Category Archives: Uncategorized

9 Oct 2023 saw the highest temperature ever recorded in the month of October at 36.3 degree Celsius

Singapore, 16 October 2023 – More showers are expected for the rest of October 2023 compared to the first half of the month, which may bring some respite to the warm weather.

2    Thundery showers are expected on most days in the coming fortnight. Afternoon thundery showers are expected this week, extending into the evening on a few days. In the second half of the fortnight, short-duration thundery showers may occur over parts of the island in the late morning and afternoon. On the whole, we expect above average rainfall in the second half of October 2023.

3    With showers expected on most days, temperatures are likely to be lower compared to the first half of the month.  Daily maximum temperatures are expected to range between 33 degrees Celsius and 34 degrees Celsius on most days.

4    More showers are also forecast for the southern Southeast Asia region in the coming fortnight, which may bring some improvement to the haze situation and reduce the likelihood of transboundary haze affecting Singapore. The chance of the 24-hr PSI reaching the unhealthy range in Singapore is low for the coming fortnight.

5     For updates of the daily weather forecast and PSI readings, 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 October 2023)

6    Southwest Monsoon conditions prevailed over Singapore and the surrounding region in the first half of October 2023, with low-level winds blowing mostly from the southeast or southwest.

7    The first half of October 2023 was dry and warm, except for a few days when brief showers fell over Singapore. These conditions were due to suppressed rain cloud formation arising from a dry air mass moving over the surrounding region.

8    On 7 and 8 of October 2023, smoke haze from forest fires in central and southern Sumatra were blown by prevailing winds to Singapore. This resulted in hazy conditions with the air quality deteriorating into the Unhealthy range over parts of the island. The highest 24-hour PSI of 123 was recorded in the eastern part of Singapore between 8 and 9 pm on 7 October 2023.

9    In the first two weeks of October 2023, maximum temperatures rose above 34 degrees Celsius on most days.  On 9 October 2023, temperatures exceeded 35 degrees Celsius in several parts of Singapore, with 36.3 degrees Celsius recorded at Admiralty.  This is the highest temperature ever recorded in Singapore in the month of October, surpassing the previous record high of 35.7 degrees Celsius recorded on 14 October 2001 and 13 October 2019.

10   Well-below-average rainfall was recorded across the island in the first half of October 2023. The highest anomaly of 100 per cent below-average was recorded at Paya Lebar.

CLIMATE STATION STATISTICS

Long-term Statistics for October
(Climatological reference period: 1991 – 2020)

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

Singapore, 14 October 2023 – Singapore experienced generally fair and warm weather today. As at 5pm, the 1-hr PM2.5 concentration readings were 11-26 µg/m3, in Band I (Normal), and the 24-hr PSI was 52-69, in the Moderate range.

Update on Hotspot and Haze Situation

2    Most parts of the surrounding region remained dry today, except for a few showers in northern Sumatra. 68 hotspots were detected mostly in the southern and central parts of Sumatra, lower than the 126 hotspots detected yesterday. Moderate to dense smoke haze was observed over parts of southern and central Sumatra from satellite imagery, drifting towards the north and northwest.

3 For the next few days, the dry conditions over Singapore and the surrounding region are forecast to continue, with prevailing winds likely to blow from the south, and occasionally from the southwest. There is a chance of slight haze affecting Singapore if the regional haze situation escalates. For the next 24 hours, the 24-hr PSI for Singapore is forecast to be in the Moderate range.

Activity Guidelines

4    The health impact of haze is dependent on one’s health status, the PSI level, and the length and intensity of outdoor activity. For immediate outdoor activities, please check the 1-hr PM2.5 concentration readings and personal guide. Use the 24-hr PSI forecast and corresponding health advisories for planning next day outdoor activities.

5     For updates, visit our haze microsite (www.haze.gov.sg), the NEA website (www.nea.gov.sg), MSS website (https://www.weather.gov.sg), mobile app (myEnv) or follow us on NEA Facebook (www.facebook.com/NEASingapore) and NEA Twitter (@NEAsg). For information on the distribution of hotspots detected over the past fortnight in the region, please refer to the ASEAN Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC) website at https://asmc.asean.org.

Areas with lighter smoke haze are not indicated as they cannot be clearly discerned from satellite imagery.

– End –

Singapore, 9 October 2023 – There were thundery showers over many areas in Singapore this afternoon. As at 5pm, the 1-hr PM2.5 concentration readings were 18-40 µg/m3, in Band I (Normal), and the 24-hr PSI was 55-73, in the Moderate range.

Update on Hotspot and Haze Situation

2    Wetter conditions were observed over many parts of the surrounding region today. Due to thick cloud cover, hotspots and smoke plumes could not be detected over Sumatra from satellite imagery today.

3    While the prevailing winds are expected to blow mainly from the south or southwest tomorrow, showers in the region will help to improve the hotspot and haze situation in Sumatra. The likelihood of transboundary haze affecting Singapore is thus low. For the next 24 hours, the 24-hr PSI for Singapore is forecast to be in the Moderate range.

Activity Guidelines

4    The health impact of haze is dependent on one’s health status, the PSI level, and the length and intensity of outdoor activity. For immediate outdoor activities, please check the 1-hr PM2.5 concentration readings and personal guide. Use the 24-hr PSI forecast and corresponding health advisories for planning next day outdoor activities.

5     For updates, visit our haze microsite (www.haze.gov.sg), the NEA website (www.nea.gov.sg), MSS website (https://www.weather.gov.sg), mobile app (myEnv) or follow us on NEA Facebook (www.facebook.com/NEASingapore) and NEA Twitter (@NEAsg). For information on the distribution of hotspots detected over the past fortnight in the region, please refer to the ASEAN Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC) website at https://asmc.asean.org.

Areas with lighter smoke haze are not indicated as they cannot be clearly discerned from satellite imagery.

– End –

Singapore, 8 October 2023 – The haze situation in Singapore improved today.  As at 5pm, the 1-hr PM_2.5 concentration readings were 10-18 µg/m³, in Band I (Normal), and the 24-hr PSI was 57-86, in the Moderate range.

Update on Hotspot and Haze Situation

2    Dry conditions persisted over most parts of Singapore and the surrounding region. 68 hotspots were detected mostly over the southern and central parts of Sumatra today, lower than the 188 hotspots detected yesterday. Moderate to dense smoke haze was observed from satellite imagery over central and southern Sumatra, blowing towards the northwest by prevailing winds.

3    The prevailing winds are forecast to blow mainly from the east tomorrow, lowering the likelihood of transboundary haze affecting Singapore. Showers are also expected over Singapore and the surrounding region which could bring about some improvement to the regional haze situation. For the next 24 hours, the 24-hr PSI for Singapore is forecast to be in the Moderate range.

Activity Guidelines

4    The health impact of haze is dependent on one’s health status, the PSI level, and the length and intensity of outdoor activity. For immediate outdoor activities, please check the 1-hr PM2.5 concentration readings and personal guide. Use the 24-hr PSI forecast and corresponding health advisories for planning next day outdoor activities.

5    For updates, visit our haze microsite (www.haze.gov.sg), the NEA website (www.nea.gov.sg), MSS website (https://www.weather.gov.sg), mobile app (myEnv) or follow us on NEA Facebook (www.facebook.com/NEASingapore) and NEA Twitter (@NEAsg). For information on the distribution of hotspots detected over the past fortnight in the region, please refer to the ASEAN Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC) website at https://asmc.asean.org.

Areas with lighter smoke haze are not indicated as they cannot be clearly discerned from satellite imagery.

– End –

Singapore, 16 August 2023 – The drier weather conditions experienced in the first half of August 2023 are likely to continue into the second half of the month. During the coming fortnight, the prevailing Southwest Monsoon conditions are expected to persist, with the low-level winds over Singapore blowing from the southeast or southwest.

2    In the second fortnight of August 2023, the monsoon rain band is forecast to lie over the northern Southeast Asia region, resulting in less rainfall over Singapore. Short-duration thundery showers are expected between the late morning and afternoon over parts of the island on some days. In the middle of next week, the presence of a dry air mass over Singapore and the surrounding region may bring a few fair weather days to Singapore. The passage of Sumatra squalls may bring widespread thundery showers and gusty winds on one to two mornings. On the whole, we expect below average rainfall in the second half of August 2023. For the month of August, the total rainfall is expected to be well below average over most parts of the island.

3    Warm conditions are expected on most days in the second half of August 2023, with daily maximum temperatures ranging between 33 and 34 degrees Celsius. The daily maximum temperature could reach a high of around 35 degrees Celsius on a few days. Several nights may also be warm, particularly when the prevailing winds blow from the southeast or south, and bring warm and humid air from the sea. Night-time temperatures of around 28 degrees Celsius can be expected on these nights, particularly over the south-eastern parts 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 Aug 2023)

5    Southwest Monsoon conditions prevailed over Singapore and the surrounding region in the first half of August 2023, with low-level winds blowing mostly from the southeast or southwest.

6    In the first half of August 2023, localised short-duration thundery showers fell over parts of the island in the late morning and afternoon on several days. Heavy localised thundery showers fell over eastern Singapore in the early afternoon on 13 August 2023. The daily total rainfall of 84.4 mm recorded at Simei that day was the highest rainfall recorded for the first fortnight of August 2023.

7    The daily maximum temperature in the first half of August 2023 ranged between 33 degrees Celsius and 34 degrees Celsius on most days. The highest daily maximum temperature of 34.4 degrees Celsius was recorded at Admiralty on 6 August 2023. There were also several warm nights, particularly over the southern and eastern parts of the island where the minimum night-time temperatures ranged between 28 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.

8    Most parts of Singapore recorded below average rainfall in the first fortnight of August 2023. Simei recorded rainfall of 14 per cent above average, and MacRitchie recorded rainfall of 82 per cent below average.

CLIMATE STATION STATISTICS

Long-term Statistics for August
(Climatological reference period: 1991 – 2020)

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

Singapore, 1 August 2023 – The prevailing Southwest Monsoon conditions are expected to persist over Singapore and the surrounding region in the coming fortnight, with low-level winds continuing to blow from the southeast or southwest.

2     Localised short-duration thundery showers are forecast over parts of the island in the late morning and afternoon on some days during the first half of August 2023. On a few of these days, the thundery showers may be widespread and intense, when there is large-scale convergence of winds over Singapore and the surrounding region. Widespread thundery showers with gusty winds due to Sumatra squalls may occur between the pre-dawn hours and morning on one or two days. The presence of a dry air mass over Singapore and the surrounding region may bring relatively fair and warm weather to Singapore on a few days. Overall, the rainfall for the first fortnight of August 2023 is likely to be slightly below average over most parts of Singapore

3     Warm conditions with daily maximum temperatures of around 34 degrees Celsius are expected on most days in the first two weeks of August 2023. The daily maximum temperature could reach a high of around 35 degrees Celsius on a few days. Warm and humid conditions are also expected on some nights in the coming fortnight. Warm nights typically occur when the prevailing winds blow from the southeast and bring warm, humid air from the sea over the land. On these nights, the temperatures may stay above 29 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 – 31 July 2023)

5     Southwest Monsoon conditions prevailed over Singapore and the surrounding region in July 2023, with low-level winds blowing mostly from the southeast or southwest.

6     In July 2023, thundery showers fell over parts of the island in the late morning and afternoon on most days. On 20 July 2023, convergence of winds over the surrounding region brought widespread thundery showers to Singapore in the morning. The daily total rainfall of 124 mm recorded at Tuas that day was the highest rainfall recorded for July 2023.

7     There were five days in July 2023 when the daily maximum temperature reached 34 degrees Celsius or more. The highest daily maximum temperature of 35.4 degrees Celsius was recorded at Choa Chu Kang and Clementi on 5 July 2023. There were also several warm nights, particularly during the last week of July 2023, where the minimum night-time temperatures ranged between 28 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius over the southern and eastern parts of the island. The lowest minimum temperature was 21.8 degrees Celsius recorded at Admiralty on 20 July 2023 when there were island-wide thundery showers.

8     Most parts of Singapore recorded above average rainfall in July 2023. Kent Ridge recorded rainfall of 149 per cent above average, and Sembawang recorded rainfall of 37 per cent below average.

CLIMATE STATION STATISTICS

Long-term Statistics for August
(Climatological reference period: 1991 – 2020)

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

The MOU will enable both countries to share satellite air quality data and collaborate on R&D to address environmental and pollution issues

Singapore, 31 July 2023 – The Republic of Korea’s National Institute of Environmental Research (NIER) and Singapore’s National Environment Agency (NEA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) today to share satellite observations of air quality and collaborate on research on its applications for addressing environmental and pollution issues such as climate change and transboundary air pollution. The MOU was signed in Singapore by President of NIER, Mr Kim Dongjin and the Chief Executive Officer of NEA, Mr Wong Kang Jet.

2               Air quality monitoring is crucial for understanding the causes and effects of air pollution, a major concern in Asia due to rapid population growth and urbanisation. Launched in 2020, NIER’s Geostationary Environment Monitoring Spectrometer (GEMS) onboard its GEO-KOMPSAT-2B satellite is the world’s first geostationary satellite instrument that focuses on air quality observations of atmospheric aerosols and gaseous pollutants, such as nitrogen dioxide, ozone, and sulphur dioxide. GEMS produces near-real time hourly daytime measurements of air quality over Asia, enabling scientists to study changes in atmospheric composition and better understand how air pollutants are transported. For more information on GEMS, please visit the NIER website here.

3               Under the MOU, NIER will share data from GEMS with NEA, while NEA will contribute to the validation and analysis of GEMS data through NIER’s Pan-Asia Partnership for Geospatial Air Pollution information (PAPGAPi) programme, facilitating the continued improvement of air quality observations over Asia. NIER and NEA will also undertake joint research on the potential applications of GEMS data, and explore the development of new space- and ground-based products for environmental monitoring, such as improved monitoring of regional smoke haze.

4               Mr Kim Dong Jin, President of NIER, said “We will do our best to support the wide utilisation of GEMS data for atmospheric monitoring and research activities in Asia.”

5               Mr Wong Kang Jet, CEO of NEA, said, “Climate change is a global challenge that can only be tackled through partnerships between countries and institutions. This collaboration is a good example of how we can work together across borders to build a better future. By accessing satellite-based air quality data through the GEMS initiative by the Republic of Korea, we will be able to develop new capabilities and products that can benefit Singapore and Southeast Asia. We look forward to working closely with NIER and partners from the Republic of Korea to further advance cooperation on environmental science and technology.”

Singapore, 17 July 2023 – The prevailing Southwest Monsoon conditions are expected to persist over Singapore and the surrounding region in the coming fortnight, with low-level winds continuing to blow from the southeast or southwest.

2     Drier weather conditions are expected in the second half of July 2023 as compared to the first half of the month. The development of low pressure systems in the western Pacific Ocean and South China Sea may shift the rain band northwards and bring less rainfall to Singapore and the surrounding region. In the coming days, the passage of Sumatra squalls may bring widespread thundery showers and gusty winds on one to two mornings. Short-duration thundery showers are expected between the late morning and afternoon over parts of the island on some days. On the whole, we expect below average rainfall in the second half of July 2023. For the month of July, the total rainfall is expected to be near average over most parts of the island.

3     Warm conditions are expected on most days in the second fortnight of July 2023, with daily maximum temperatures ranging between 32 and 34 degrees Celsius. The daily maximum temperature could reach a high of around 35 degrees Celsius on one or two days. Several nights may also be warm, particularly when the prevailing winds blow from the southeast or south, and bring warm and humid air from the sea. Night-time temperatures of around 28 degrees Celsius can be expected on these nights, particularly over the south-eastern parts 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 – 16 July 2023)

5     Southwest Monsoon conditions prevailed over Singapore and the surrounding region in the first fortnight of July 2023, with low-level winds blowing mostly from the southeast or southwest.

6     In the first fortnight of July 2023, localised short-duration thundery showers fell over parts of the island in the late morning and afternoon on most days. On 14 July 2023, convergence of winds over the surrounding region brought widespread thundery showers to Singapore in the morning and early afternoon. The daily total rainfall of 98.4 mm recorded at Kent Ridge that day was the highest rainfall recorded for the first half of July 2023.

7     The daily maximum temperatures in the first half of July 2023 were 34 degrees Celsius and below on all days except 4 and 5 July 2023. The highest daily maximum temperature of 35.4 degrees Celsius was recorded at Choa Chu Kang and Clementi on 5 July 2023. There were also several warm nights, particularly over the southern and eastern parts of the island where the minimum night-time temperatures ranged between 28 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.

8     Most parts of Singapore recorded above average rainfall in the first half of July 2023. Kent Ridge recorded rainfall of 113 per cent above average, and Sembawang recorded rainfall of 56 per cent below average.

CLIMATE STATION STATISTICS

Long-term Statistics for July
(Climatological reference period: 1991 – 2020)

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

Singapore, 30 June 2023 – The prevailing Southwest Monsoon conditions are expected to persist over Singapore and the surrounding region in the first half of July 2023, with low-level winds blowing from the southeast or southwest.

2     In the first fortnight of July 2023, wet weather conditions are forecast over Singapore and the surrounding region. Short-duration thundery showers are expected between the late morning and afternoon over parts of the island on most days. On a few days, the passage of Sumatra squalls may bring widespread thundery showers and gusty winds between the pre-dawn and morning. The total rainfall for the first half of July 2023 is likely to be above average over most parts of the island.

3     While showers are expected in the coming fortnight, there could still be a few warm days with daily highs of slightly above 34 degrees Celsius. On most other days, the daily maximum temperature is likely to range between 32 degrees Celsius and 34 degrees Celsius. Several nights may be warm and humid, when the prevailing winds blow from the southeast or south bringing warm and moist air from the sea to Singapore. On these nights, the temperatures may stay above 28 degrees Celsius, particularly over the eastern and southern 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 – 29 June 2023)

5    Southwest Monsoon conditions prevailed over Singapore and the surrounding region from early June 2023 with the prevailing winds blowing mostly from the southeast or southwest.

6    In June 2023, localised short-duration thundery showers fell over parts of the island on some afternoons. There were several days when Sumatra squalls brought widespread thundery showers and gusty winds over Singapore in the pre-dawn and morning. On 4 June 2023, widespread thundery showers from a Sumatra squall fell over many parts of Singapore in the late morning and early afternoon. The daily total rainfall of 96.2mm recorded at Toa Payoh that day was the highest daily rainfall for June 2023.

7    June 2023 was less warm compared to May 2023. The daily maximum temperature ranged between 32 and 34 degrees Celsius on most days. The highest daily maximum temperature of 34.7 degrees Celsius was recorded at Pulau Ubin and Ang Mo Kio on 2 June 2023 and 20 June 2023 respectively. There were also several warm nights where the minimum night-time temperatures remained above 28 degrees Celsius.

8     Most parts of Singapore recorded above average rainfall in June 2023. MacRitchie Reservoir recorded rainfall of 84 per cent above average, and Mandai recorded rainfall of 34 per cent below average.

CLIMATE STATION STATISTICS

Long-term Statistics for July
(Climatological reference period: 1991 – 2020)

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

Singapore, 1 June 2023 – Low-level winds over Singapore and the surrounding region are forecast to strengthen and blow from the southeast or southwest in early June 2023, as the Southwest Monsoon progressively sets in over the region. The Southwest Monsoon season typically extends into September and is generally a drier season compared to other times of the year.

2     In the first fortnight of June 2023, localised short-duration thundery showers can be expected over parts of the island on some afternoons. In addition, Sumatra squalls may bring widespread thundery showers and gusty winds between the pre-dawn and morning on a few days. The total rainfall for the first half of June 2023 is likely to be near average over most parts of the island.

3     The daily maximum temperature in the next fortnight is forecast to range between 33 degrees Celsius and 34 degrees Celsius on most days. On one or two days when there is less cloud cover, the daily maximum temperature could reach a high of around 35 degrees Celsius. The nights are also expected to be warm and humid. Warm nights typically occur when the prevailing winds blow from the southeast or south and bring warm, humid air from the sea. On these nights, the temperatures may stay above 29 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 – 31 May 2023)

5      Inter-monsoon conditions prevailed in May 2023 with the prevailing winds generally light and variable in direction.

6      Localised short-duration thundery showers fell over parts of Singapore in the afternoon on several days in May 2023. There were a few days when Sumatra squalls brought widespread thundery showers and gusty winds over the island in the morning. 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 which fell at Paya Lebar that day was the highest rainfall recorded for May 2023.

7      May 2023 was warm, with maximum temperatures above 34 degrees Celsius on most days. There were nine days in May registering temperatures of 35 degrees Celsius or more. Most of these days occurred in the first half of the month. It was especially warm in the second week of May 2023 when light winds and clear sky conditions resulted in high temperatures across many parts of Singapore. Warm night-time temperatures were also experienced during the second half of the month when the temperatures stayed above 29.0 degrees Celsius on some days.

8      On 13 May 2023, several locations recorded temperatures exceeding 36 degrees Celsius, with the highest temperature of 37.0 degrees Celsius measured at Ang Mo Kio. This temperature reading 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. On 25 May 2023, the daily minimum temperature recorded at the East Coast Parkway station reached a high of 29.7 degrees Celsius, the highest recorded for the month of May. The previous record was 29.5 degrees Celsius registered at the same station on 18 May 2022. At the Changi climate station, the mean temperature for May 2023 was 29.5 degrees Celsius, surpassing the previous record high of 29.4 degrees Celsius set in May 1998.

9      Most parts of Singapore recorded below average rainfall in May 2023. Paya Lebar recorded rainfall of nine per cent above average, and Punggol recorded rainfall of 64 per cent below average.

CLIMATE STATION STATISTICS

Long-term Statistics for June
(Climatological reference period: 1991 – 2020)

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