Singapore heats up as temperatures soar to 35 degrees

Singapore heats up as temperatures soar to 35 degrees
By Monica Kotwani | Posted: 11 May 2011 2246 hrs

SINGAPORE: It has been a hot and humid week for Singaporeans. During the day, maximum temperatures have reached highs of between 33 and 35 degrees Celsius.

Singapore's National Environment Agency expect the average daily temperature for the next two weeks to hover around a slightly cooler 31.6 degrees Celsius.

But this forecast does not sit well with some.

A taxi driver said: "We also have to take rest. We cannot take the heat at all. Many people might think we are making much money, but actually it is not. Because it is too hot, and some of the taxi drivers also fall sick."

Some un-air conditioned coffeeshops said business has slowed to a crawl, reporting meagre earnings even at night.

But the weather comes as a boon to some. Some air conditioner servicing companies said business has increased by about 40 per cent.

Zhang Wei, a Project Manager with Man Ling construction & Engineering, said: "Because it's recently been hotter than usual. Since it suddenly became so hot, those who didn't maintain their air conditioners will suddenly feel that it's not cool anymore, so they will rush to get it fixed. It's very busy like this, same time every year."

Mr Zhang said he has been working 12 hour days since the start of May, servicing about 10 air conditioners a day.

NEA said the hot weather is common this time of the year, as inter-monsoon months are characterised by hot weather and occasional thunderstorms. It said the warm temperatures are also common at this time due to strong solar heating and light winds.

-CNA/ac

- wong chee tat :)