A monsoon surge is forecast to affect the region over the next few days, and is expected to bring widespread intermittent rain, heavy at times, to Singapore between Friday and Monday.

A monsoon surge refers to the steady strengthening of the winds blowing from the South China Sea during the wet phase of the Northeast Monsoon season in December and January. Monsoon surges usually bring periods of prolonged widespread moderate to heavy rain lasting for two to five days, with occasionally windy conditions and cooler temperatures.

If this weekend's heavy rain periods coincide with high tide, there could be flash floods in low-lying coastal areas, the National Environment Agency has warned. High tides and times over the next few days range from 2.1m to 2.8m, in the wee hours of the morning before dawn, and in the afternoon and evening.

Weather information is available via www.nea.gov.sg, the weather forecast hotline at 6542 7788, and radio broadcasts, as well as the NEA's Twitter account @NEAsg.

In the event of flash floods, the public can log on to PUB's Facebook (www.facebook.com/PUBSg) or PUB's Twitter account @PUBSingapore, or tune in to radio broadcasts.