What is the weather like in Singapore?
Singapore has an equatorial climate, with no distinct seasons. Due to its maritime exposure and proximity to the equator, Singapore has near uniform temperatures, pressure, abundant rainfall, and high humidity all year round. The months of May and June are the hottest, with relatively less rainfall and strong sunshine. The Northeast monsoon brings higher rainfall from November through to January, hence lowering temperatures somewhat.
Frequent travelers may be aware that different parts of Southeast Asia experience wet seasons at different times of the year. The table below illustrates this point:
City | Wettest Month of the Year |
Yangon (Myanmar, 16.8 N, 96.2E) | July/August |
Kota Bharu (Malaysia, 6.2N, 102.3E ) | November/December |
Singapore (Singapore, 1.3N, 103.8E) | December |
Jakarta (Indonesia, 6.2S, 106.8E) | January/February |
Deciding when to travel to a country may be a pain sometimes. Though Singapore is hot and wet all year-round, the following information should give you an inkling of what to expect at different months.
Month | General Weather Features |
January | January can be very wet in some years and dry in others. It all depends on when the Northeast Monsoon transitions into the late (or dry) phase of the monsoon. Wettest January : 818.6 mm (January 1893) Driest January : 15.4 mm (January 1997)Average monthly rainfall is high. Still at the peak of the Northeast Monsoon, January is windy with winds blowing mainly from the north or northeast. |
February | Relatively dry month of the year, generally windy like in Jan |
March | Surface wind becomes increasingly light and showers/thunderstorms are more frequent in the later part of the month.
March may be noted for its hot afternoons. The climate station’s highest temperature of 36.0°C was recorded on 26 March 1998. Light winds, cloudless skies, and more direct solar radiation are some of the contributing factors. |
April | Like March, April is a relatively hot month.
Winds are light and variable. There might be the occasional widespread showers with gusty winds in the early mornings. |
May | Winds are light. Showers/thunderstorms are common in the afternoons. |
June | Southwest monsoon becomes established.
Scattered showers/thunderstorms occur in the afternoon occasionally. Overall, June remains drier than the previous months. Short periods of hazy conditions may spring up. |
July | Relatively dry month. Very similar to June. |
August | Weather patterns similar to June and July. As the SW monsoon is at its peak, winds of 15-20km/h tend to blow onshore from the island’s East Coast. |
September | Increased frequency in afternoon showers. |
October | October marks the beginning of the rainy season at the year’s end. Afternoon showers contribute the bulk of the rainfall. |
November | The second wettest month of the year. There might be episodes of afternoon thunderstorms extending into the evening. |
December | The wettest month of the year. Heavy thunderstorms in the afternoons are common. Coupled with monsoon winds, there might be widespread heavy rain.
The rain may be continuous, stretching for days. |
What to wear in Singapore
Being rather humid with lots of sunshine throughout the year, be sure to dress lightly when outdoors. A simple cotton or dri-absorbent top will suffice. It is advisable to bring along your caps or sunglasses too. Most locals tend to wear shorts with slippers, choosing to dress down for more comfort. It is also important to hydrate yourself more regularly due to the humidity and heat.