More Thundery Showers Expected in Second Half of March 2021

Singapore, 16 March 2021 – The prevailing Northeast Monsoon conditions are forecast to persist over Singapore and the surrounding region for the rest of March 2021. During the period, the prevailing low-level winds are forecast to blow from the northwest or northeast on most days.

2      In the coming fortnight, the monsoon rain band is expected to lie close to the equatorial Southeast Asia region, and the Madden-Julian Oscillation is forecast to be in its wet phase over Singapore in the latter half of the fortnight. Compared to the first fortnight of March 2021, more thundery showers are expected over Singapore and the surrounding vicinity in the second fortnight of the month.

3      For the rest of March 2021, moderate to heavy thundery showers are expected over parts of the island in the afternoon on most days, particularly in the second half of the fortnight. There could be a few days where the showers may extend into the evening. Overall, the rainfall for March 2021 is forecast to be near normal over most parts of the island.

4      In the coming fortnight, the daily temperatures are forecast to range between 24°C and 33°C on most days. There could be a few warm days where the maximum temperature could lie within the 34°C range, particularly when there are few clouds in the sky. Overall, the temperatures in the second fortnight of March 2021 are not expected to be as warm as that in the first half of the month.

5      For updates of the daily weather forecast, please visit our MSS website (www.weather.gov.sg), NEA website (www.nea.gov.sg), or download the MSS’ Weather@SG app, and/or the myENV app.

REVIEW (1 – 15 March 2021)

6      The dry phase of the Northeast Monsoon season persisted over Singapore and the surrounding region in the first half of March 2021, with prevailing low-level winds blowing generally from the north or northeast.

7      The first fortnight of March 2021 was generally fair and warm, particularly in the first week of the month. This was due to stable atmospheric conditions arising from the presence of a dry air mass over Singapore and the equatorial Southeast Asia region. On several days in the latter half of the fortnight, strong solar heating of land areas coupled with convergence of winds in the surrounding vicinity brought moderate to heavy thundery showers over many parts of the island. On 13 March 2021, moderate to heavy thundery showers fell over the island in the afternoon, and the daily total rainfall recorded that day was 98.3mm at Sengkang. This was the highest rainfall recorded in a day for the first fortnight of March 2021.

8      In the first fortnight of March 2021, the daily maximum temperature on most days were above 34.0°C. On 2 March 2021, the highest daily maximum temperature of 35.6°C was recorded at Tengah. The lowest daily minimum temperature of 21.4°C was recorded at Sembawang in the early hours of 8 March 2021.

9      Many parts of Singapore recorded below normal rainfall in the first fortnight of March 2021. The anomaly was lowest at Ang Mo Kio at 72% below average.

CLIMATE STATION STATISTICS

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

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