SINGAPORE — With the North-east Monsoon season expected to start later this month, there may be localised flash floods in low-lying areas on some days come December and January, said the Meteorological Service Singapore (MSS) and PUB on Thursday (Nov 24).
This would occur if heavy rain coincides with high tides. According to the MSS and PUB, high tides are expected on Dec 14 to 17, and Jan 13 to 15, reaching between 2.9m to 3.3m.
Between December to January, short-duration moderate to heavy thundery showers are also expected mostly in the afternoon and extending into the evening on some days, as well as two to four episodes of monsoon surges — periods of prolonged, widespread, moderate to heavy rain lasting between two and five days, occasional windy conditions, and cooler temperatures.
To prepare for the rainy season, officers from PUB have distributed flood advisories on how to protect belongings and premises against possible flash floods, to around 600 residents and shop-owners in low-lying and hotspot areas.
PUB has also inspected about 100 major construction worksites to ensure that that the drains around the sites are free-flowing, and is working with agencies and town councils to ensure drains and canals are clean and functioning effectively. The National Environment Agency, for instance, has increased the frequency of checks and cleaning of drains and Drop-Inlet Chambers.
Drainage improvement projects are currently on-going at 76 locations across Singapore. Works at the Sunset Way outlet drain are expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2017 while works at Kallang River (between Bishan Road to Braddell Road) are expected to be completed by the fourth quarter of 2018. PUB also has plans to start drainage upgrading at 26 locations by year-end.
To monitor flood situations, PUB has a network of 170 closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras to monitor real-time road conditions in low-lying areas and hotspots, as well as 206 water level sensors installed in major drains and canals to provide real-time data on water levels. Members of the public can view 49 of these CCTV images online, and access information on all water level sensors.
Based on 30-year climatological reference period from 1981 to 2010, an average of 18 rain days is expected in December, and 13 rain days in January. The North-east Monsoon season enters the dry phase from February to March.
