People in Singapore can expect more warm and humid weather for the rest of May, forecasted the Meteorological Service Singapore.
Max temperature expected to hit 35°C
Daily temperatures are expected to range between 26°C and 34°C, and reach a high of around 35°C on a few days.
Temperatures of around 28°C can be expected on some nights.
As the Southwest Monsoon arrives at the end of May, more warm and humid nights can be expected when prevailing winds blow from the southeast.These winds bring warm and humid air from the sea over the land.
Short thundery showers expected
The second half of May is forecasted to be as wet as the first half.
On most days in the second half of May 2020, short-duration moderate to heavy thundery showers can be expected between the late morning and afternoon, with showers extending into the evening on a few days.
Widespread thundery showers with gusty winds due to Sumatra squalls are expected between the predawn hours and morning on two or three days.
What is a Sumatra Squall?
A Sumatra squall is an organised line of thunderstorms that approach Singapore from the Sumatra Island or the Strait of Malacca.
It is carried eastward by the southwesterly or westerly winds and typically forms overnight or in the early morning.
A squall brings gusty winds at speeds of up to 80km/h and heavy downpour that can last for one to two hours.
Radar animation of a Sumatra squall affecting Singapore in the predawn hours. Via Weather.gov.sg
For instance, on May 8, 2020, heavy thundery showers from a Sumatra squall fell over many parts of Singapore in the early and predawn hours.
The daily total rainfall of 67.0mm recorded at Pasir Ris that day was the highest daily total for the first half of May 2020.
Highest daily temperature in May so far was 35.3°C
In the first half of May, the daily maximum temperature exceeded 34°C on several days.
The highest temperature of 35.3°C was recorded at Newton on May 5, 2020.
There were also a few warm nights where the night-time temperature remained around 28°C at various stations, mostly in the southern and eastern parts of the island.
In the first fortnight of May 2020, the eastern half of Singapore received above-average rainfall, while the western half of the island received below-average rainfall.
The rainfall recorded at Admiralty was 67 per cent below-average while that recorded at Changi was 133 per cent above-average.