Channel NewsAsia 27 Oct 14;
SINGAPORE: There will likely be more rain over Singapore and the surrounding region in the coming weeks, as the traditional dry season comes to an end for the year, according to the Meteorological Service Singapore.
The Southwest Monsoon transitioned to Inter-Monsoon conditions over the past week, thus signalling the end of the dry season and keeping the likelihood of transboundary haze in Singapore "low", the agency said in its advisory on Monday (Oct 27).
"The Inter-Monsoon period normally lasts from October to November, and is characterised by more rainfall and light winds that are variable in direction. The increased rainfall will help alleviate the hotspot and haze situation in Sumatra and Kalimantan," said the agency.
That said, Singapore may experience occasional slight haze, mainly in the morning, on some days due to the accumulation of particulate matter in the air under light wind conditions, it added.
Commenting on this development, Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Vivian Balakrishnan said on his Facebook page: "End of the South-West monsoon season means more rain, but less haze in the weeks to come. PUB's turn to be busy!"
"WEAK" EL NINO EXPECTED
Based on the forecasts from most global climate models, a "weak" El Nino is still likely to develop towards the end of 2014 or early 2015, the Meteorological Service Singapore said.
However, past El Nino events that form at that time of the year have been shown to have less impact on rainfall patterns in Singapore and the nearby region, it added.
- CNA/kk
Haze threat recedes as wet season commences
AMANDA LEE Today Online 28 Oct 14;
SINGAPORE — The threat of serious haze appears to have been averted for the rest of the year, with the onset of the Inter-Monsoon season over the past week signalling the end of the traditional dry period in the region.
The Inter-Monsoon period normally lasts from October to November, and is characterised by more rainfall and light winds that are variable in direction, the National Environment Agency (NEA) said yesterday.
“The likelihood of transboundary haze affecting Singapore for the rest of the year will thus be low, said the Meteorological Service Singapore,” the NEA added.
With the improvement in the haze situation, the NEA said it will stop issuing the daily haze forecast and health advisory from today.
It will continue to provide hourly air quality readings from 7am to 11pm on its websites and the myENV mobile application. The readings from midnight to 6am will be made available at 7am on the same day.
The NEA said it will continue to monitor the weather and haze situation in the region, and update the public when necessary.
In the coming weeks, Singapore and the surrounding region can expect more rain. The increased rainfall will help alleviate the hot spot and haze situation in Sumatra and Kalimantan.
“During this period, Singapore may experience occasional slight haze, mainly in the morning, on some days due to the accumulation of particulate matter in the air under light wind conditions,” the NEA said.
“The haze situation is expected to improve further with the onset of the rainy season brought by the North-east Monsoon in early December.”
The NEA said that, based on the forecasts from most global climate models, a weak El Nino is still likely to develop towards the end of the year or early next year.
“However, past El Nino events that form at that time of the year have been shown to have less impact on rainfall patterns in Singapore and the nearby region,” the agency added.
Compared with last year when the three-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) hit an all-time high of 401, the Republic has been spared from hazardous haze levels so far this year. On Oct 6, the PSI reached 153 — the highest reading since the air quality reporting was tweaked in April to incorporate levels of fine particulate matter, or PM2.5.
The NEA said the total number of hot spots detected yesterday in Sumatra and Kalimantan was 25 and 52 respectively, and that smoke haze was visible in southern Kalimantan.
More rain and less haze for Singapore in weeks ahead
AMELIA TENG Straits Times 27 Oct 14;
SINGAPORE - Singapore can expect more rain and less haze in the coming weeks with the south-west monsoon season transitioning into inter-monsoon conditions.
The inter-monsoon season typically lasts from October to November and the weather during the period is characterised by more rainfall and light and variable winds.
The Meteorological Service Singapore said on Monday in an advisory that this transition signals the end of traditional dry season in the region, and the likelihood of transboundary haze affecting Singapore for the rest of the year will be low.
This is because the increased rainfall will help alleviate the hotspot and haze situation in Sumatra and Kalimantan in Indonesia.
The Met Services said that Singapore may experience occasional slight haze, mainly in the morning, on some days due to the accumulation of particulate matter in the air under light wind conditions. The haze situation is expected to improve further with the onset of the rainy season during the north-east monsoon in early December.
The Met Services also gave an update on the El Nino weather phenomenon based on forecasts from global climate models, saying that a weak El Nino is likely to develop towards the end of 2014 or early 2015. But past El Nino events that form at that time of the year have been shown to have less impact on rainfall patterns in Singapore and the nearby region, it said.
The El Nino refers to the abnormal warming of the tropical Pacific Ocean and is known to disrupt normal weather patterns in various regions of the world. In South-east Asia, its effect has been linked to prolonged drier and warmer weather.
As the haze situation has improved, the National Environment Agency (NEA) will stop issuing the daily Haze Forecast and Health Advisory after Monday, Oct 27.
Air quality readings will still be available hourly from 7am to 11pm at www.haze.gov.sg, www.nea.gov.sg and on the NEA's myENV mobile application. Air quality readings from 12am to 6am will also be made available at 7am on the same day.
NEA will continue to monitor the weather and haze situation in the region, and the public will be updated when necessary, the advisory said.
- See more at: http://www.straitstimes.com/news/singapore/environment/story/more-rain-and-less-haze-singapore-weeks-ahead-20141027#sthash.ycCDgN6z.dpuf
