Singapore: 'Wetter than average' weather expected

Get set for a wet, wet year end
Expect more rainfall due to N-E monsoon, La Nina phenomenon, says NEA
Grace Chua Straits Times 10 Nov 10;

WHIP out your umbrellas - this month and the next will be wetter than average, said the weatherman yesterday.

This is because of the combination of the annual north-east monsoon and the La Nina weather phenomenon, which happens every few years, said the National Environment Agency's (NEA) meteorological services division.

Singapore can expect short and moderate to heavy showers with thunder in the afternoons and early evenings, on five to seven days out of the next two weeks.

Rainfall over the whole month is expected to be 'average to slightly above average', with next month 'as wet, if not wetter than November', the NEA said.

It added that from next month to January, the typical north-east monsoon patterns are likely to occur: afternoon showers and two to four spells of prolonged rain lasting two to five days at a time.

Flooding due to these wet spells cannot be ruled out, an NEA spokesman said, adding that floods also depend on other factors such as the rain location and high tides.

Such rainy spells have caused floods in Singapore before, such as at Thomson Road in December 2006, when the nurseries and flower shops there were inundated.

The La Nina phenomenon, where surface temperatures of the central and eastern Pacific Ocean cool off, also plays a role as it tends to deliver rain to the region. This year's effect is moderately strong, and thus dry weather is expected to return only in the first quarter of next year.

Although flash floods cannot be ruled out, the agency said the year-end conditions are different from those during July's floods, which caused millions of dollars' worth of damage to Orchard Road.

Then, fallout from Typhoon Conson over the Philippines and southern China hit Singapore, and was coupled with unseasonably heavy rain.

But national water agency PUB is taking no chances: It is beefing up flood protection at the Orchard Road shopping district by raising the level of low-lying road sections, starting this month.

It is also sending out flood advisories to the residents of 71 flood-prone areas, such as Fort Road and Mountbatten Road in Katong, and has stepped up inspections at construction sites and flood hot spots to check for blocked drains.

Orchard Road businesses, too, are gearing up for the rainy season. For example, Liat Towers has invested in flood barriers that will be finished and ready for testing next week, said Mr Chik Hai Lam, a supervisor at Goldvein, which owns the building.

'Hopefully the system should be able to control any floods,' he said.

Wetter season expected this year-end
Dylan Loh Channel NewsAsia 9 Nov 10;

SINGAPORE : Singapore can expect a wetter year-end than last year due to La Nina weather phenomenon.

Weather experts say the phenomenon may bring more rain with intense showers and thunder, likely during the holiday season.

Singapore's Meteorological Services will also issue heavy rain warnings two to three hours before the expected downfall.

Kids may love splashing in puddles, but all the joy may be washed away if floods occur - like in July when Singapore's premier shopping belt got flooded.

Patricia Ee, acting director, Operational Services Department, Meteorological Services Division, National Environment Agency, said: "In the July case, it was due to other factors as well - because of the indirect influence of the typhoon. But we don't expect typhoons coming in during this time, towards the end of the year."

However, flooding cannot be ruled out and may occur after prolonged heavy rain lasting over six hours.

The Northeast Monsoon, ushering in the year-end wet weather, should also bring showers in the afternoon and early evening.

Ms Ee said: "It can also start in the early hours of the morning and extend throughout the day and lasts for, maybe, two (or) three days."

On the bright side, the prevailing Northeast Monsoon winds should work in favour of keeping dust particles from, for example, volcanic eruptions or forest fires in the region, away from Singapore. So while the weather may be wet, at least the air would be good.

- CNA/al

PUB steps up drain inspections ahead of Northeast Monsoon
Dylan Loh Channel NewsAsia 9 Nov 10;

SINGAPORE : National water agency PUB is stepping up drain inspections ahead of the Northeast Monsoon season, which normally lasts from December to March in Singapore.

The season is expected to bring heavy showers with thunder.

Rain coinciding with high tides could also lead to localised flash floods.

PUB said this may happen in low-lying areas like Lorong Buangkok, Jalan Seaview, Meyer Road, Lorong 101 to 106 Changi, and Everitt Road North.

The agency will be distributing flood advisories to people in these areas for them to take the necessary precautions.

PUB has also increased inspections of construction sites to check for drain blockages.

The agency advises pedestrians, motorists and residents to be careful during the monsoon season in the event of flash floods occuring due to heavy storms.

In addition, PUB has recently completed drainage projects to alleviate flooding along several areas.

Drain improvement works will also be carried out for the stretch of Bukit Timah Canal from Jalan Kampong Chantek to Maple Avenue in late November.

It is scheduled to be completed by December 2012 and is the first stage of an overall drainage scheme to improve the Bukit Timah First Diversion Canal. - CNA /ls