Singapore, 16 May 2023 – More showers are expected for the rest of May 2023 compared to the first half of the month. The rain is expected to bring some respite to the hot weather experienced in the first half of May 2023. In the coming fortnight, the daily maximum temperatures are expected to range between 33 degrees Celsius and 34 degrees Celsius on most days, and could reach a high of around 35 degrees Celsius on a few days. Some warm nights may also be expected. The inter-monsoon conditions prevailing over Singapore and the surrounding region are expected to persist, with the low-level winds mostly light and variable in direction and blowing from the southeast or southwest on some days.
2 In the second fortnight of May 2023, Sumatra squalls may bring widespread thundery showers accompanied by gusty winds between the pre-dawn hours and morning on several days. In addition, localised short-duration thundery showers can be expected over parts of the island between the afternoon and evening on some days. Overall, near-to-above average rainfall is expected for the second half of May 2023, and the total rainfall for the month is likely be near average over most parts of the island.
3 With showers expected on most days, the temperatures are not likely to be as high as that experienced in the first fortnight of the month. Daily maximum temperatures are likely to range between 33 degrees Celsius and 34 degrees Celsius on most days and could reach a high of around 35 degrees Celsius on a few days. Warm and humid conditions can also be expected on some nights when the prevailing winds from the southeast or south blow warm and humid air from the sea to Singapore. On these nights, minimum temperatures may reach 28 degrees Celsius, particularly over the southern and eastern coastal areas of the island.
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 (1 – 15 May 2023)
5 Inter-monsoon conditions prevailed in the first half of May 2023 with the prevailing winds generally light and variable in direction.
6 In the first week of May 2023, localised and short-duration thundery showers fell over parts of the island mainly in the afternoon on most days. On 4 May 2023, strong solar heating of land areas coupled with localised convergence of winds led to the development of thundery showers over most parts of Singapore in the afternoon. The daily total rainfall of 113.2 mm recorded at Paya Lebar that day was the highest rainfall recorded for the first half of May 2023. Most days in the second week of May 2023 were dry.
7 The first two weeks of May 2023 were warm, with maximum temperatures above 34 degrees Celsius on most days, and eight days registering temperatures of 35 degrees Celsius or higher. On 13 May 2023, light winds, dry and clear sky conditions resulted in high temperatures across many parts of Singapore. Several locations recorded temperatures exceeding 36 degrees Celsius, with the highest temperature of 37.0 degrees Celsius, the year’s warmest so far, measured at Ang Mo Kio. This temperature reading also ties with the record for highest daily maximum temperature in Singapore (last recorded at Tengah on 17 April 1983) since temperature records started in 1929. It is also the highest daily maximum temperature for the month of May, exceeding the previous May high of 36.7 degrees Celsius observed at Admiralty just last year.
8 Most parts of Singapore recorded well below average rainfall in the first half of May 2023. The highest anomaly of 77 per cent above average was recorded at Paya Lebar. The anomaly was lowest around the Simei area at 84 per cent below 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) |
