Heavy rain caused deluge in several parts of Singapore on Monday. Flash floods were reported in over two locations of the country amidst a heavy downpour. Flashfloods were reported at the intersection of Gilstead Road and Dunearn Road and affected two lanes there.
However, any damages to life or property have not been reported.
The reason for the sudden inundation of roads in several pockets of the country can be related to Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) which is presently marked close to the Equator. The ITCZ appears as a band of clouds, usually with some weather disturbances and thunderstorms, that ring the globe close to the Equator.
Usually, the ITCZ affects the regions on either side of the Equator at this time of the year. On the Asian continent, the South Asian countries like Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and some parts of Thailand lies in close vicinity to the Equator.
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The ITCZ when active affects the regions which are at present the case. This is the reason that these regions are experiencing heavy pre-Monsoon activities.
In addition to this, there is one more feature named MJO that has affected the weather of Singapore unleashing heavy rains which in turn flooded parts of the country. MJO (Madden Julien Oscillation) is an oceanic-atmospheric phenomenon which affects global weather patterns. This is a transitory feature which travels across and in the proximity of the Equator. It is a pulse of cloud and rains and has a cycle of about 45 to 60 days.
The MJO moves counterclockwise and has an inner and an outer circle. The magnitude of the MJO is directly proportional to its distance from the center. For the past 2 days, it was in an active mode and thus unleashed heavy rains over the South Asian nations including Singapore.
At present, the MJO is in the Indian Ocean though moving in a relatively inactive mode. However, its remnants have been still causing rainfall activities. As of now also, relief is not in sight for the people of Singapore as MJO would continue to give short duration rains for the next 48 hours before easing out.
Image Credit: The Straits times
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