No respite from the heat
Felicia Wong, Straits Times 10 Jun 09;
THE sizzling hot and humid days in Singapore are set to continue for the rest of this week, with the mercury likely to rise to 34 degree Celsius, said the weatherman.
While it may have felt scorching hot in the past weeks, the National Environment Agency (NEA) said that the hottest day so far, May 13, hit only 33.6 deg C, a far cry from the record 36 deg C recorded on March 26, 1998.
And those hoping for a respite from the heat will be disappointed. NEA's two-week outlook till this weekend indicates that the warm and humid conditions are expected to remain, with temperatures potentially reaching about 34 deg C.
Rainfall will likely remain below normal levels and, as a result of the drier weather, Singapore may also experience occasional haze.
NEA says these hot and dry conditions are typical of the prevailing Southwest monsoon that affects Singapore and the surrounding region.
However, in the next week, low level winds and short showers are expected on a few days between the late morning and early afternoon. There may also be widespread showers with thunder and gusty winds due to Sumatra squalls on one or two days in the pre-dawn hours and early morning.
NEA said that the period from June to September generally tends to be a drier season compared to other times of the year.
Cooler weather can be expected towards the end of the Southwest monsoon season, probably in September.
