First Half of August to be Rainy, But It Likely Won’t Rain During NDP

The dry spell is finally over — rainy days are here again. 

Hopefully, the rain brings some relief from the ever-consistent Singaporean heat, just in time for our nation’s 59th birthday.

Rainfall Predicted in Early August

According to a report by Meteorological Service Singapore, the dry spell that mid-to-end July saw (and maybe felt) is coming to an end.

The service predicts thundery showers over parts of the island in the first weeks of August, occurring in the most part in late mornings and afternoons.

Sumatra squalls (which mean sudden, sharp increases in wind speed, if you’re not a fan of meteorology) are expected to bring gusty winds on a few mornings. Hopefully, they’re a respite from the heat.

Daily temperatures, unfortunately, still hover in similar ranges — between 32 and 34 degrees Celsius. Nights are also predicted to be warm, and temperatures aren’t expected to dip below 28 degrees Celsius.

The past few weeks have been unusually dry, however. Until July 31, Singapore saw no rainfall for 18 days, since 13 July. 

In case you’re wondering if July was exceptionally warm, the maximum temperature registered that month was 35.2 degrees Celsius. That’s certainly enough to break a sweat, but it’s nowhere near ongoing heat waves seen in other parts of Southeast Asia and India, where temperatures reached up to 52 degrees Celsius. 

Does It Ever Rain During NDP?

Given these predictions, maybe you’re worrying that it’s going to rain during the National Day Parade, as Singapore celebrates its 59th birthday. 

Rain during the celebrations is definitely not ideal — NDP 2024 is set to be held at the Padang, an outdoor venue. More than that, it means probably missing out on the full fanfare, like the nation’s beloved Red Lion parachutists and pretty fireworks.  

But does it actually ever rain during the National Day Parade?

Surprisingly, according to an obviously trustworthy Google search, it doesn’t. An internet search pulls up theories like cloud seeding, with websites espousing that clouds are “seeded” days before NDP to ensure it doesn’t rain on the actual day. 

If you’re thinking that makes no logical sense, or you seem to recall a few rainy NDP nights, you may be right. Give this video a watch to find out how true it is:

So Is It Going To Rain This Year?

But anyway, the burning question: is it going to rain during this year’s National Day Parade?

The answer is, probably not.

Rainfall is predicted for late mornings and afternoons in August. Since the NDP is held in the evening, it’s not likely to be rainy. 

So, if you’re planning to go to the Padang, or neighboring areas to catch a glimpse of the celebrations, rest assured that you’ll be able to stay dry throughout (probably).