windy months, with westerly gales that can gust at over 100 km/h
