Feeling hot? Here's why February was one of the hottest in 90 years

Channel NewsAsia 1 Mar 19;

SINGAPORE: This February was the third hottest Singapore has seen in 90 years, but the next two weeks may get even warmer, said the Meteorological Service Singapore on Friday (Mar 1).

While February has traditionally been the driest month in the year, other factors contributed to the heat last month.

Singapore is currently in the dry phase of the northeast monsoon, when prevailing winds bring in air that does not generate as much rain compared to December and January, said one expert.

"The relative lack of clouds during this period tends to result in more direct sunlight reaching the surface, so it feels 'hotter'," said Assistant Professor Winston Chow from the National University of Singapore's Geography Department.

He added that this is normal at this time of the year.

The Met Service said that the mean monthly temperature last month was 28.2 degree Celsius, 1.1 degree Celsius warmer than the long-term average for February. It was also the third warmest February since temperature records began in 1929.

Two other phenomena are contributing to the hot and dry weather recently, weather scientist Koh Tieh-Yong told Channel NewsAsia.

There has been a weak El Nino condition since last October which has reduced the moisture for rainfall in this region.

"This is a climate anomaly that happens every few years ... and makes our northeast monsoon drier in the first three months of 2019," said Associate Professor Koh from the Singapore University of Social Sciences.

Over the last two weeks, there has been what the Met Service called a "dry and stable air mass" over the region. According to Friday's forecast, it is here to stay for two more weeks.

Prof Koh said that this is because an intra-seasonal disturbance, called the Madden-Julian Oscillation, has entered the dry phase in Southeast Asia. As a result, there has been a relative lack of deep clouds in the region.

"(The) descending dry air further discourages cloud and rain formation," he explained.

"When there are less clouds, the equatorial sun efficiently heats up the land surface. Accompanied by the dearth in rainfall, not much cooling by the evaporation of water can occur, thereby exacerbating the hot weather."

The conditions above have also contributed to hotter weather in Malaysia earlier in the week, when MetMalaysia issued Level 1 alerts to look out for heat waves in the northern states of the peninsula, Prof Koh added.

The hot and dry weather has also caused fires to break out, such as in southeast Johor on Feb 25 and 26.

The particulate matter from the fires, diffused by the monsoon winds, caused mild hazy conditions in some parts of Singapore.

Source: CNA/hm


Hotter days expected in first half of March after third warmest February in 90 years
Channel NewsAsia 1 Mar 19;

SINGAPORE: Expect warmer weather in the first fortnight of March, with the daily maximum temperature forecast to reach as high as 35 degree Celsius on a few days, said the Meteorological Service Singapore on Friday (Mar 1).

This is due to "dry conditions and strong solar heating of land areas during the day", said the Met Service in its fortnightly weather outlook.

It also noted that the prevailing dry and stable air mass over Singapore and the surrounding region since mid-February is likely to persist.

Towards the second week of March, four or five days of short-duration thundery showers can be expected in the afternoon, said the Met Service.

Overall, rainfall for the first two weeks of March is likely to be below normal, it added.

THIRD WARMEST FEBRUARY IN 90 YEARS

Singapore and the region are in the dry phase of the northeast monsoon season.

The Met Service said last month was the third warmest February in 90 years, based on the mean monthly temperature.

At the climate station in Changi, the mean monthly temperature last month was 28.2 degree Celsius, 1.1 degree Celsius warmer than the long-term average for February.

"This makes February 2019 the third warmest February since temperature records began in 1929, after February 1998 and 2010 (28.9 degree Celsius) and February 2005 (28.5 degree Celsius).

As for the daily maximum temperature for February, it ranged between 33 degree Celsius and 35.5 degree Celsius.

The highest daily maximum temperature of 35.5 degree Celsius was recorded at Choa Chu Kang on Feb 9.

Source: CNA/gs


Warm weather to persist in March, rainfall likely to be below normal: MSS
Today Online 1 Mar 19;

SINGAPORE — Felt the weather was unseasonably warm this past February?

The Meteorological Service Singapore (MSS) said that the mean temperature for the month was 28.2°C, 1.1°C warmer than the long-term average for February.

“This makes February 2019 the third warmest February since temperature records began in 1929, after February 1998 and 2010 (28.9°C) and February 2005 (28.5°C),” said the weather agency.

In an update on Friday (March 1), MSS said that the warm weather is set to persist — and could even become warmer — into the first half of this month.


The daily maximum temperature could reach as high as 35°C on a few days. On most days, the daily temperature is forecast to range between 24°C and 34°C, said the weather agency.

MSS added: “The prevailing dry phase of the north-east monsoon season over Singapore and the surrounding region is expected to continue into the first fortnight of March 2019.”

However, a brief respite can be expected towards the second week of March “with a weakening of the low level winds over the region”.

“This could bring about four to five days of short-duration thundery showers in the afternoon. Overall, the rainfall for the first fortnight of March 2019 is likely to be below normal,” said the MSS.


Warmer, drier days ahead in first two weeks of March
Ng Huiwen Straits Times 1 Mar 19;

SINGAPORE - Slather on some sunblock when you head out, as the dry and warm weather of end-February is expected to continue in the first two weeks of March.

The mercury is also set to rise in the first half of March, with the maximum daily temperature possibly reaching as high as 35 deg C on a few days, the Meteorological Service Singapore (MSS) said in a statement on Friday (March 1).

On most days, the daily temperature is forecast to range between 24 deg C and 34 deg C.

The warmer temperatures in March, compared with the last fortnight of February, is due to dry conditions and strong solar heating of land areas during the day.

The MSS said that the prevailing dry phase of the north-east monsoon season over Singapore and the surrounding region is expected to continue into the first fortnight of March.

Low-level winds are forecast to continue blowing from the north-west or north-east.

The dry and stable air mass over Singapore and the region will continue to bring dry and warm weather on most days.

For the next two weeks, temperatures are forecast to range between 24 deg C and 33 deg C, and could reach a high of around 34 deg C on some days.

But some brief respite can be expected towards the second week of March, with a weakening of the low-level winds over the region, the MSS said.

This could bring four to five days of short thundery showers in the afternoon.

Overall, the rainfall for the first fortnight of March is likely to be below normal, the MSS added.

In a review of February's weather, the MSS said that Singapore experienced dry, warm and occasional windy weather on most days.

Generally dry and warm conditions prevailed over Singapore and the surrounding region, with low-level winds blowing from the north or north-east, it added.

However, there were short thundery showers in the afternoon on a few days in the second half of February.

The MSS said that this was due to the weakening of the north-easterly winds, with a temporary northward shift of the monsoon rain band to the equatorial region, on top of strong solar heating of land areas.

On the afternoon of Feb 19, thundery showers fell over many areas and the daily total rainfall was 69.3mm Woodlands. This was the highest daily total rainfall recorded for February, said the MSS.

February was also "a significantly warm month", with the daily maximum temperature ranging between 33 deg C and 35.5 deg C.

The highest daily maximum temperature of 35.5 deg C was recorded in Choa Chu Kang on Feb 9.

On most days in the month, the daily minimum temperature was between 23 deg C and 26.1 deg C.

The lowest daily minimum temperature in February was 21.4 deg C, recorded on Feb 18 in Admiralty.

The MSS attributed the low temperature to the passage of a Sumatra squall that brought showers over the island in the pre-dawn and early morning.

At its climate station in Changi, the mean monthly temperature for February was 28.2 deg C.

This was 1.1 deg C warmer than the long-term average for February.

This makes February this year the third warmest February since temperature records began in 1929.

It comes after February 1998 and 2010 (28.9 deg C) and February 2005 (28.5 deg C).

Singapore saw significantly below-normal rainfall in February too.

The highest rainfall of 114.2mm, which was 18 per cent below average, was recorded in Admiralty.

Rainfall was lowest at Queenstown, where 20.2mm of rainfall, which was 85 per cent below average, was recorded.

For updates of the daily weather forecast, the public can visit the websites of the MSS and the National Environment Agency. They can also download the myENV app or MSS' Weather @ SG app.