Flash floods in S'pore caused by Northeast Monsoon, warnings issued for 19 locations: PUB

The flash floods which occurred in Singapore on Nov. 22 were caused by the Northeast Monsoon.

In a statement on Facebook, national water agency PUB said it deployed its response team to assist motorists at two flash floods locations in Yishun and Wan Tho Avenue on the same day.

19 flood risk warnings were issued by the agency.

Two flash floods occurred, 19 warnings issued

In its statement, PUB highlighted that many parts of Singapore had experienced heavy rain on the afternoon of Nov. 22.

Flood risk warnings were then issued to 19 locations across Singapore, such as Lor Gambir, Mt Vernon Road, Choa Chu Kang Avenue 1, Bedok Avenue 4 and Jalan Nipah.

Two flash floods occurred at Wan Tho Avenue at 3:10 pm and Yishun Avenue 7 at 3:30pm.

The agency said the flash floods subsided within 10 minutes, and that affected road users received assistance.

It noted that northern Singapore recorded the heaviest rainfall of 127.7mm from 2:15pm to 4:50pm, which is equivalent to 51 per cent of the country's average monthly rainfall in November.

PUB said that the onset of the Northeast Monsoon may cause moderate to heavy showers in the afternoons on most days.

Such intense rainfall may briefly "overwhelm" canals and drains, leading to localised flash floods.

However, these flash floods usually last an hour.

Members of the public may use the MyENV application and subscribe to PUB's Flood Alerts Telegram Channel to receive heavy rain alerts and flood risk warnings.

Showers may also extend to most nights

According to an earlier weather advisory by the Meteorological Service Singapore on Nov. 15, afternoon showers may also extend into the night on a few days in the second half of November 2024.

The total rainfall for the rest of November is expected to be above average over most parts of the island, with possible low temperatures of around 23°C on some days during the second half of November 2024.

Top photos via Unsplash & PUB, Singapore's National Water Agency/Facebook