SINGAPORE - This month is set to be the warmest December on record for Singapore.

The mean monthly temperature for December 2015 to date is 27.8 deg C, and the mean daily maximum temperature is 31.6 deg C.

Both beat previous records set in 1997 and 2002, the National Environment Agency (NEA) said on Thursday (Dec 31).

The mean monthly temperature for December in 1997 was 27.3 deg C. The mean daily maximum was 31.3 deg C in both December 1997 and 2002.

2015 is also likely to tie with 1997 and 1998 as the warmest year on record, with a mean annual temperature of 28.3 deg C.

The highest daily maximum temperature recorded this December was between 34.4 and 34.7 deg C.

The record warm temperatures in 2015 and 1997 are due to strong El Nino events.

For the first two weeks of the new year, there will be a few days of wet weather.

There will be widespread moderate to heavy rain and occasionally windy conditions, NEA forecast.

"The showers may be heavy at times on days when there is convergence of winds coupled with strong solar heating of land areas," NEA said.

This is due to the strengthening of north-easterly winds over the region.

North-east monsoon conditions are expected to prevail, with the low level winds blowing predominantly from the north-east or north-west.

The temperature range for the fortnight is forecast to be between 22 and 33 deg C.