Flash floods reported at several locations: PUB

Channel NewsAsia 29 Jul 14;

SINGAPORE: Flash floods were reported on Tuesday (July 29) at MacKenzie Road, Kramat Lane, and Bassein Road, according to a media release from the Public Utilities Board (PUB). The heaviest rainfall today was recorded at Handy Road, which saw a total rainfall of 95.4mm from 2.10pm to 4pm.

PUB said the flash floods were caused by intense rain overwhelming the drainage systems in these areas. "The localised flash floods subsided in less than 25 minutes and the roads remained passable to traffic," according to its statement.

The national water agency said that in addition to the drainage improvement works along MacKenzie Road completed in December 2013, the existing culvert at the downstream junction of MacKenzie Road and Bukit Timah Road will be upgraded in tandem with the Land Transport Authority's Downtown Line II works to improve flood protection for the area.

PUB has also scheduled works to deepen and widen the existing culvert at Bassein Road, which are slated to start in the fourth quarter of 2014.

Construction work for the Stamford Detention Tank and Stamford Diversion Canal has also begun, as part of measures to enchance flood protection for the Stamford Canal Catchment, which covers the Orchard Road shopping belt, including Kramat Lane. Works for the Stamford Detention Tank and Stamford Diversion Canal are expected to complete by 2016 and 2017 respectively, said PUB.

To obtain flood updates or report flash floods, the public can call PUB’s 24-hour Call Centre at 1800-284 6600 or go to PUB’s Facebook: www.facebook.com/PUBSg or PUB’s mobile app “MyWaters”.

For the latest weather reports, including heavy rain warnings, visit the NEA website atwww.nea.gov.sg or use the mobile weather service (Weather@SG - weather.nea.gov.sg). SMS alert services on heavy rain warning and water level information are also open for public subscription at:http://www.pub.gov.sg/managingflashfloods/wls/Pages/SubscriptiontoSMSAlerts.aspx

- CNA

Intense rain causes flash floods at several areas
Today Online 29 Jul 14;

SINGAPORE — As intense rain fell over parts of Singapore this afternoon (July 29), drainage systems in several locations were overwhelmed, resulting in flash floods.

Flash floods were reported at MacKenzie Road, Kramat Lane and Bassein Road, said the PUB. The localised flash floods subsided in less than 25 minutes and the roads remained passable to traffic, said the national water agency.

The PUB said the heaviest rainfall was recorded at Handy Road with a total rainfall of 95.4mm from 2.10pm to 4pm. It peaked between 2.30pm to 3pm, with a rainfall of 49.4 mm.

To improve flood protection, the existing culvert at the downstream junction of MacKenzie Road and Bukit Timah Road will be upgraded in tandem with the Land Transport Authority’s Downtown Line II works, said the PUB. This is in addition to the drainage improvement works along MacKenzie Road that were completed in December last year.

PUB will also deepen and widen the existing culvert at Bassein Road, with work slated to start in the fourth quarter of this year.

As part of measures to enchance flood protection for the Stamford Canal Catchment — which covers the Orchard Road shopping belt, including Kramat Lane — PUB has started construction work for the Stamford Detention Tank and Stamford Diversion Canal. Works are expected to be completed by 2016 and 2017 respectively.

Trees at Punggol, Tuas felled amid thunderstorms
Channel NewsAsia 29 Jul 14;

SINGAPORE: Strong winds amid a thunderstorm saw trees toppling in various parts of Singapore on Tuesday (July 29), obstructing traffic in some areas and cutting off the entry to a car park in the north-east.

Callers told the MediaCorp hotline (68 2222 68) that trees or branches had fallen at Pioneer Road, Punggol Drive, Rivervale Drive and Edgedale Plains.

Mr Nor Nizar sent photos to Channel NewsAsia showing a tree along Punggol Drive apparently broken midway along its stem. Mr Nor said the fallen tree had blocked off access to the road leading to the car park at Blocks 637A to D and 638A to C. Another photo, also provided by Mr Nor, showed one lane at Edgedale Plains blocked off, though cars were still able to pass.

Another caller, Mdm Tan, said "six to seven trees" had fallen along Rivervale Drive, near Block 191A. She said pedestrians and cyclists were unable to use the pathway due to the obstructions following "a freak 15-minute storm".

At about 5pm, the police tweeted that the roads affected by fallen trees in Sengkang and Punggol were now passable for traffic.

A third caller, Mr Jiang, said up to three lanes were obstructed along the Jalan Buroh and Pioneer Road stretch at Tuas, though the roads were still passable to traffic.

The National Environment Agency had sent out an advisory on Twitter at 12.17pm, warning of "moderate to heavy thundery showers with gusty wind" over many parts of Singapore. The PUB also tweeted of high water levels at Tampines Road/Jalan Teliti briefly at around 1pm.

- CNA/es

Pouring rain stalls traffic, causes flash floods
NG JING YNG Today Online 30 Ju 14;

SINGAPORE — A heavy downpour accompanied by strong winds that lasted for more than two hours yesterday left a trail of fallen tree branches strewn over roads and pavements, even stalling traffic briefly on some expressways.

Flash floods were reported on some roads, such as Bassein Road, Mackenzie Road and Kramat Lane, although these remained passable to traffic, said national water agency PUB.

A PUB spokesperson said the flash floods were due to intense rain, which overwhelmed the drainage systems in these areas.

The National Environment Agency (NEA) sent an advisory before noon about strong winds and thundery showers. Within an hour, the PUB warned of a high risk of flooding at the area bounded by Tampines Road and Jalan Teliti as water levels in the drains and canals came close to overflowing. The warning was withdrawn minutes later, however, as the water level eased to 90 per cent of the drainage capacity.

As the storm raged on, the PUB started reporting flash floods from around 3pm at Bassein Road near Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Mackenzie Road near Little India and Kramat Lane behind Concorde Hotel Singapore. However, none of these flash floods lasted beyond 25 minutes.

In the Jurong West and Punggol neighbourhoods, residents reported broken, heavy tree branches as well as leaves being strewn across pedestrian walkways and road lanes, causing traffic to be obstructed — including access to a car park along Punggol Drive.

There were also four cases of road obstructions on the Tampines Expressway and one case on the Central Expressway due to fallen tree branches, the Land Transport Authority said, although these were cleared by 4.30pm yesterday. The heaviest rainfall was recorded in Handy Road at 95.4mm, said the PUB.

Reiterating its flood prevention efforts, the PUB spokesperson added that the existing culvert — a structure that allows water to flow under a road — at the downstream junction of Mackenzie Road and Bukit Timah Road will be upgraded along with the construction of Stage 2 of the Downtown MRT Line. Work to deepen and widen the existing culvert in Bassein Road will also commence later this year.

She also said the PUB had started to strengthen flood protection measures at the Stamford Canal Catchment, which covers the Orchard Road shopping belt, including Kramat Lane — with an expected completion date in 2017.

Based on the three-day weather outlook on the NEA website, thundery showers can be expected in the morning mainly over southern, eastern and western Singapore tomorrow.