Flash floods in Holland, Bukit Timah amid heavy downpour
A heavy downpour on the afternoon of May 5 caused flash floods at Woollerton Drive in Holland and King's Road in Bukit Timah at around 2pm.
Earlier in the day, national water agency PUB had warned via social media platform X of potential flash floods in several parts of Singapore, including the two flooded areas and Margaret Drive in Queenstown.
It advised the public to avoid the areas for at least an hour due to flash flood risks.
The National Environment Agency in an alert on its website said heavy rain was expected over southern, eastern and central areas of Singapore from 1.20pm to 2pm on May 5.
Thundery showers over parts of Singapore on some afternoons had been forecast for the first half of May by the Meteorological Service Singapore.
The bad weather drenched the morning of May 3, when more than two million Singaporeans turned up at polling stations islandwide to vote in the 2025 General Election.
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Straits Times
2 days ago
- Straits Times
Stifling heat in Singapore could ease as onset of S-W monsoon brings breezier weather
The onset of the south-west monsoon is expected to bring stronger winds over Singapore. ST PHOTO: BRIAN TEO Stifling heat in Singapore could ease as onset of S-W monsoon brings breezier weather SINGAPORE – Some relief from the stifling heat is expected in the coming weeks with the onset of windier conditions during the south-west monsoon season. The Meteorological Service Singapore (MSS), under the National Environment Agency, said on June 2 that winds over Singapore are expected to strengthen and blow from the south-east or south-west in early June. The Republic was previously in the throes of the inter-monsoon season, when winds were light and variable. The light winds and occasional clear skies had made hot afternoons common, the weatherman told The Straits Times. April and May are usually the warmest months of the year. Professor Matthias Roth, who teaches urban climatology at the National University of Singapore (NUS), said the stronger and more regular winds that come with the monsoon may lower air temperatures slightly, following the high temperatures in May. The MSS noted that daily maximum temperatures registered above 35 deg C at some locations between May 23 and 28. The highest daily maximum temperature of 36.2 deg C was recorded in Paya Lebar on May 24. 'Although heat and humidity levels will remain high, the breezier conditions should offer some relief, making people feel more comfortable compared with the hot and often stifling inter-monsoon period,' Prof Roth said. From wielding umbrellas and handheld fans while outdoors, to opting for private-hire vehicles over public transport, people have been desperately seeking measures to combat the inferno of the inter-monsoon season from April to May. ST explains how the monsoon seasons affect weather in Singapore, and how people can cope with rising temperatures. What is the south-west monsoon season? This season, usually experienced in Singapore between June and September, is marked by winds blowing mainly from the south and south-east. This period is considered the traditional dry season for the southern Asean region, where countries such as Indonesia are located. It is also often the season when the region experiences haze, although ST checks on the website of the Asean Specialised Meteorological Centre showed only a smattering of hot spots on Sumatra, an Indonesian island near Singapore. During the south-west monsoon season, afternoon showers may be expected in the Republic, and Sumatra squalls could occasionally occur between the pre-dawn hours and noon. A Sumatra squall is an organised line of thunderstorms which develops over Sumatra or the Strait of Malacca, often overnight. It moves eastwards, at times producing widespread heavy rain and gusty winds as it crosses Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore. Why did it feel so hot during the inter-monsoon season? The inter-monsoon season is a transitionary period between the two main monsoon seasons: the south-west monsoon and the north-east monsoon, when winds blow mainly from the north and north-east. The first inter-monsoon season is usually from late March to May, and the second between October and November. Singapore's climate is heavily influenced by its location near the Equator, where the sun is almost directly overhead, said Prof Roth. With the inter-monsoon season marked by weaker winds, clearer skies and low rainfall, more direct sunlight hits the Republic. Low rainfall and light winds mean less cooling and more heat build-up near surfaces, which is worsened by the abundance of concrete surfaces and a relative lack of vegetation, Prof Roth added. Concrete absorbs and stores a significant amount of heat, but subsequently radiates it back out into the atmosphere, causing a heating sensation. While it may have felt more humid than usual, the MSS said average humidity levels were within the usual range of 40 per cent to more than 90 per cent on most days. Dr Koh Tieh Yong, co-chairman of the Working Group for Asian-Australian Monsoon at the World Climate Research Programme, said the perception of elevated humidity levels was partly due to the lighter inter-monsoon winds that did not ventilate the Republic. Water vapour that evaporated from surfaces thus accumulated more effectively, since winds were not strong enough to disperse it. Rainfall during this period also tends to come and go in short bursts – typically in the afternoon – with widespread heavy rain and strong winds associated with Sumatra squalls occurring occasionally. For example, on the morning of May 18, a Sumatra squall brought heavy, thundery showers over many parts of Singapore. However, such spells of rain may not necessarily bring prolonged relief. A squall with overcast conditions usually lasts for a short time of about one to two hours, before the sun returns and heats everything up again, noted Associate Professor Steve Yim, director of the Centre for Climate Change and Environmental Health at Nanyang Technological University (NTU) . 'The fallen rain may evaporate into the air with the heating, and the additional moisture would make us feel hotter,' added Prof Yim , who is also from NTU's Asian School of the Environment and Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, and a principal investigator at NTU's Earth Observatory of Singapore . How can people build resilience to the heat? Short-term solutions like seeking shelter and cooling down with handheld fans can offer people quick relief from the heat. But experts say more long-term solutions are necessary to help people cope, especially as temperatures continue to rise owing to global warming. Associate Professor Jason Lee, director of the Heat Resilience and Performance Centre at the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, said conditioning and acclimatisation are crucial strategies in helping people develop heat resilience. Building personal fitness, for example, will enhance a body's ability to cope with heat stress, he said. 'Regular aerobic exercise improves cardiovascular efficiency, translating to better regulation of body temperature, improved sweat response and lower heart rates when conducting strenuous activity in the heat,' he noted. He added that gradually increasing exposure to and intensity of activities in hot environments over two to three weeks will allow people to progressively acclimatise. 'This will elicit positive physiological and behavioural responses – like increased sweating and expansion of blood volume – leading to improved tolerance and reduced risk of heat-related illnesses,' he said. Prof Lee also recommended that people don lightweight and breathable clothing when possible – to wick sweat and heat away from the body – take short, frequent breaks in cool and shaded areas, and stay adequately hydrated. 'Avoid excessive intake of water, which could lead to hyponatraemia (over-dilution of blood sodium). Drink to quench thirst and monitor for symptoms of dehydration or over-hydration. Use insulated bottles to keep drinks cool,' he added. Additional cooling measures like ice slurries should be offered to workers who must do physical work in the heat, including construction workers, athletes and military personnel. Ice slurries before and during exertion are especially effective at lowering core temperature, Prof Lee said. Cold water or cold drinks are also recommended if ice slurries are not accessible, he added. Said Prof Lee: 'Relying solely on avoidance by staying indoors, and being exposed to constant air-conditioning can lead to physical deconditioning and lower heat tolerance... Building resilience is essential to protecting livelihoods, food security and social well-being for these at-risk groups.' Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
Straits Times
29-05-2025
- Straits Times
Cool relief for Singapore on May 29 as temperatures dip after warm spell
Facebook users were quick to share their delight at the cooler weather on May 29. PHOTO: JOSEPH CHH CHH/FACEBOOK Cool relief for Singapore on May 29 as temperatures dip after warm spell SINGAPORE - After several days of sweltering heat, Singaporeans got a welcome reprieve on May 29, as cooler weather descended on the island - prompting netizens to celebrate on social media. The mercury dipped to 22.2 deg C at 9.57am in Jurong West, according to the Meteorological Service Singapore (MSS), marking the lowest temperature recorded since May 23. In fact, the highest reading of 30.5 deg C recorded at a few locations across Singapore, as at 6pm on May 29 , was considerably mild compared with the highest daily peaks over the past week. Data provided by MSS showed that from May 23 to May 28, temperatures ranged between 35 deg C (on May 27, in Admiralty) and 36. 2 de g C (on May 24, in Paya Lebar). The lowest daily temperatures over the past week ranged from 24.6 deg C (on May 28, in Pulau Ubin and Sembawang) to 25.9 deg C (on May 27, in Pulau Ubin) . The average daily maximum temperature hit 34.6 deg C on May 25, while the daily mean temperature was between 29.6 deg C and 30.1 deg C. On Facebook, several users were quick to share their delight over the cooler weather. Mr Hamzah Osman posted a series of photos showing gloomy grey skies over Jurong's Venture Avenue with the caption: 'Finally the temperature cools down.' Another user, Mr Joseph Chh Chh, shared an image of the city skyline with dark clouds overhead . 'It was still sunny at 8.40am and a sudden change in cloudscape at 9am,' he wrote. The cooler turn in weather coincides with the ongoing inter-monsoon conditions, which the MSS had said on May 16 would persist into the second half of the month. These transitional weather patterns are known to bring light and variable winds, along with increased lightning activity. For the final week of May, the MSS has forecast short-lived, localised thundery showers in the afternoons across parts of Singapore. Overall temperatures are expected to remain consistent with the earlier part of the month, with highs that may still reach up to 35 deg C on certain days. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
New Paper
05-05-2025
- New Paper
Flash floods in Holland, Bukit Timah amid heavy downpour
A heavy downpour on the afternoon of May 5 caused flash floods at Woollerton Drive in Holland and King's Road in Bukit Timah at around 2pm. Earlier in the day, national water agency PUB had warned via social media platform X of potential flash floods in several parts of Singapore, including the two flooded areas and Margaret Drive in Queenstown. It advised the public to avoid the areas for at least an hour due to flash flood risks. The National Environment Agency in an alert on its website said heavy rain was expected over southern, eastern and central areas of Singapore from 1.20pm to 2pm on May 5. Thundery showers over parts of Singapore on some afternoons had been forecast for the first half of May by the Meteorological Service Singapore. The bad weather drenched the morning of May 3, when more than two million Singaporeans turned up at polling stations islandwide to vote in the 2025 General Election.
