Singapore records hottest May day; warm, dry weather to persist for rest of the month

SINGAPORE: More warm days and drier weather can be expected for the next two weeks, as Singapore recorded its highest temperature for May earlier this month.

The daily maximum temperatures are forecast to mostly range between 34 and 35 degrees Celsius, reaching a high of around 36 degrees Celsius on some days, the Meteorological Service Singapore said in its fortnightly outlook on Tuesday (May 17).

The first half of May was also warm, with daily maximum temperatures reaching 34 degrees Celsius or higher on eight days, the Met Service added.

A record high temperature of 36.7 degrees Celsius was recorded at Admiralty on May 13, surpassing previous highs of 36.5 degrees Celsius on May 16, 2010 and May 3, 2016.

For the rest of May, warm and humid conditions are also expected on a few nights, with temperatures hovering around 28 degrees Celsius.

This is mostly over the southern and eastern coastal areas of the island, when prevailing winds blowing from the east or southeast bring in warm and humid air from the seas, said the Met Service.

The Met Service added that the south-west monsoon season is expected to set in during the coming fortnight, usually extending into September, and it is a drier period compared to other times of the year.

During this period, the winds gradually strengthen and blow mainly from the southeast or southwest, the agency said.

In the second fortnight of May, warm weather can be expected on most days due to stable atmospheric conditions, the presence of dry air over Singapore and the surrounding equatorial Southeast Asia region as well as the influence of a dry phase of the Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO).

The MJO is an eastward moving disturbance of clouds, rainfall, winds and pressure that travels through the global tropics and returns to its initial point in 30 to 60 days.

Short duration showers, sometimes with thunder, can also be expected on some days over few parts of Singapore in the late morning and early afternoon.

“In addition, islandwide thundery showers with occasional gusty winds, due to Sumatra squalls, can be expected in the morning on one or two days. With below-average rainfall to be expected for the second fortnight, the overall rainfall for May 2022 is expected to be below- to near-average over most parts of Singapore,” said the Met Service.

In its review of the weather in the first half of May, the Met Service said that on several days, Singapore experienced thundery showers and gusty winds between the early hours and morning.

This was due to the presence of low-pressure systems over the surrounding sea areas which led to the development of Sumatra squalls.

About two-third of Singapore experienced above-average rainfall during the first fortnight of May, said the Met Service.