Experts Predict Warmer Future as Heat Events Become More Frequent
SINGAPORE: Singapore’s temperature records have been broken recently, with the hottest day in May 2022 reaching 36.7°C at Admiralty. However, the Meteorological Service Singapore clarified that the country is not currently facing a heatwave. For a heatwave to occur, daily maximum temperatures must exceed 35°C for three consecutive days, with an average daily mean temperature of at least 29°C. While not classified as a heatwave, the second half of May 2022 is expected to remain warmer and drier than usual.
Experts explained that Singapore’s warm weather during this period is typical, as April and May tend to be the hottest months of the year due to the sun’s direct overhead position and weak surface winds. Associate Professor Koh Tieh Yong from the Singapore University of Social Sciences noted that the intense solar radiation contributes to higher temperatures.
However, long-term factors such as climate change and the urban heat island effect are causing temperatures to rise further. Associate Professor Winston Chow from Singapore Management University highlighted that climate change has steadily increased global temperatures over the last 40 years. Additionally, Singapore’s urban environment exacerbates the heat, as built-up areas absorb and release heat, amplifying local temperatures.
Despite the intense heat, Singapore has not yet crossed the necessary thresholds for a heatwave, as temperatures have not sustained long enough. But as global warming continues, experts predict more frequent high-temperature events. Singapore’s annual mean temperature has increased by an average of 0.25°C per decade since 1948, with more warm days and nights replacing cooler ones.
Professor Matthias Roth from the National University of Singapore emphasized that the rise in air temperatures is a global trend caused by anthropogenic climate change, with urbanization adding to the effect through the urban heat island phenomenon. As such, Singaporeans can expect higher temperatures in the future.
