Dry spell set to continue in Singapore despite brief downpour

Reshma Ailmchandani Channel NewsAsia 3 Mar 14;

SINGAPORE: Residents in the west of Singapore enjoyed a slight reprieve from the dry spell on Monday as rain fell for the first time in weeks.

Brief showers were reported on Monday, between 4.45pm and 5.30pm, in various parts of western Singapore, such as Jurong West, Tuas and Choa Chu Kang.

The rainfall recorded in Tuas was between 0.2mm and 15.2mm.

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) reported on its Twitter feed that there were flash floods on the PIE towards Tuas at the AYE exit.

It said that the water was cleared at around 6.50pm.

The downpour, however, does not mark the end of Singapore's dry spell.

A Meteorological Service Singapore (MSS) spokesperson said: "The showers were due to local wind convergence over the south western areas.

"Singapore is still in the dry phase of the northeast monsoon.

"The current dry weather conditions are expected to persist in the first half of March. For the next few days, mainly fair and warm conditions are expected."

- CNA/xq

Rain brings some respite from dry weather in parts of S’pore
Today Online 3 Mar 14;

SINGAPORE — Rain was observed in parts of Singapore this afternoon (March 3), providing some respite from the unrelenting dry weather in recent months.

Brief localised showers fell mainly over Tuas, Jurong West and Chua Chu Kang between 4.45pm and 5.30pm today, said the Meteorological Service Singapore (MSS). Rainfall of between 0.2mm and 15.2mm at Tuas was recorded.

The showers were due to local wind convergence over the south western areas, said the MSS.

For the next few days, mainly fair and warm conditions are expected, with Singapore still in the dry phase of the North-east Monsoon, said the MSS.

The National Environment Agency (NEA) had in the morning forecast showers in the western part of Singapore.

The Land Transport Authority tweeted around 5pm that there was a flash flood on the Pan-Island Expressway (PIE) near the Ayer Rajah Expressway exit. In response to media queries, the authority clarified that it had observed some water collecting on the PIE which cleared within minutes, and the road remained passable to traffic.

PUB confirmed that there was no flash flood.

The recent dry spell of 27 days over the past two months beat the previous record of 18 days set in 2008, promoting PUB to increase the amount of NEWater pumped into the reservoirs to maintain water levels. The NEA said last week that the dry weather would likely persist into the first half of this month.

Showers in west bring respite to S’pore
Today Online 4 Mar 14;

SINGAPORE — Rain in the western parts of Singapore yesterday afternoon provided some respite from the unrelenting dry weather that the Republic has been experiencing in recent months.

The Meteorological Service Singapore (MSS) reported that brief showers fell over Tuas, Jurong West and Chua Chu Kang between 4.45pm and 5.30pm. At Tuas, between 0.2mm and 15.2mm of rainfall was recorded.

“The showers were due to local wind convergence over the south-western areas,” said an MSS spokesperson.

The Land Transport Authority had tweeted around 5pm that there was a flash flood on the Pan-Island Expressway (PIE) near the Ayer Rajah Expressway exit, but later clarified in response to media queries that it had observed some water collecting on the PIE, which cleared within minutes, and that the road remained passable to traffic. Singapore has been experiencing unusually dry weather since the start of the year, with a recent dry spell of 27 days over two months, beating the previous record of 18 days set in 2008.

The MSS spokesperson said: “The current dry weather conditions are expected to persist in the first half of March. For the next few days, mainly fair and warm conditions are expected.”

Bigger splash on dry days
Jalelah Abu Baker, Darren Tang MyPaper AsiaOne 4 May 14;

SINGAPORE - Precisely when Singaporeans should be cutting back on water usage, they are consuming more.

The dry spell, which technically ended yesterday when some rain fell in the west, saw Singapore's water consumption go up as people showered longer and watered plants more frequently.

Meanwhile, a crisis is building up in the water-starved landscaping industry.

But ordinary folk are unfazed and continue to splash water.

Mr Tay Lai Hock, chief of the Ground-Up Initiative, a non-profit organisation that connects people back to nature, told MyPaper yesterday that people here may be thinking: "It's temporary what, so why should I change my habits?"

He said there may be more usage of air-conditioning, which also uses up water.

"It will take a catastrophe to wake everyone up," he added. "We think we can use technology to solve everything, and still want to maintain our standard of living."

Since the dry spell started in mid-January, daily water consumption has increased by about 15 million gallons.

This comes from both domestic users, who contribute about 45 per cent of water usage, and non-domestic users, who make up the remaining 55 per cent.

The average consumption has gone up to about 400 million gallons per day, up from 380 million gallons per day in 2010, Mr George Madhavan, director, 3P Network, PUB, said. This stemmed from a rise in population and "economic activities".

However, he added that Singapore's per capita consumption of water has decreased, from 165 litres per day 10 years ago to 151 litres last year.

While hobbyists are using more water to keep their blooms from withering, those in the business don't have the same luxury. They do not generally use water meant for the public.

Mr John Tan, owner of Esmond Landscape and Horticultural Singapore, said: "My pond is basically dry and I have had to tap on water reserves from other nurseries. I would think that if this weather continues, most of the ponds in the nurseries will be dry in two weeks."

Mr Tan, who is also the chairman of the Landscape Industry Association, added that a council meeting will be held later this week to talk about possible solutions.

He has resorted to watering his plants once a day, down from twice. If the dry spell continues, plants may start to die, he said.

There was some respite in sight yesterday as a bit of rain fell in the west, and there was even a flash flood on the Pan-Island Expressway.