SINGAPORE - Singapore marked its warmest January since temperature records began in 1929, the National Environment Agency (NEA) said in a fortnightly weather advisory.

Despite rain on many days, the mean temperature last month reached 28.2 deg C, surpassing the previous record of 28 deg C set in 1998.

"This follows the warmest December on record the previous month," NEA said.

The mean daily maximum temperature was 31.6 deg C and the mean daily minimum temperature was 26 deg C, both higher than their long-term means.

NEA also forecast a monsoon surge during Chinese New Year that is expected to bring "widespread rain and occasionally windy conditions".

This is typical of the wet phase of the north-east monsoon season during December and January, NEA said.

Rainfall for the first two weeks of February is expected to be slightly above average, it added.

Short, thundery showers are expected in the afternoon on four to five days a week.

The warm weather temperatures experienced in the past few months are expected to extend into the first fortnight of February 2016.

During this period, the daily maximum and minimum temperatures could reach as high as 34 deg C and 27 deg C respectively on some days.

For daily weather forecasts, visit weather.gov.sg, nea.gov.sg, or download the myENV app.