Keep your umbrellas ready as monsoon approaches Singapore

SINGAPORE - Keep your umbrellas and raincoats by your side for the next two months, as the onset of the northeast monsoon means more rainy days ahead.

The Meteorological Service Singapore (MSS) said in a monsoon advisory today (Tuesday) that the first half of Nov 2014 has been wetter than usual in many parts of the island.

Already, 188mm of rainfall has been recorded at the Changi climate station in Nov, with 13 more days to the end of the month.

The national authority on weather and climate also said that rainfall for November and December is expected to be about 20 per cent above the long-term average of 256.6mm and 288.4mm respectively.

MSS added that heavy rain coinciding with high tides could lead to localised flash floods in low-lying areas.

Warnings will be issued to the public when heavy rain or prolonged monsoon rain is expected, in addition to the regular weather forecast.

The public can also monitor water levels in low-lying areas and flooding hotspots real time via the Public Utilities Board (PUB)'s network of 161 closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras, or through its 171 water level sensors.

The CCTV images are refreshed every five minutes and can be accessed on PUB's website or mobile app, MyWaters.

Alternatively, the public can subscribe to PUB's free SMS alert service on rising water levels.

grongloh@sph.com.sg

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