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SINGAPORE: More stormy rains are expected in the second half of March, the Singapore Weather Service said on Tuesday (March 16), adding that the weather is likely to be cooler compared to the first half of the month.
Moderate to heavy stormy rains are expected over parts of Singapore in the afternoon on most days, particularly in the second half of the fortnight, the Met Service said.
The rain could last into the night for a few days.
The expected weather conditions are due to the wet phase of a phenomenon known as the Madden-Julian Oscillation, the Met Service said.
It is characterized by an easterly spread of clouds and rains over tropical regions from the Indian Ocean to the western Pacific Ocean, with a period of between 30 and 60 days on average.
“The monsoon rain band is expected to be near the equatorial region of Southeast Asia, and the Madden-Julian Oscillation is expected to be in its wet phase over Singapore in the second half of the fortnight,” the Met Service said.
“Compared to the first half of March 2021, more torrential rains are expected over Singapore and the surrounding area in the second half of the month.”
Overall, rains for the second half of March are forecast to be “near normal” over most of Singapore, the Met Service said.
READ: Comment: 2021 has already seen the wettest and driest months in decades. Is Singapore ready for more?
For the next two weeks, daily temperatures are expected to range between 24 and 33 degrees Celsius on most days.
“There could be some warm days where the maximum temperature could be in the range of 34 degrees Celsius, particularly when there are few clouds in the sky,” the Met Service said.
“In general, the second half of March 2021 is not expected to be as warm as the first half of the month.”
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HOT, THEN WET IN MARCH
In its review of the past two weeks, the Met Service said Singapore experienced the dry phase of the northeast monsoon season in the first half of March, with prevailing low-level winds generally blowing from the north or northeast.
The weather was generally good and warm, particularly in the first week of the month.
The highest daily maximum temperature of 35.6 degrees Celsius was recorded in Tengah on March 2, while the lowest daily minimum temperature of 21.4 degrees Celsius was recorded in Sembawang in the early hours of March 8.
The highest daily rainfall during the first half of March was 98.3mm, recorded in Sengkang on March 13.
“Many parts of Singapore recorded below normal rainfall in the first half of March 2021. The anomaly was lowest at Ang Mo Kio at 72 percent below average,” the Met Service said.
