Monsoon in Singapore

Explain Like I’m Five

Think of the winds around Singapore changing their usual direction with the seasons. Those changes help shape the rain we get. Singapore has Northeast and Southwest Monsoon seasons, with periods of lighter, less predictable winds between them.

Where You’ll Run Into It

In weather forecasts when planning an outdoor gathering, a walk to the MRT or whether to hang laundry outside. During the wetter part of the Northeast Monsoon, a surge of winds can bring rain that lasts much longer than an afternoon shower.

For other environmental terms in local reports, compare PSI and PM2.5. Those describe air pollution, rather than a rain forecast. NEA explains the agency’s wider environmental and weather remit.

Example

“The forecast mentions a monsoon surge. Let’s check the rain forecast before our picnic.”

The friends use the seasonal weather context alongside the forecast for their particular day.

The Part People Get Wrong

“Monsoon” does not mean it rains continuously throughout the season. The Northeast Monsoon has wetter and drier phases, and Singapore receives rain throughout the year. Thunderstorms can also develop between the two monsoon seasons.