An umbrella will be a good idea over the next two weeks, with more thundery showers expected in the first half of March compared with last month due to the north-east monsoon, said the Meteorological Service Singapore (MSS) yesterday.

The showers are likely to take place in the afternoon on seven to nine days due to the daytime heat and are likely to extend into the evening on some days.

Overall, the forecasted rainfall is likely to be "near normal" and temperatures will range between 23 deg C and 33 deg C.

Warm conditions can be expected on a few days, where the maximum temperature could hit 34 deg C.

Singapore will experience cooler temperatures and windy conditions with passing showers in the second half of the month.

This is due to a weak monsoon surge that could affect the South China Sea and the surrounding region, said the MSS.

In its review of the weather in February, the MSS said rainfall was "well below normal" in nearly the whole of Singapore.

This was due to a mass of dry air blown in from northern Asia to the South-east Asia region by the prevailing northerly to north-easterly winds. As a result, there were seven consecutive days of no rainfall, between Feb 7 and 13.

More showers were seen in the second half of the month, when thundery showers fell mostly over the western, central and southern parts of the island.

During this period, the heaviest rainfall recorded was on Feb 28 in Woodlands at 93.5mm.

Overall, in February, the lowest recorded rainfall was 17mm in eastern Singapore, 87 per cent below average, while the highest recorded was in Choa Chu Kang at 148.2mm or 4 per cent above average.

Daily maximum temperatures for the month ranged between 29.4 deg C and 35.1 deg C, while the daily minimum ranged between 22 deg C and 25.2 deg C.

The highest recorded temperature for February was 35.1 deg C in Choa Chu Kang on Feb 25.