Record rainfall leads to localized flooding, with flash floods in Yishun and Potong Pasir easing swiftly.
A heavy afternoon deluge in Singapore on November 22, 2024, led to two flash floods in northern areas, marking one of the island’s heaviest downpours in the last 40 years. The national water agency, PUB, reported 127.7mm of rain falling between 2:15 PM and 4:50 PM in the northern region, more than half of Singapore’s average monthly rainfall for November. This rainfall amounts to 51% of the country’s monthly average, placing it in the top 1% of maximum daily rainfall records since 1978.
The flash floods occurred in Yishun and Potong Pasir, with waters subsiding in both locations within 10 minutes. PUB issued flood risk warnings starting at 2:50 PM for 19 locations, including Paya Lebar, Serangoon, and Aljunied, urging residents to avoid these areas due to the potential for flash floods.
In response, PUB deployed its Quick Response Team to assist motorists in both flooded areas. The floods were attributed to sudden, intense storms that temporarily overwhelmed the local drainage systems. Flash floods, although sudden, typically subside within an hour, according to PUB.
Earlier, the National Environment Agency had alerted the public to expect heavy rainfall across the island, particularly in the afternoon. The Meteorological Service of Singapore, in an update at 6:00 PM, reported that the lowest temperature recorded during the day was 23.2°C in Ang Mo Kio at 4:14 PM.
With the northeast monsoon season underway, the Met Service had predicted that the second half of November would bring frequent moderate to heavy thundery showers, with rainfall expected to be above average. The MyENV app and PUB’s Flood Alerts Telegram channel were recommended for those wishing to stay informed about heavy rain alerts and flood risks.
