Flash floods in north, central Singapore

Straits Times 1 Nov 11;

FLASH floods hit central and northern parts of Singapore yesterday afternoon, bringing traffic to a standstill in some areas. The water was knee-high along Woodlands Road, near the junction with Mandai Road, from about 3.15pm.

The area is near the coast, and water agency PUB said a combination of 'intense rainfall, high tide and debris brought on by the storm' caused the flood.

When The Straits Times visited the area, PUB staff and contractors were clearing the drains of leaves and twigs.

The flood waters took 45 minutes to subside, causing a major traffic jam.

Businessman Thomas Tan, 46, was driving along this stretch when the water flooded the engine of his truck. He said it will cost more than $500 to repair the engine.

Mr Tan said he was caught in a flood in the same area last week: 'There are a lot of leaves and rubbish clogging the drains here.'

There were two bursts of intense rainfall over the Mandai area yesterday afternoon, coinciding with a high tide of 3.3m.At the Kranji Expressway slip road towards Woodlands Road, the water took an hour to clear. In other flood-hit areas - including some sections of Dunearn Road, Bukit Timah Road and Stevens Close - it took 10 to 20 minutes to subside.

The National Environment Agency issued a heavy rain warning yesterday, and a spokesman said that for the next three days, moderate to heavy showers with thunder can be expected in the afternoon.

Ngee Ann Polytechnic students walk through flash flood
Straits Times 1 Nov 11;

Flash floods were reported in the northern and western regions of Singapore following heavy rains on Monday afternoon.

A contributor named Ilovemaggie on citizen journalism website Stomp reported that students at Ngee Ann Polytechnic took off their shoes and rolled up their pants to walk through ankle-high waters.

Flash floods were also reported in Senja Way and the area near Marsiling MRT station.

Flash flood due to rain
Today Online 1 Nov 11;

SINGAPORE - A Kranji Expressway slip road towards Woodlands Road has been affected by flash floods today afternoon.

National water agency PUB had began posting updates to water levels in the many canals and waterways around Singapore from 1.07pm on its official twitter feed, with warnings on flood risks.

Flash floods also affected two other areas but the water has since subsided,reported PUB via its twitter feed.

Underground pathways were not spared the deluge of rain, as twitter users posted that the underpass linking the Orchard MRT to Tangs was "flooded".

"Underpass below tangs is flooded! They had to put metal slabs on the floor fr ppl to walk! (sic)," said twitter user @facesbysarah.

A Tangs Plaza spokesperson said there was a 'little water, about 1-2cm deep' caused by the rain, and that Tangs was not affected. WITH REPORTS FROM CHANNEL NEWSASIA