Highest-ever January rainfall in Singapore recorded on Pulau Tekong

The recent downpours amid a monsoon surge in Singapore hit a new peak for rainfall, with the heaviest-ever showers to fall in January recorded on Pulau Tekong on Jan 10.

- Ang Qing

Rainfall on the offshore island was more than double the average amount of rain that fell on Jan 10 across Singapore's 32 weather stations, since records began in 1980.

Pulau Tekong recorded 241.8mm of rain that day, surpassing the previous high of 238.2mm recorded on Jan 30, 2011, on Pulau Ubin, said the Meteorological Service Singapore (MSS) on Jan 14 in response to queries from The Straits Times.

The highest rainfalls are usually recorded over the northern and eastern parts of Singapore, it added.

Prolonged rain dumped on Singapore between Jan 10 and 13 was the result of a recent monsoon surge, which is a seasonal weather phenomenon that brings about increased showers in the tropics.

During this period, islandwide average daily total rainfall ranged from 44.4mm to 120.2mm, said the MSS, which is part of the National Environment Agency (NEA).