Mercury tops 36 deg C in hot June

SINGAPORE - It's been a hot and sweaty June, and the highest temperature in Singapore as of last week was 36.2 deg C.

The National Environment Agency's (NEA's) Meteorological Service said that the temperature was recorded on June 10 at Seletar, according to Lianhe Wanbao.

Weather statistics on NEA's website, updated in January this year, indicate the highest temperature recorded here was 36 deg C in March 1998.

The El Nino weather phenomenon is expected to lead to hotter and drier months ahead.

The average daily temperature is expected to be about 1 deg C above average, and rainfall for the month is expected to be slightly below average.

There have also been warnings that this year's haze could be worse than last year's.

Singapore's 24-hour PSI was moderate at 59-64 yesterday, said NEA's haze update. Today's air quality is expected to stay in the moderate range.

But the haze has already started to plague Malaysia, where the Air Pollutant Index (API) reached 126 yesterday afternoon in Banting, a coastal town in Selangor.

The API breached 100 in Port Klang, Port Dickson and Putrajaya, Malaysian media reported. A PSI or API reading of more than 100 is unhealthy.

Meanwhile, the Meteorological Service is looking into more precise weather predictions, said director-general Wong Chin Ling.

When implemented in one or two years' time, rain forecast can be made for specific areas like Bishan or Marina Bay, instead of broad regions like north, south, east and west.

For now, the temperature in Singapore is expected to be lower today till Thursday, at 32 to 33 deg C in the day, according to NEA's website.

Thundery showers in the mornings are also predicted.

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