Last month was the driest and second warmest March on record
Advisory
Singapore, 1 April 2016 – The prevailing Northeast Monsoon conditions are weakening to give way to inter-monsoon conditions during the fortnight. The prevailing low level winds during the outlook period are forecast to blow from the northeast and gradually become light and variable in direction.
2. For the first fortnight of April 2016, the prevailing dry and warm conditions are forecast to continue. In addition, short-duration thundery showers are expected over parts of Singapore on 4 to 6 days in the afternoon due to strong solar heating of land areas and convergence of winds in the surrounding vicinity. Rainfall in the next fortnight is likely to be below average.
3. During the outlook period, significantly warmer temperatures can be expected on some days where the daily maximum temperature is forecast to be between 33°C and 35°C. April is climatologically the warmest month of the year.
Review (1 – 31 March 2016)
4. During the review period, weakening Northeast Monsoon conditions prevailed in the region with the low level winds over Singapore blowing predominantly from the northeast.
5. In March 2016, rainfall across Singapore was significantly below average. The highest rainfall of 133mm (41% below average) was recorded around the Queenstown area. At the Changi climate station, the total rainfall recorded in March 2016 was 6.2mm (96% below average), setting a new record for the driest March in Singapore since rainfall records started in 1869. The previous record was 18.5mm in March 1912.
6. Singapore experienced significantly warmer conditions in March 2016, with 18 days recording daily maximum temperatures exceeding 34.0°C; 13 of these days were in the second fortnight of March 2016. The highest daily maximum temperature recorded during the month was 35.3°C at Choa Chu Kang on 11 March 2016. This was also the highest temperature recorded so far this year. The mean monthly temperature of 29.0°C for March 2016 was 1.5°C warmer than the long-term mean for March, and ranks March 2016 as the second warmest March in Singapore since temperature records started in 1929. The warmest March was recorded in 1998 with a mean monthly temperature of 29.5°C.
CLIMATE STATION STATISTICS FOR APRIL (Climatological reference period: 1981 – 2010)
| Mean daily maximum temperature | 32.3 degrees Celsius |
| Mean daily minimum temperature | 25.0 degrees Celsius |
| Mean monthly temperature | 28.0 degrees Celsius |
| Mean rainfall for the month | 154.8 mm |
| Mean number of rain days | 14 |
| Highest monthly mean daily maximum temperature | 33.9 degrees Celsius (1983) |
| Lowest monthly mean daily minimum temperature | 23.9 degrees Celsius (1982) |
| Highest monthly rainfall | 311.6 mm (2000) |
| Lowest monthly rainfall | 43.1 mm (1983) |