New Climate Data Highlights High Temperatures, Intense Heat Stress, and Heavy Rainfall Throughout the Year

In 2024, Singapore experienced its hottest year on record, tying with 2016 and 2019 for the highest temperatures, according to the Meteorological Service Singapore (MSS) in the Singapore Climate 2024: The Year in Numbers report, released on January 10. Every month in 2024 saw temperatures that either met or exceeded their long-term averages, based on data from 1991 to 2020.

April was the peak of the heat, recording an average temperature of 29.4°C, tying with the record set in 2016. July followed closely with a temperature of 29.3°C. December, usually a cooler month, saw an extraordinary climate event, becoming the warmest December on record with a mean temperature of 27.7°C, matching 2015 and 2021.

On December 7, Changi climate station recorded its highest-ever daily maximum temperature of 35.6°C, surpassing the previous record of 33.9°C from December 2021. Additionally, 2024 saw 21 days of high heat stress, primarily in March, April, and May. Heat stress, defined as a Wet-Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) of 33°C or higher, poses significant health risks, including heat cramps, exhaustion, and even stroke.

The year was also wetter than usual, with total rainfall reaching 2,739.8mm, which is 8.1% higher than the long-term average of 2,534.3mm. Rainfall patterns were varied, with a wet start to the year, followed by a dry spell from mid to late July. May and June saw above-average rainfall, and November became the wettest month, with 419mm recorded—marking the highest rainfall for November since 1980.

The year concluded with a drier December, which recorded 221.3mm of rainfall, about 30% below the typical monthly average.