Singapore, 16 May 2024 – The Southwest Monsoon season is expected to set in during the coming fortnight, with the winds gradually strengthening and blowing mainly from the southeast or southwest. The Southwest Monsoon season typically extends to September.
2 In the coming fortnight, localised short-duration thundery showers can be expected over parts of the island in the late morning and early afternoon on most days. In addition, widespread thundery showers accompanied by gusty winds may affect the island on a few mornings. The last week of the month may be less wet. The total rainfall for the second half of May 2024 is forecast to be near average over most parts of the island.
3 The nights may be warm and humid in the coming fortnight. Warm nights tend to occur when the prevailing winds blow from the southeast and bring warm, humid air from the sea over the land. Night-time minimum temperatures of up to 28 degrees Celsius can be expected on some days. The daily maximum temperatures are likely to range between 33 degrees Celsius and 34 degrees Celsius on most days and could reach around 35 degrees Celsius on a few days, particularly when there are few clouds in the sky.
4 For updates of the daily weather forecast, please visit the MSS website (https://www.weather.gov.sg), NEA website (www.nea.gov.sg), or download the myENV app.
REVIEW OF THE PAST TWO WEEKS (1 – 15 May 2024)
5 Inter-monsoon conditions prevailed over Singapore and the surrounding region in the first half of May 2024. The prevailing winds were generally light and variable in direction.
6 In the past fortnight, thundery showers fell over parts of Singapore on most days. On 4 May 2024, regional convergence of winds brought moderate to heavy thundery showers over many areas of Singapore in the morning. The daily total rainfall of 118.4 mm recorded around Tuas area that day was the highest rainfall recorded for the first fortnight of May 2024.
7 Although it rained on most days during the first half of the month, there were still several warm days. There were 10 days where maximum temperatures of 34 degrees Celsius or more were recorded. The highest daily temperature of 36.1 degrees Celsius was recorded at Choa Chu Kang on 14 May 2024.
8 Above-average rainfall was received across the island in the first half of May 2024. The highest anomaly of 182 per cent above-average was at Lower Pierce area. The anomaly was lowest at Ulu Pandan area at 30 per cent above-average.
CLIMATE STATION STATISTICS
Long-term Statistics for May
(Climatological reference period: 1991 – 2020)
| Average daily maximum temperature: | 32.3 °C |
| Average daily minimum temperature: | 25.7 °C |
| Average monthly temperature: | 28.6 °C |
| Average rainfall: | 164.3 mm |
| Average number of rain days: | 15 |
Historical Extremes for May
(Rainfall since 1869 and temperature since 1929)
| Highest monthly mean daily maximum temperature: | 33.6°C (1997) |
| Lowest monthly mean daily minimum temperature: | 23.5 °C (1974) |
| Highest monthly rainfall ever recorded: | 386.6 mm (1892) |
| Lowest monthly rainfall ever recorded: | 41.6 mm (1997) |