SINGAPORE - The last two weeks of March are expected to be drier and warmer than the first fortnight, the National Environment Agency (NEA) said in their weather advisory on Tuesday (March 15).

The maximum temperature could reach 36 deg C on some days, and the daily maximum temperature is expected to range between 33 deg C and 34 deg C.

The mean monthly temperature for the last two weeks of March is likely to be as high as that in 1998 - the warmest March on record, which had the mercury hitting 29.5 deg C.

The warm weather is due to three factors: the influence of the El Nino, the presence of a dry and warm air mass over the region, and the equinox.

During the equinox, which occurs twice a year around March 20 and Sept 22, the sun shines directly overhead around noon, NEA said.

Sunlight reaching the earth's surface is most intense and contributes to higher temperatures in the day.

The north-east monsoon is expected to weaken, as the north-east monsoon season tapers off.

The rainfall for March 2016 is expected to be significantly lower than normal, NEA forecast.

But short,thundery showers can still be expected in the afternoon on four to six days over parts of Singapore.