SINGAPORE — Rain was observed in parts of Singapore this afternoon (March 3), providing some respite from the unrelenting dry weather in recent months.

Brief localised showers fell mainly over Tuas, Jurong West and Chua Chu Kang between 4.45pm and 5.30pm today, said the Meteorological Service Singapore (MSS). Rainfall of between 0.2mm and 15.2mm at Tuas was recorded.

The showers were due to local wind convergence over the south western areas, said the MSS.

For the next few days, mainly fair and warm conditions are expected, with Singapore still in the dry phase of the North-east Monsoon, said the MSS.

The National Environment Agency (NEA) had in the morning forecast showers in the western part of Singapore.

The Land Transport Authority tweeted around 5pm that there was a flash flood on the Pan-Island Expressway (PIE) near the Ayer Rajah Expressway exit. In response to media queries, the authority clarified that it had observed some water collecting on the PIE which cleared within minutes, and the road remained passable to traffic.

PUB confirmed that there was no flash flood.

The recent dry spell of 27 days over the past two months beat the previous record of 18 days set in 2008, promoting PUB to increase the amount of NEWater pumped into the reservoirs to maintain water levels. The NEA said last week that the dry weather would likely persist into the first half of this month.