Geography and Climate
Sydney is on the east bank of the Sydney River where it discharges into South Arm of Sydney Harbour. Elevation ranges from sea level to 66 m (217 ft) above sea level.
The rock base that Sydney is located on is from the Paleozoic era, and is Carboniferous and Permian. Paleozoic rock is mainly sedimentary rock. Some examples of sedimentary rock are sandstone, limestone, shale, and dolomite. Sydney is in an area of glacial erosion and deposition (hence the sedimentary rock). The type of soil located in Sydney is Podzol, leached soil. Leached soil is too wet, causing the nutrients to be washed out.
The majority of properties within the former city limits have been impacted by development and an extensive urban road network. The central business district is located on a peninsula extending into South Arm formed by Sydney River on the west side and Muggah Creek on the east side. The largest park in the former city limits is Wentworth Park.
Distinctive neighbourhoods include Ashby in the east end, and Hardwood Hill in the south end. The former city completely encircles the Membertou First Nation (First Nations Reserve 28A and 28B).
Sydney experiences a humid continental climate (Köppen Dfb) that is significantly moderated by the community's proximity to the Atlantic Ocean.
| Climate data for Sydney | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 16.9 (62.4) |
18 (64) |
17.8 (64.0) |
27.2 (81.0) |
31.1 (88.0) |
34.4 (93.9) |
33.9 (93.0) |
35.5 (95.9) |
32.3 (90.1) |
25 (77) |
22.2 (72.0) |
16.7 (62.1) |
35.5 (95.9) |
| Average high °C (°F) | −1.3 (29.7) |
−1.9 (28.6) |
1.5 (34.7) |
6.1 (43.0) |
12.9 (55.2) |
18.9 (66.0) |
23 (73) |
22.7 (72.9) |
18.3 (64.9) |
12.2 (54.0) |
6.8 (44.2) |
1.6 (34.9) |
10.1 (50.2) |
| Average low °C (°F) | −10 (14) |
−11.1 (12.0) |
−6.9 (19.6) |
−1.9 (28.6) |
2.6 (36.7) |
7.6 (45.7) |
12.3 (54.1) |
12.6 (54.7) |
8.5 (47.3) |
3.8 (38.8) |
−0.2 (31.6) |
−5.8 (21.6) |
1 (34) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −26.2 (−15.2) |
−27.3 (−17.1) |
−25.6 (−14.1) |
−14.6 (5.7) |
−7.8 (18.0) |
−3.9 (25.0) |
2.2 (36.0) |
2.8 (37.0) |
−1.7 (28.9) |
−5.6 (21.9) |
−12 (10) |
−22.2 (−8.0) |
−27.3 (−17.1) |
| Wind chill | −42.6 | −41.1 | −34.3 | −21.4 | −11.3 | −6.1 | 0.2 | 0.7 | −5.1 | −10.5 | −19.3 | −31.3 | −42.6 |
| Precipitation mm (inches) | 151.5 (5.965) |
132.1 (5.201) |
138.9 (5.469) |
130.4 (5.134) |
102.9 (4.051) |
92.6 (3.646) |
86.8 (3.417) |
93.1 (3.665) |
113.4 (4.465) |
146 (5.75) |
149.7 (5.894) |
167.5 (6.594) |
1,504.9 (59.248) |
| Rainfall mm (inches) | 82.4 (3.244) |
66.7 (2.626) |
88.4 (3.48) |
103.7 (4.083) |
100.1 (3.941) |
92.6 (3.646) |
86.8 (3.417) |
93.1 (3.665) |
113.4 (4.465) |
143.8 (5.661) |
134.4 (5.291) |
107.6 (4.236) |
1,213 (47.76) |
| Snowfall cm (inches) | 70.8 (27.87) |
66.8 (26.3) |
51.4 (20.24) |
26.1 (10.28) |
2.7 (1.06) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
2.0 (0.79) |
15.7 (6.18) |
62.8 (24.72) |
298.3 (117.44) |
| Avg. precipitation days (≥ 0.2 mm) | 20.3 | 16.3 | 16.9 | 15.7 | 13.8 | 13.3 | 11.9 | 12.8 | 13.7 | 15.6 | 18.3 | 21.3 | 189.9 |
| Avg. rainy days (≥ 0.2 mm) | 8.6 | 6.7 | 10.1 | 12.3 | 13.4 | 13.3 | 11.9 | 12.8 | 13.7 | 15.4 | 14.7 | 10.4 | 143.3 |
| Avg. snowy days (≥ 0.2 cm) | 16.4 | 12.9 | 11.1 | 6.6 | 0.90 | 0.03 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.73 | 6.3 | 15.7 | 70.66 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 91.5 | 113.5 | 131.3 | 139.9 | 196.0 | 227.5 | 241.7 | 228.3 | 165.2 | 125.9 | 78.3 | 66.6 | 1,806.0 |
| Source: Environment Canada (1971-2000) | |||||||||||||
The highest temperature ever recorded was 35.5 °C (95.9 °F) on August 10, 2001, and the lowest ever was−27.3 °C (−17.1 °F) on February 8, 1994.
Read more about this topic: Sydney, Nova Scotia
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