Best time to visit Singapore: weather month by month, the wet months, haze and the 2027 public holidays

💡 The Short Version: Situated just one degree north of the equator, Singapore stays 31 °C to 33 °C by day throughout the entire year. Because temperatures fluctuate by barely two degrees between seasons, plan your travel around rainfall and cultural events: February is the driest month (105 mm rainfall; 9 rain days), making it the prime month for outdoor walks, while November and December are the wettest (December averages 332 mm across 19 rain days). Sudden tropical afternoon thunderstorms occur year-round; always balance outdoor walks with air-conditioned conservatories and museums. Key 2027 dates: Chinese New Year falls on 6–7 February, the Singapore Grand Prix runs 8–10 October, and Deepavali takes place on 28 October. Or book a tour: travellers wanting guaranteed indoor activities during unpredictable weather can secure Gardens by the Bay Flower Dome, Cloud Forest and OCBC Skyway ticketad from S$80.

Singapore does not have traditional temperate four seasons. Instead, weather patterns are driven by two distinct monsoon cycles separated by two inter-monsoon transitional periods. Understanding these micro-climatic patterns allows you to time outdoor walking trails, island excursions, and rooftop visits to avoid afternoon rainstorms.

Month-by-month weather data

Climate averages below reflect official 30-year reference data (1991–2020) recorded by the Meteorological Service Singapore (MSS) at Changi Climate Station. A “rain day” is defined as any day recording 0.2 mm or more of precipitation.

Singapore receives an annual average of 2,113 mm of precipitation across 171 rain days. Because rain predominantly falls in brief, heavy convective downpours lasting 30 to 60 minutes rather than all-day drizzle, even the wettest months provide long windows of sunshine.

The bandstand in the Singapore Botanic Gardens. Photo: Calvin Teo, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0.

The four climatic seasons explained

1. The Northeast Monsoon (December to early March)

• Wet Phase (Late November to January): Marked by “monsoon surges”—prolonged spells of overcast skies and widespread steady rain lasting one to three days. Temperatures dip to refreshing lows of 23°C to 24°C.
• Dry Phase (Late January to early March): Wind speeds moderate and conditions become noticeably drier and sunnier. February is widely considered the peak weather window for exploring botanical gardens and walking trails.

2. Inter-Monsoon Period 1 (Late March to May)

• Light surface winds and intense solar heating make this the warmest period of the year. Daily maximum temperatures frequently reach 34°C.
• Characterised by severe, localised late-afternoon thunderstorms accompanied by vivid lightning and occasional gusty winds.

3. The Southwest Monsoon (June to September)

• Prevailing winds blow from the southeast and southwest. Mornings are typically sunny, followed by short showers in the early afternoon.
• Sumatra Squalls: Fast-moving storm lines that develop over the Malacca Strait overnight, hitting Singapore between 04:00 and 08:00 with sudden gale-force wind gusts up to 80 km/h and torrential rainfall.

4. Inter-Monsoon Period 2 (October to November)

• Similar to the April–May transition, with warm, calm mornings and frequent convective thunderstorm activity during the late afternoon and dusk.

Guided experiences vs flexible self-guided travel

Planning your daily schedule around weather risks ensures you do not get caught outdoors during tropical cloudbursts.

Recommended weather-proof tours

Singapore: Chinatown, Little India, Arab Street Walking Tour

From S$90 · 4.9 stars from 466 reviews · 4 hours · Cultural walk

Make the most of clear morning weather with an expert local storyteller guiding you through Singapore’s primary heritage quarters, travelling between enclaves via air-conditioned MRT trains. Book on GetYourGuidead.

Singapore River Cruise, Garden Rhapsody & Spectra by CYT

From S$30 · 4.8 stars from 1,991 reviews · 4 hours · Evening boat and light shows

The cooler evening hours are Singapore’s most pleasant time for sightseeing. Enjoy a 40-minute covered bumboat river cruise paired with reserved viewing for both free bayfront light spectacles. Book on GetYourGuidead.

Night Safari Admission Ticket with Tram Ride

From S$58 · 4.1 stars from 630 reviews · Evening entry with tram

Explore the world’s first nocturnal wildlife park in cooler evening temperatures. The open-sided tram is shielded by an overhead canopy, keeping passengers dry during passing evening drizzles. Book on GetYourGuidead.

Rain contingency: what to do during thunderstorms

Because afternoon showers can occur without warning, keep these climate-controlled indoor attractions in your plans:

1. Gardens by the Bay Conservatories: Both the Cloud Forest (housing a 35-metre tropical mountain waterfall) and Flower Dome are completely enclosed within column-free glass biomes cooled to 23°C to 25°C.
2. Jewel Changi Airport: The 40-metre indoor HSBC Rain Vortex waterfall and 5-storey Shiseido Forest Valley sit under an immense glass dome, unaffected by outdoor precipitation.
3. National Gallery Singapore: Occupying the former Supreme Court and City Hall buildings, offering hours of world-class art exploration connected by sheltered indoor linkways.
4. Marina Bay Sands Underground Retail Link: You can walk completely sheltered from Raffles Place MRT all the way to Marina Bay Sands, the ArtScience Museum, and Bayfront MRT via subterranean shopping concourses.

⚠️ Outdoor Attraction Suspensions: During active lightning warnings, the outdoor OCBC Skyway at Gardens by the Bay, the Marina Bay Sands SkyPark open deck, and outdoor roller coasters at Universal Studios Singapore suspend operations until the thunderstorm clears.

Understanding the haze season

Between June and October, prevailing southwest winds occasionally blow smoke and fine particulate matter from agricultural and peat forest fires in neighboring Indonesia across the Malacca Strait into Singapore.

Haze over a Singapore road. Photo: ZKang123, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.

• Monitoring Air Quality: The National Environment Agency publishes real-time 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) readings on the official Haze microsite:
  • 0–50 (Good) / 51–100 (Moderate): Normal outdoor activities can continue.
  • 101–200 (Unhealthy): Reduce prolonged or strenuous outdoor physical exertion.
  • 201–300 (Very Unhealthy) / >300 (Hazardous): Avoid outdoor activity; N95 face masks recommended outdoors.
• Visitor impact: Severe haze episodes are infrequent due to regional enforcement, but when present, visibility across Marina Bay drops, and open-air rooftop observation decks may temporarily suspend operations.

Singapore public holidays in 2027

Public holidays can cause surge pricing for hotels and crowds at theme parks, while many government museums, hawker centres, and public transport operate on holiday schedules.

Major annual events and festival calendar

• Chinese New Year Celebrations (January/February): Chinatown is illuminated with thousands of lanterns, while the floating River Hongbao festival takes over Gardens by the Bay with carnival rides and nightly pyrotechnics. See our guide to Chinese New Year in Singapore.
• Hungry Ghost Festival (August): The seventh lunar month brings street-side joss paper burning and boisterous live Chinese opera and Getai musical stages in public housing estates. See our Hungry Ghost Festival guide.
• Singapore Grand Prix (September/October): The world’s original Formula 1 night race roars through the Marina Bay Street Circuit. Accommodations sell out months in advance and ticket prices peak. See our Singapore Grand Prix guide.
• Deepavali Festival of Lights (October/November): Little India glows with archways of illuminated peacocks, diyas, and street bazaars selling sweetmeats and floral garlands. See our Deepavali in Little India guide.
• Christmas on Orchard Road (Mid-November to early January): 3.1 kilometres of Orchard Road transform into a magical holiday wonderland with illuminated light arches and pop-up artisan markets. See our Christmas on Orchard Road guide.

More Singapore guides

Plan the rest of your Singapore visit:

• 3 days in Singapore: classic first-time city itinerary.
• 5 days in Singapore: complete itinerary adding Mandai and regional day trips.
• Gardens by the Bay tickets: conservatory dome maintenance dates and light shows.
• Marina Bay Sands SkyPark: observation deck ticketing and sunset timing.
• Public transport in Singapore: mastering the MRT network and SimplyGo contactless fares.
• What to book before you go to Singapore: essential ticket planning and reservation timeline.