More rain expected in Singapore after 18-day dry spell in July
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Thundery showers in the late morning and afternoon on most days could bring respite in the first half of August.
ST PHOTO: BRIAN TEO
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SINGAPORE – Rain, rain will come again in the first half of August, after Singapore experienced a dry spell of 18 days, said the weatherman.
The Meteorological Service Singapore (Met Service) said in its fortnightly forecast on Aug 1 that thundery showers on July 31 brought an end to Singapore’s first dry spell in nearly five years.
A dry spell is defined as a period of at least 15 consecutive days with daily total rainfall of less than 1mm, averaged over islandwide stations with long-term records, according to the Met Service, a unit under the National Environment Agency.
The last dry spell recorded here occurred in 2019 and lasted 17 days, from July 31 to Aug 16.
In the second half of July, daily maximum temperatures in Singapore ranged between 32.8 deg C and 35.2 deg C, while nights were warm with daily minimum temperatures above 28 deg C over most parts of the island.
Thundery showers over various areas in the late morning and afternoon on most days are expected to bring respite in the first half of August, as a result of the prevailing south-west monsoon season.
On one or two mornings, Sumatra squalls could bring widespread thundery showers and gusty winds. The weather system is a line of thunderstorms that travels towards Singapore after developing over the island of Sumatra or the Strait of Malacca.
Total rainfall for the first fortnight of August is forecast to be near average over most parts of the island.
Daily maximum temperatures during this period are likely to range between 32 deg C and 34 deg C on most days.
A few nights could be warm and humid, with temperatures remaining above 28 deg C.
Many areas across the island registered well-below-average rainfall in the second half of July.
The highest rainfall for the second half of the month occurred during thundery showers on July 31, with the daily total rainfall recorded in Buona Vista hitting 55.8mm.
