SINGAPORE: Warmer days and more sunshine are expected over the coming fortnight, with the wet and cool weather experienced over the Chinese New Year period gradually easing, the Meteorological Service Singapore (Met Service) said on Wednesday (Feb 1).
During the first half of February, the daily temperature is expected to range between 24 degrees Celsius and 33 degrees Celsius on most days. Temperatures may reach around 34 degrees Celsius on days when there is less cloud cover.
With the monsoon rain band forecast remaining close to the equatorial region, short thundery showers can still be expected in the afternoon on most days over parts of Singapore, it added.
The showers may extend into the evening on a few days.
North-east monsoon conditions are currently prevailing over Singapore and are forecast to continue into the first half of February 2023, with low-level winds blowing from the northwest to the northeast, said the Met Service.
“Overall, the total rainfall for the first fortnight of February 2023 is forecast to be above average over most parts of Singapore,” said the Met Service.
WEATHER IN JANUARY
Looking back on the second half of January, Singapore experienced much wetter conditions compared to the first half of the month, said the Met Service.
The strengthening of high-pressure systems over the northern Asian continent brought a monsoon surge over the South China Sea during the Chinese New Year period.
Singapore and the surrounding vicinity then experienced cool and rainy weather from two monsoon surges – Jan 22 to Jan 25, and Jan 28 to Jan 29.
The heaviest rainfall was on Jan 25, with the highest daily total rainfall of 120mm recorded at Changi East. This was also the highest daily total rainfall for January.
The Met Service noted that there were four days where the highest daily maximum temperature was below 27 degrees Celcius. On Jan 25, the highest daily maximum temperature only reached 25.7 degrees Celsius at East Coast Parkway.
The daily minimum temperature dropped below 23 degrees Celcius on nine days in January, with the lowest daily minimum temperature recorded at 22.3 degrees Celsius on Jan 12, Jan 22, Jan 24 and Jan 25.
Overall, rainfall was near average in January.
The highest rainfall anomaly of 36 per cent above average was recorded at Changi, while the lowest anomaly of 20 per cent below average was at Seletar.
