As the inter-monsoon period sets in over Singapore, the Republic is less likely to experience haze from regional hotspots.
Coupled with wetter weather conditions, the haze situation should improve, said the Meteorological Service Singapore (MSS) in a weather advisory released on Thursday (29 Oct).
Source: Dewi Lestari on Facebook
According to MSS, moderate to heavy thundery showers are expected over parts of Singapore in the first two weeks of November.
They will fall in the afternoon on most days.
On a few of these days, however, the showers may extend into the evening.
For this period, the total rainfall should be “slightly above its long-term average” over most parts of the island.
Source: Clarence Gaspar on Pexels
Southwest Monsoon conditions, which set in over Singapore and the surrounding region in early June, have been weakening, while inter-monsoon conditions have been progressively setting in, MSS said.
The inter-monsoon period is characterised by light and variable winds, in a shift away from the persistent southeasterly or southwesterly winds of the Southwest Monsoon.
It will also feature increased showers and higher lightning activity.
With the advent of inter-monsoon conditions, smoke haze is less likely to be transported from fires in Indonesia towards Singapore.
There will also be wetter conditions over Singapore and the nearby areas.
Thus, Singapore’s haze situation is likely to improve, MSS said.
Source: Zura Rudiyanto on Facebook
From 16 to 28 Oct, MSS noted that smoke haze was transported to Singapore by winds that blew mostly from the southeast or southwest.
This caused the 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) to hit “unhealthy” levels for seven days and “very unhealthy” levels for three days.
As for the temperature, most days will record a daily maximum of between 33°C and 35°C.
On a few days, it could “slightly exceed” 35°C.
Over the second fortnight of October, localised, short-duration thundery showers fell over parts of the island on several days.
On a few days, widespread thundery showers of moderate to heavy strength affected Singapore.
Despite this, most parts of Singapore recorded below-average rainfall during the period.
The area around Tanjong Katong was the driest, recording rainfall of 72% below average, while the area around Punggol registered 24% above-average rainfall.
Source: Meteorological Service Singapore
On the afternoon of 21 Oct, heavy thundery showers fell over western Singapore.
That day, 81.0mm of rainfall was registered at Tuas South — the highest daily total rainfall for the fortnight.
The daily maximum temperatures exceeded 34°C on most days over the period, MSS said.
The highest daily maximum temperature of 36.1°C was recorded in Woodlands on 23 Oct.
Also read: Thundery showers on most days in second half of Oct, warm & humid on some nights
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Featured image adapted from Zura Rudiyanto on Facebook.