Expect morning showers with thunder and wind until end-September, says weatherman

SINGAPORE – Early morning showers with thunder and strong winds are here to stay, at least until the end of September, said the weatherman.

Sumatra squalls will bring widespread thundery showers and gusty winds in the pre-dawn hours and morning on several days for the rest of the month, said the Meteorological Service Singapore in a statement on Sept 16.

Thundery showers of short duration can be expected over parts of the island on some afternoons, too, although there will be a sprinkling of a few dry days as well, the Met Service added.

Overall, the total rainfall for the second fortnight of September is forecast to be near-average over most parts of the island.

Daily temperatures are likely to range between 24 deg C and 33 deg C on most days, and the daily maximum temperature could go slightly above 34 deg C on a few days, the Met Service said.

In a review of weather patterns for the first half of September, the Met Service said south-west monsoon conditions in the region meant short-duration thundery showers over parts of the islands on some days.

On several days, Sumatra squalls brought thundery showers in the pre-dawn and morning.

The highest daily total rainfall for the fortnight was 102.6mm, recorded near Sarimbun Reservoir on Sept 5 after thundery showers from a Sumatra squall, the Met Service said.

The rainfall recorded for Singapore was well above average in the first half of September, it added.

There were four days in the first half of the month when the daily maximum temperature did not exceed 30 deg C. The highest daily maximum temperature of 33.8 deg C was recorded in Admiralty on Sept 3.The lowest daily minimum temperature of 21.9 deg C was recorded in Pulau Ubin on Sept 15.

The average daily maximum temperature for September was 31.6 deg C and the average daily minimum temperature was 25.2 deg C.