Several Government agencies on Wednesday (Apr 20) issued a joint statement, urging the public to take measures to minimise risk of heat-induced illnesses as Singapore experiences significantly warmer temperatures. The advisory, sent out by the National Environment Agency, Ministry of Manpower, the Health Ministry, Education Ministry and Ministry of Social and Family Development noted that the Meteorological Service Singapore (MSS) has recorded very high temperatures in the past few days.
On Sunday and Monday, the daily maximum temperatures recorded at weather stations islandwide ranged between 31.4°C and 36.4°C and between 31.3°C and 35.8°C respectively. The highest daily maximum temperature recorded on Tuesday was 36°C and as of 3pm on Wednesday it was 35.1°C. Both were recorded at Choa Chu Kang.
On Tuesday, the diurnal registered a reading of 31.3°C at Pasir Panjang, the highest daily mean temperature recorded in Singapore so far this year. At the Changi climate station, the daily mean temperature on Apr 19 was 30.6°C, surpassing the highest ever recorded daily mean temperature of 30.2°C on Jun 22, 2015. The long-term mean monthly temperature for April is 28.0°C. April is the warmest month of the year, the agencies said. However, despite the current warm conditions, the temperature in Singapore is not likely to reach 40°C as it did in northern Peninsular Malaysia due to the “moderating effect of our surrounding seas on the temperature” they added.
For the rest of the week, MSS forecasts that high temperatures can still be expected, although a gradual easing is likely. Localised thundery showers are expected in the afternoon. Closer to the weekend, more showers may be expected, which would bring a brief respite to the current warm conditions.
