This month is on track to be the warmest April since records began in 1929, the Meteorological Service Singapore (MSS) confirmed yesterday. As of Thursday, the mean monthly temperature for the month stood at 29.5 deg C - 0.3 deg C above the highest mean monthly April temperature, which was recorded in 1998.

The highest daily maximum temperatures also exceeded 34 deg C on most days.

In addition, the daily maximum of 36.7 deg C recorded in Seletar on April 13 was the second-highest recorded temperature in Singapore. The highest was 37 deg C, recorded in Tengah on April 17, 1983.

The highest daily maximum temperature has reached 35 deg C or more on 13 days this month.

Almost all parts of Singapore also received below-average rainfall.

However, thundery showers are forecast for Singapore over the next two weeks.

Short thundery showers are expected in the afternoons of seven to nine days, while thundery showers with gusty winds are expected in the pre-dawn and morning hours on one or two days, according to the MSS.

Rainfall for the first fortnight of next month is expected to be near average, and the daily maximum temperatures are likely to be between 33 deg C and 35 deg C on most days.

Samantha Boh