Singapore, 16 March 2021 – The prevailing Northeast Monsoon conditions are forecast to persist over Singapore and the surrounding region for the rest of March 2021. During this period, the prevailing low-level winds are forecast to blow from the northwest or northeast on most days.

2       In the coming fortnight, the monsoon rain band is expected to lie close to the equatorial Southeast Asia region, and the Madden-Julian Oscillation[1] is forecast to be in its wet phase over Singapore in the latter half of the fortnight. Compared to the first fortnight of March 2021, more thundery showers are expected over Singapore and the surrounding vicinity in the second fortnight of the month. 

3       For the rest of March 2021, moderate to heavy thundery showers are expected over parts of the island in the afternoon on most days, particularly in the second half of the fortnight. There could be a few days where the showers may extend into the evening. Overall, the rainfall for March 2021 is forecast to be near normal over most parts of the island.

4       In the coming fortnight, the daily temperatures are forecast to range between 24 deg Celsius and 33 deg Celsius on most days. There could be a few warm days where the maximum temperature could lie within the 34 deg Celsius range, particularly when there are few clouds in the sky. Overall, the second fortnight of March 2021 is not expected to be as warm as the first half of the month.

5       For updates of the daily weather forecast, please visit the MSS website (www.weather.gov.sg), NEA website (www.nea.gov.sg), or download the myENV app, or the MSS’ Weather@SG app. Subscribe to NEA’s YouTube channel at youtube.com/NEAsg to view the Fortnightly Weather Outlook web video series and learn more about the weather conditions we are experiencing.

REVIEW (1 – 15 March 2021)

6       The dry phase of the Northeast Monsoon season persisted over Singapore and the surrounding region in the first half of March 2021, with prevailing low-level winds blowing generally from the north or northeast.

7       The first fortnight of March 2021 was generally fair and warm, particularly in the first week of the month. This was due to stable atmospheric conditions arising from the presence of a dry air mass over Singapore and the equatorial Southeast Asia region. On several days in the latter half of the fortnight, strong solar heating of land areas coupled with convergence of winds in the surrounding vicinity brought moderate to heavy thundery showers over many parts of the island. On 13 March 2021, moderate to heavy thundery showers fell over the island in the afternoon, and the daily total rainfall recorded that day was 98.3mm at Sengkang. This was the highest rainfall recorded in a day for the first fortnight of March 2021. 

8       In the first fortnight of March 2021, the daily maximum temperature on most days were above 34.0 deg Celsius. On 2 March 2021, the highest daily maximum temperature of 35.6 deg Celsius was recorded at Tengah. The lowest daily minimum temperature of 21.4 deg Celsius was recorded at Sembawang in the early hours of 8 March 2021. 

9       Many parts of Singapore recorded below normal rainfall in the first fortnight of March 2021. The anomaly was lowest at Ang Mo Kio at 72 per cent below average. 

CLIMATE STATION STATISTICS 

METEOROLOGICAL SERVICE SINGAPORE
16 March 2021

[1] The Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO) is characterised as an eastward propagation of clouds and rainfall over the tropical regions from the Indian Ocean to the western Pacific Ocean, with period of between 30 and 60 days on average. The MJO consists of two phases- an enhanced rainfall (wet) phase and a suppressed rainfall phase.

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