Afternoon rainfall not widespread and heavy enough to break current dry spell: NEA

Channel NewsAsia 15 Mar 14;

SINGAPORE: Occasional brief showers on Saturday afternoon mostly affected the eastern and central parts of Singapore. As of 5pm, the highest rainfall recorded was 3.8mm at Scotts Road.

However, the National Environment Agency (NEA) said the rainfall on Saturday afternoon was not widespread and heavy enough to break the current dry spell. NEA added that Singapore can expect some rainfall in the coming days with the easing of the dry phase of the Northeast Monsoon.

That will bring some respite to the current prolonged dry spell which started in mid-January 2014.

Passing showers in the afternoon are forecast for Sunday, and thundery showers in the afternoon for Monday.

NEA said in the first 14 days of March 2014, the highest daily rainfall total for March was 15.2mm recorded at Tuas on March 3, and the total rainfall for March 2014 is 18.6mm, also recorded at Tuas.

During this period, brief afternoon showers affected a few areas in western Singapore on some days. Other parts of the island received little or no rain. The daily maximum temperature in some parts of the island exceeded 33 degrees Celsius on most days.

The Northeast Monsoon is expected to transition to the inter-monsoon period in the last week of March 2014. The inter-monsoon period typically lasts from late March to May.

The winds over Singapore and the surrounding region are expected to weaken and become varied in direction.

Singapore may be affected by transboundary haze if hotspot activities in Sumatra and Peninsular Malaysia persist, and the prevailing winds temporarily turn to blow any haze toward us.

Despite an expected increase in rainfall during the second half of March 2014, rainfall total for March 2014 is likely to be below the long-term average of 185.9 mm.

- CNA/ac

Slight improvement to hazy conditions after wind direction change, rain
Channel NewsAsia 15 Mar 14;

SINGAPORE: The National Environment Agency (NEA) said a slight change in the prevailing wind direction, together with brief showers in the afternoon mostly in the eastern and central parts of the island, brought some improvement to the hazy conditions in Singapore on Saturday.

Winds have shifted from northeasterly to easterly, blowing haze in southern Johor away from Singapore.

The National Environment Agency said that as of 9pm, the 24-hr PSI is 27-52 and the 24-hr PM2.5 is 14-30 μg/m3.

A total of three hotspots were detected in Peninsular Malaysia and 11 hotspots in Sumatra on Saturday.

The low count is due to cloud cover and a partial satellite pass.

Due to improved conditions, the air quality for the next 24 hours is now forecast to stay in the high end of the moderate band.

For the next few days, thundery showers in Singapore are likely in the afternoon. Hazy conditions can still be expected for the next few days in the late afternoons and evenings should the wind direction change to blow from the northeast and if the hotspots in southern Johor persist.

The NEA said given the air quality forecast for the next 24 hours, most people can continue with normal activities.

- CNA/ac