Warmer-than-usual conditions to persist in Singapore

According to the Meteorological Service of Singapore, the first two weeks of the year saw the hottest mean temperature for January.
Channel NewsAsia 15 Jan 16;

SINGAPORE: The average temperature for January this year is likely to be "significantly warmer" than the long-term mean of 26.5 degrees Celsius for January, according to the Meteorological Service Singapore (MSS).

In a media release on Friday (Jan 15), MSS said temperatures in January will likely be between 24 to 34 degrees Celsius.

"The significantly warmer than usual temperatures experienced in recent months can be attributed to the prevailing strong El Nino, which is currently at a mature level," MSS said. For the next few months, El Nino is still expected to bring drier and warmer conditions to Singapore.

Based on the first fortnight of 2016, Singapore saw its hottest ever January, with the mean temperature for the first two weeks coming in at 28.1 degrees Celsius.

"This value exceeds the highest ever recorded mean temperature of 28.0 degrees Celsius (recorded in 1998) for the whole of January," MSS said.

The mean maximum temperature for the first fortnight of January 2016 was 31.3 degrees Celsius, while the mean lowest temperature was 25.9 degrees Celsius,. This is above the long-term average mean of 30.4 degrees Celsius and 23.9 degrees Celsius for January, respectively, MSS said.

Despite the hot weather, the island is likely to experience widespread rain and occasionally windy conditions on two to three days for the next fortnight, thanks to stronger northeasterly winds over the region due to the Northeast Monsoon, the Met Services added.

For the other days, MSS said to expect short showers in the afternoon and early evening on five to seven days.

Still, rainfall for the month of January is expected to be below normal.

Warmer than usual days in second half of January
Today Online 15 Jan 16;

SINGAPORE — Expect the warm weather to continue over the next two weeks. 


The mean monthly temperature for this month is likely to be significantly warmer than its long-term mean of 26.5°C, said the Meteorological Service Singapore (MSS) today (Jan 15). The temperature for January is forecast to range between 24°C and 34°C.

The first two weeks of this month also saw a mean temperature of 28.1°C, which exceeds the highest-ever recorded mean temperature of 28.0°C in 1998 for the whole of the month.

These significantly warmer than usual temperatures in recent months can be attributed to the prevailing strong El Nino, said the MSS.

The El Nino is expected to gradually weaken over the next few months and return to neutral conditions by “around mid-2016”, based on the forecasts from international climate centres.

WIDESPREAD RAIN

For two to three days, Singapore is likely to experience widespread rain and occasionally windy conditions. Short thundery showers can be mainly expected in the afternoon and early evening on five to seven days. These showers may be heavy at times on days, said the MSS.

Still, rainfall for January is expected to be below normal. The rainfall for the first two weeks of this month was “well below average”, said the MSS.


Expect more hot weather in next few months; January set to be hotter than usual
Chew Hui Min, The Straits Times AsiaOne 16 Jan 16;

SINGAPORE - Expect hot and dry weather for the next few months.

Cooler weather will set in only in the middle of the year, when the El Nino effect is expected to gradually weaken, the National Environment Agency (NEA) said on Friday (Jan 15).

The average temperature this month is expected to be significantly warmer than usual, with the temperature range forecast to be between 24 and 34 deg C.

The mean temperature for the first fortnight of January was 28.1 deg C, topping the highest-ever recorded mean temperature of 28 deg C for the whole of January, which was recorded in 1998.

The mean monthly temperature is likely to be significantly warmer than the long-term average of 26.5 deg C for January, NEA said.

The mean daily maximum temperature for the first fortnight of January was 31.3 deg C, well above the long-term average mean of 30.4 deg C.

The warm weather is due to a strong El Nino, which is now at a "mature level", NEA said.

But there will be some rainy days in January due to stronger north-easterly winds, NEA said. For the next fortnight, north-east monsoon conditions are expected to persist.

Singapore is likely to experience widespread rain and occasionally windy conditions on two to three days.

Short thundery showers can be expected in the afternoon and early evening on five to seven days. But rainfall for January 2016 is expected to be below normal.