August 2019 likely the driest and warmest on record, says Met Service

Channel NewsAsia 30 Aug 19;

SINGAPORE: This month was likely Singapore's driest and warmest August on record, said the Meteorological Service Singapore on Friday (Aug 30).

The record-breaking readings come as the country experienced its first dry spell in more than five years, from Jul 31 to Aug 16.

At the climate station in Changi, the total rainfall recorded for August was 11.8mm as of Aug 29, breaking the previous August low of 18mm in 1888.

"August 2019 is thus on track to be the driest August in Singapore since rainfall records began in 1869," said the Met Service.

"Significantly well-below-average rainfall was recorded across the island in August 2019. The lowest anomaly of 98 per cent below-average was recorded at Paya Lebar."

It was also a hot month, with daily maximum temperatures reaching at least 34 degrees Celsius on 13 days, as at Aug 29.

The highest temperature of 34.8 degrees Celsius was recorded at Marina Barrage on Aug 23, while nights were generally warm with daily minimum temperatures above 26 degrees Celsius recorded over most parts of Singapore.

At the climate station in Changi, the mean monthly temperature for the month was 29.1 degrees Celsius, as at Aug 29.

This is 0.2 degrees Celsius above the highest mean monthly temperature for August, recorded in 2016.

"August 2019 is thus likely to be the warmest ever August in Singapore since temperature records started in 1929," said the Met Service.

For the month to date, the average minimum temperature for August this year was 27.1 degrees Celsius, 0.9 degrees Celsius above the August record high temperature of 26.2 degrees Celsius in 2016.

READ: Commentary: As ice caps melt, Singapore a hot spot for sea-level rise
EXPECT ANOTHER WARM AND DRY FORTNIGHT

In its fortnightly weather advisory, the Met Service said Singapore can expect more dry and warm weather for the next two weeks.

Although rainfall for the next fortnight is likely to be significantly below normal, short, localised thunderstorms can be expected on four to five days between the late morning and early afternoon.

In addition, Sumatra squalls are forecast to bring thunderstorms and gusty winds on one to two mornings.

Temperature-wise, the first two weeks of September are expected to be as warm as August, with daily temperatures forecast to range between 26 degrees Celsius and 34 degrees Celsius.

Highs of around 35 degrees Celsius are expected on a few days.

Warm nights with daily minimum temperatures above 26 degrees Celsius are expected on some days, reaching around 28 degrees Celsius in the southern and eastern coastal areas when prevailing winds blowing from the southeast bring in warm and humid air from the surrounding seas, said the Met Service.

Dry weather in the surrounding region is also expected in the coming weeks, it said, adding that there could be occasional episodes of haze.

"Hotspots with smoke plumes continue to be observed in parts of Sumatra and Kalimantan," said the Met Service "Depending on the direction of the prevailing winds and the proximity and extent of the fires, Singapore may experience occasional haze."

Source: CNA/nc(gs)

August 2019 likely driest, warmest on record; more dry, hot weather expected in next 2 weeks
Straits Times 31 Aug 19;

SINGAPORE - More dry and warm weather can be expected in the next two weeks, said the weatherman on Friday (Aug 30).

This comes even as this year's August is likely the driest and hottest on record.

The Meteorological Service Singapore said that prevailing south-west monsoon conditions in the region are expected to persist in the first two weeks of September.

In the next two weeks, the monsoon rain band is forecast to remain over the northern South-east Asia region, away from Singapore.

With cooler sea surface temperatures over the tropical eastern Indian Ocean, dry weather is forecast for Singapore and the surrounding region in the first two weeks of September.

But on four to five days, expect localised short-duration thundery showers between the late morning and early afternoon.

On one to two mornings, Sumatra squalls are expected to bring thundery showers and gusty winds.

Even so, the rainfall in September's first fortnight is likely to be significantly below normal.

This period is also expected to be as warm as August.

The daily temperature is expected to range between 26 deg C and 34 deg C on most days. But the mercury is forecast to hit highs of around 35 deg C on a few days.

Warm nights are expected on some days, with daily minimum temperatures above 26 deg C. The temperature can hit 28 deg C in the southern and eastern coastal areas when prevailing winds blowing from the south-east bring in warm and humid air from the surrounding seas.

In the coming weeks, the surrounding region's weather is also expected to be dry. Hot spots with smoke plumes continue to be seen in parts of Sumatra and Kalimantan.

Singapore may experience occasional haze, depending on the direction of prevailing winds, as well as the proximity and extent of the fires.

As for August, south-west monsoon conditions persisted.

Since late July, Singapore's weather, as well as that for the surrounding region, has been dry.

Between July 31 and Aug 16, Singapore experienced a dry spell for 17 consecutive days.

A dry spell is defined as a period of at least 15 consecutive days with a daily total rainfall of less than 1mm.

The last recorded dry spell in Singapore was in 2014, and it lasted 27 days from Feb 17 to March 15 that year.

On Aug 17 this year, the latest dry spell eased, when showers fell over many parts of Singapore. The highest rainfall recorded that day was 13mm, around the city area.

The Meteorological Service Singapore said that the extended dry weather could be the result of an intrusion of dry air from high pressure systems over northern Australia, coupled with suppressed rain cloud formation due to cooler sea surface temperatures over the tropical eastern Indian Ocean.

The rest of August was dry and warm on most days, but there was respite on a few days with thundery showers.

On Monday, strong solar heating of the land, along with large-scale wind convergence, brought moderate to heavy thundery showers over many parts of Singapore.

The highest daily total rainfall recorded was 78.4mm in Yishun.

In Changi, the total rainfall recorded for August - as of Thursday - was 11.8 mm. This was lower than the August record low of 18mm in 1888.

This means that August 2019 is on track to be the driest August in Singapore since rainfall records began in 1869.

It was also a warm August this year, as daily maximum temperatures reached at least 34 deg C on 13 days, as of Thursday. The highest temperature of 34.8 deg C was recorded at the Marina Barrage on Aug 23.

The nights in August were also generally warm. Daily minimum temperatures above 26 deg C were recorded over most parts of the island.

In the southern and eastern coastal areas, the minimum temperature was around 28 deg C on a few nights.

The mean monthly temperature in Changi for the month was 29.1 deg C, as of Thursday, which is 0.2 deg C above the highest ever mean monthly temperature for August recorded in 2016.

This also means that this August is likely to be the warmest August ever in Singapore since temperature records started in 1929.

So far, the average minimum temperature for this August was 27.1 deg C, which is 0.9 deg C above the record high temperature of 26.2 deg C in August 2016.

August on track to be S’pore’s hottest, driest since records began
Today Online 30 Aug 19;

SINGAPORE — The first fortnight of September is set to stay hot and dry in Singapore, after an August that is on track to be both the hottest and driest ever recorded, said the weatherman.

In an update on Friday (Aug 30), the Meteorological Service Singapore (MSS) also said that occasional haze may affect Singapore in the next two weeks along with some brief thundery showers.

It added that the daily temperature for the first fortnight of September is forecast to range between 26°C and 34°C on most days, with highs of around 35°C on a few days.

A RECORD-BREAKING HOT DRY AUGUST LIKELY

The MSS said that rainfall for August recorded at Changi as of Thursday — with two days of the month left — was 11.8mm, even less than the 18mm recorded in 1888. It added that August 2019 was therefore on track to be the driest August since rainfall records began in 1869.

The MSS said that the mean monthly temperature at Changi was 29.1°C — 0.2°C above the highest ever mean monthly temperature for August, which was recorded in 2016.

“August 2019 is thus likely to be the warmest ever August in Singapore since temperature records started in 1929,” said the MSS.

DRY, HOT CONDITIONS TO CONTINUE

“The rainfall in the first fortnight of September is likely to be significantly below normal,” it said.

“Warm nights with daily minimum temperatures above 26°C are expected on some days, reaching around 28°C in the southern and eastern coastal areas when prevailing winds blowing from the southeast bring in warm and humid air from the surrounding seas.”

During the fortnight, a monsoon rain band is forecast to remain over the northern South-east Asia region, away from Singapore. Under the influence of cooler sea surface temperatures over the tropical eastern Indian Ocean, dry weather is forecast to prevail over Singapore and the surrounding region as a result.

However, the MSS said that localised short-duration thundery showers can still be expected on four to five days between the late morning and early afternoon. In addition, Sumatra squalls are forecast to bring thundery showers and gusty winds on one to two mornings.

The weather agency said that the weather in the surrounding region is also forecast to be dry in the coming weeks.

“Hotspots with smoke plumes continue to be observed in parts of Sumatra and Kalimantan,” it said. “Depending on the direction of the prevailing winds and the proximity and extent of the fires, Singapore may experience occasional haze.”

A VERY WARM AND DRY AUGUST

The MSS said that Singapore experienced a dry spell — defined as a period of at least 15 consecutive days with daily total rainfall of less than 1mm — of 17 consecutive days from July 31 to Aug 16.

The dry spell eased on Aug 17 when showers fell over many parts of the island.

“The extended dry weather can be attributed to an intrusion of dry air from high pressure systems over northern Australia coupled with suppressed rain cloud formation due to cooler sea surface temperatures over the tropical eastern Indian Ocean,” said the MSS.