The heavy rain that poured down on Singapore beginning Monday night, May 17 and extending into Tuesday, was the result of sea breezes bringing in rainclouds, The Straits Times reported on May 18.

However, the phenomenon was normal and did not break any records, Koh Tieh Yong, a weather and climate scientist from the Singapore University of Social Sciences told ST.

There is also nothing to suggest that climate change caused the wet weather.

The associate professor also said there is "no scientific evidence" to show that global climate change has affected Singapore's rainfall intensity or frequency.

Singapore's weather is likely more affected by local factors, he said: "Land-use changes disturb temperature and evaporation patterns and would modify rainfall over a small country like Singapore."

May 2021 will still be warm

The Meteorological Service Singapore (MSS) said on May 17, just as the skies opened up over the island, that Singapore is likely to get warmer in May, with daytime temperatures expected to reach 35°C on some days.

This is despite the prediction that thundery showers will form over parts of Singapore over the next two weeks in the late mornings and early afternoons.

This will be due to Sumatra squalls sweeping eastward towards Singapore.

Subsequently, drier and warmer weather is expected later in May as the monsoon rainband moves north above the equator and away from Singapore.

Even with rain over two straight days, MSS said the rainfall for the whole of May is expected to be below average over some parts of the island.

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