Expect More Showers in the Next Fortnight

Inter-Monsoon conditions with light and variable winds to continue. Short-duration thundery showers in afternoon on 8-10 days. Daily temperature to range between 25°C and 34°C on most days, with high of around 35°C on a few days.

Fortnightly Weather Outlook for 16 – 31 October 2019

 

Singapore, 16 October 2019 – Singapore has been experiencing inter-monsoon conditions since early October 2019. These conditions are forecast to prevail for the rest of October and extend into November 2019.  The inter-monsoon period is characterised by thundery showers and low level winds that are light and variable in direction.

2          For the rest of October 2019, the low level winds are expected to be mostly light and variable in direction, and may strengthen and shift to blow from the southeast on a few days. This temporary change in winds can be partly attributed to the strengthening of a high pressure system over the southern Indian Ocean.

3          During the fortnight, the equatorial Southeast Asia region, including Singapore, can expect more showers in the first week of the fortnight. This is due to the presence of the monsoon rain band over the equatorial region coupled with convergence on winds in the surrounding vicinity. For Singapore, short-duration moderate to heavy thundery showers are forecast in the afternoon on eight to ten days. The thundery showers can extend into the evening on a few of these days, and can be accompanied by frequent lightning activity. Overall, the rainfall for Singapore in October 2019 is expected to be near-normal.

4         For the rest of the month, with the expected increase in rainfall over the region, the likelihood of transboundary haze affecting Singapore is low. However, Singapore could experience slightly hazy conditions on a few days, particularly in the early morning due to an accumulation of particulate matter in the atmosphere under light and variable wind conditions.

5          ​The warm conditions experienced in the first fortnight of October 2019 are forecast to continue for the rest of October 2019, with the daily maximum temperature reaching a high of 35°C on a few days. On most days, the daily temperature is forecast to range between 25°C and 34°C.

6         For updates of the daily weather and haze situation, please visit the MSS website (www.weather.gov.sg), NEA website (www.nea.gov.sg), or download the myENV app, MSS’ Weather@SG app, and the haze microsite (www.haze.gov.sg).

 

REVIEW (1 – 15 October 2019)

7        Southwest Monsoon conditions transitioned to inter-monsoon conditions in the first half of October 2018. The presence of the monsoon rain band located near the equatorial region brought more showers over Singapore and the surrounding region. This brought some relief to the dry weather conditions experienced in Singapore in recent months.

8          During the first fortnight of October 2019, short-duration thundery showers fell over the island mostly in the afternoon due to the light winds coupled with strong solar heating of land areas. On 7 October 2019, strong wind convergence over the equatorial Southeast Asia region brought widespread thundery showers over Singapore between late morning and evening. On that day, the daily total rainfall of 76mm recorded at Pasir Ris was the highest recorded daily total rainfall in the first half of October 2019.

9          Despite the increased showers, there were still some warm days with the daily maximum temperature exceeding 34°C. The highest daily maximum temperature of 35.7°C was recorded at Clementi on 13 October 2019.

10          Below-average rainfall was recorded across Singapore in the first half of October 2019. Sentosa recorded the highest anomaly of 92% below-average.

 

CLIMATE STATION STATISTICS

Long-term Statistics for October
(Climatological reference period: 1981 – 2010)

Average daily maximum temperature 31.7 °C
Average daily minimum temperature 24.7 °C
Average monthly temperature 27.6 °C
Average rainfall 154.6 mm
Average number of rain days 15

 

Historical Extremes for October
(Rainfall since 1869 and temperature since 1929)

Highest monthly mean daily maximum temperature: 33.0 °C (2002)
Lowest monthly mean daily minimum temperature: 22.8 °C (1964)
Highest monthly rainfall ever recorded: 497.1 mm (1942)
Lowest monthly rainfall ever recorded: 10.8 mm (2002)