Singapore endures driest month since 1869

SINGAPORE — The prolonged dry weather affecting Singapore since mid-January has set a new record for the driest month since 1869, the National Environment Agency (NEA) said in a statement today (March 4).

At the Changi climate station, the rainfall total recorded last month was 0.2mm, breaking the previous record of 6.3 mm in February 2010.

During the month, there were only seven days of short duration showers between Feb 7 and 19, mainly in the western parts of Singapore. The rainfall totals across 64 rainfall stations range from 45 per cent to 100 per cent below the long-term average of 161.0mm for February. About half the stations, mostly in the southern and eastern areas, recorded monthly rainfall totals below 10.0mm.

Apart from being the driest month ever, last month was also the windiest month in the last 30 years.

At the Changi climate station, the average daily wind speed of 13.3 km/hr recorded last month exceeds the previous high of 12.5 km/hr in January 1985. The prolonged dry conditions have also set a new record for the lowest average daily relative humidity of 74.5 per cent. The previous record low for February and any month of the year was 76.9 per cent (Feb 1968) and 74.6 per cent (June 2013) respectively.

The last day of significant rainfall was on Feb 16, when between 0.2 and 29.0 mm was recorded in various parts of the island. Since then, there has been little or no rainfall, with Singapore entering another period of dry spell on Feb 17. This follows the 27-day long dry spell between Jan 13 and Feb 8. The highest recorded rainfall total since Feb 17 was 19.2mm at Lim Chu Kang Road. The brief showers in parts of western Singapore yesterday were not widespread enough to break the current dry spell.

The dry weather affecting Singapore and the surrounding region is expected to persist in the first half of March 2014. There may be localised showers in the afternoon on a few days, and rainfall is expected to be well below average. Fair and warm conditions are forecast for Singapore. The prevailing northeasterly winds are also forecast to remain steady over this period. With the expected onset of the Inter-Monsoon in the second half of March 2014, the winds in the region will turn light and variable in direction. Increased rainfall can be expected in the later part of the month.

With the dry weather expected to continue, the national water agency (PUB) has started a public campaign to urge everyone to conserve water.

PUB has sent circulars to 25,000 non-domestic customers — including the town councils, Management Corporation Strata Title, commercial and industrial buildings, government buildings and schools — to advise them to make adjustments and embark on water-saving measures.