Risk of flash floods from Jan 10 to 13 due to monsoon surge, warns PUB
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Several places including Dunearn Road, Bukit Timah Road near King Albert Park, and Balmoral Road were inundated with floods on Dec 29.
PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO FILE
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SINGAPORE - Flash floods may occur between Jan 10 and Jan 13, when a monsoon surge is forecast to hit Singapore.
National water agency PUB warned on Jan 9 that intense downpours might overwhelm the city’s canals and drains temporarily during this period, triggering sudden and localised floods.
The monsoon surge – a sudden increase in wind speeds that causes cold air to rush southwards in the South China Sea – could cause temperatures to dip to 22 deg C in some places, said the National Environment Agency (NEA) on the same day.
NEA added: “Periods of moderate to heavy thundery showers with cool and windy conditions can be expected.”
The warning follows a string of recent deluges.
A prevailing north-east monsoon and record rainfall events led to at least three flash floods in the last months of 2024, the latest occurring in the evening of Dec 29
Cars were marooned by floods on many of the affected roads.
On Nov 22, heavy rain triggered two flash floods in Yishun and Potong Pasir.
The year of 2025 may still get wetter. On Jan 2, the Meteorological Service Singapore said Singapore is under a La Nina watch – referring to the climate phenomenon that brings more rain – meaning wetter conditions could develop in the next few months.
To keep safe in a flood, PUB, as part of its “Get Flood-wise in a Flash” campaign launched on Nov 20, 2024, advised the public to:
Follow PUB flood alerts
Learn how to be flood-ready
Avoid flooded areas
Share PUB flood updates
Help others where possible
