More rain and less haze for Singapore in weeks ahead

Singapore can expect more rain and less haze in the coming weeks with the south-west monsoon season transitioning into inter-monsoon conditions. -- PHOTO: ST FILE
Singapore can expect more rain and less haze in the coming weeks with the south-west monsoon season transitioning into inter-monsoon conditions. -- PHOTO: ST FILE

SINGAPORE - Singapore can expect more rain and less haze in the coming weeks with the south-west monsoon season transitioning into inter-monsoon conditions.

The inter-monsoon season typically lasts from October to November and the weather during the period is characterised by more rainfall and light and variable winds.

The Meteorological Service Singapore said on Monday in an advisory that this transition signals the end of traditional dry season in the region, and the likelihood of transboundary haze affecting Singapore for the rest of the year will be low.

This is because the increased rainfall will help alleviate the hotspot and haze situation in Sumatra and Kalimantan in Indonesia.

The Met Services said that Singapore may experience occasional slight haze, mainly in the morning, on some days due to the accumulation of particulate matter in the air under light wind conditions. The haze situation is expected to improve further with the onset of the rainy season during the north-east monsoon in early December.

The Met Services also gave an update on the El Nino weather phenomenon based on forecasts from global climate models, saying that a weak El Nino is likely to develop towards the end of 2014 or early 2015. But past El Nino events that form at that time of the year have been shown to have less impact on rainfall patterns in Singapore and the nearby region, it said.

The El Nino refers to the abnormal warming of the tropical Pacific Ocean and is known to disrupt normal weather patterns in various regions of the world. In South-east Asia, its effect has been linked to prolonged drier and warmer weather.

As the haze situation has improved, the National Environment Agency (NEA) will stop issuing the daily Haze Forecast and Health Advisory after Monday, Oct 27.

Air quality readings will still be available hourly from 7am to 11pm at www.haze.gov.sg, www.nea.gov.sg and on the NEA's myENV mobile application. Air quality readings from 12am to 6am will also be made available at 7am on the same day.

NEA will continue to monitor the weather and haze situation in the region, and the public will be updated when necessary, the advisory said.

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