Singapore records wettest October in 40 years with rainy days expected to continue into November
The Changi climate station experienced a total of 27 rain days in October.
A woman carrying a child crosses the road during heavy rain in Singapore. (File photo: Jeremy Long)
SINGAPORE: Singapore experienced its wettest October in 40 years, with rainy days expected to continue into November, the Meteorological Service Singapore said on Tuesday (Nov 1).
The Changi climate station recorded 27 days of rain in October.
"This is the highest number of rain days occurring in October at the Changi climate station since the 1980s and surpasses the previous record of 21 days observed in 1985 and 2003," the met service said.
The monthly total rainfall last month in October was 412mm, exceeding the previous October high of 389.3mm in 2011.
"Based on the rainfall averaged across the island-wide stations with long-term records since 1980, October 2022 is the wettest October in four decades," the met service said.
WET WEATHER EXPECTED TO CONTINUE
Wet weather is expected to continue in the first fortnight of November, with the monsoon rain band forecast to remain over the Southeast Asia region.
Thundery showers are expected on most days.
In the first week of November, widespread thundery showers with occasional gusty winds are expected between the pre-dawn hours and morning on some days, said the met service.
Afternoon thundery showers can be expected on most days in the latter half of the fortnight, with the rain extending into the evening on a few days.
"The total rainfall for the first fortnight of November 2022 is forecast to be above average over most parts of the island," it added.
During the first half of November, the daily temperature on most days is forecast to range between 24 and 33 degrees Celsius.
The wetter weather may be relatively lower temperatures on a few days, with daily minimum temperatures below 23 degrees Celsius and daily maximum temperatures below 32 degrees Celsius.
OCTOBER REVIEW
In its weather review for October, the met service said several tropical storms over the South China Sea and the Western Pacific Ocean resulted in large-scale convergence of winds over Singapore and the surrounding area.
"This led to the development of several Sumatra squalls that brought widespread showers and gusty winds over Singapore between the pre-dawn hours and morning on most days," it explained, noting that there were also thundery showers on several afternoons and nights.
On Oct 5, a Sumatra squall brought heavy rain over many parts of Singapore in the morning, resulting in a daily total rainfall of 138.1mm recorded at Pasir Panjang - the highest daily total rainfall for the month.
Due to the rainy weather, the daily maximum temperature was below 33 degrees Celsius on most days in October. The wet weather also brought several days of cool nighttime temperatures.
There were 23 days with daily minimum temperatures of 24 degrees Celsius or less.
According to the met service, the temperature at Jurong Island dropped to 21.9 degrees Celsius during the showers on Oct 12. This was the lowest daily minimum temperature for October.
