IF THE weather has been sweltering lately, it is because May is on record as the second hottest month of the year here.

The fortnightly weather forecast by the National Environmental Agency (NEA) indicates that up till the middle of this month, higher-than-average day-time temperatures can be expected.

There will be little relief from rain, and winds will be too light to cool things down.

To top it off, a slight haze is also expected on some days between now and May 15.

In the first five days of this month, the mercury hit 34.1 deg C at its highest.

The average daily temperature for those five days was 29 deg C, slightly higher than the average daily temperature of 28.3 deg C in May in past years.

Expect temperatures to climb still higher - perhaps to 38 deg C - heading into June, traditionally the hottest month here. (April and August are the third and fourth hottest months.)

Read the full story in Wednesday's edition of The Straits Times.