Motorists in Singapore’s western sector faced sudden disruptions on the evening of Oct 25 as national water agency PUB issued urgent warnings to steer clear of flood-prone zones in Jurong West, The Straits Times reported.
PUB Warns Motorists to Avoid Specific Boon Lay Roads
The warnings centered on specific transport arteries experiencing heightened risks of inundation. PUB utilized social media posts on X to direct the public away from Jalan Boon Lay, specifically the stretch spanning from International Road to Enterprise Road, starting at 6:37 p.m. Moments later, at 6:48 p.m., a second advisory cautioned motorists to avoid the junction of Boon Lay Way and Corporation Road. Both directives carried a one-hour avoidance window.
These evening warnings followed an earlier alert issued at 5:54 p.m. by the National Environment Agency, which predicted moderate to heavy thundery showers accompanied by gusty winds across Singapore’s southern, eastern, and central districts from 6:10 p.m. to 7:10 p.m. By 6:47 p.m., the agency updated its forecast, warning that heavy rainfall would persist until 8 p.m., expanding its reach into the northern, western, and central parts of the island.
Rainfall Aligns with Meteorological Service Singapore Seasonal Projections
The sudden downpours aligned with seasonal projections released earlier in the month. In its fortnightly weather advisory issued on Oct 16, the Meteorological Service Singapore anticipated rainfall across parts of the island during most afternoons in the second half of October, characterized by localised and short-duration thundery showers with overall below-average rainfall totals.
Residents across the island captured the dramatic shift in weather conditions on Facebook, sharing photos and videos of inclement weather impacting areas such as Lakeside, Commonwealth, and Thomson. One user contrasted the evening’s heavy downpour with a photograph of clear blue skies taken earlier in the day.
