Search the Community

When it pours, most people brace themselves for longer commutes. Traffic slows to a crawl and people walk slower to avoid slipping and falling. The cool weather brings respite to the uncomfortable heat, but to many, it's also an inconvenience. I, on the other hand, find rain romantic. And not just any rain, but the type that falls steadily for hours on end. It can't be too heavy, because thunderstorms can seem violent. It can't be too light either, because that's annoying. How many times have we sweltered on hot days, wishing for the skies to open, only to receive a mild drizzle that you can't even feel, or a mere five-minute downpour that only serves to release heat stored in the ground? Image: Kofa Boyah, Unsplash Constant drops Steady downpours are romantic because they set a particular mood. The sound of drops hitting our environment is soothing - there are countless 'rain ASMR' videos on YouTube if you have trouble falling asleep. I feel that rain has a cinematic quality. The skies are grey, and the world moves slower. If it's been raining for several days, the temperatures drop putting us in a chill mood. It is in this context that I find rain conducive to romance. If we need to go out, the missus and I can share an umbrella. I feel chivalrous, ensuring that it's me, not her, who gets wet. I watch for large puddles or potentially slippery surfaces (smooth concrete and foliage on the ground are particularly dangerous). Huddled under an umbrella, the patter of raindrops becomes background music. We don't need to canoodle or whisper sweet nothings. Chatting about our day is fine. Silence is okay as well. Rainy days mean lazy weekends, perhaps sharing a blanket on the couch. There have been many times when we did that cliche couple thing - one of us reads, the other streams their favourite show. Talk is minimal; we just enjoy each other's presence. Image: Jonathan J. Castellon, Unsplash Let your mind wander Admittedly, finding romance in rainy weather can sound whimsical and to some, unrealistic. But what's the point of romance if it can't have a dreamy quality to it? Perhaps this is why unplanned dates are just as sweet as meticulously organised ones, which are also stressful. A casual trip to your favourite cafe is just as meaningful as a dinner at an expensive restaurant. The company matters more than the food. And if the activity is accompanied by cool weather, grey skies and the constant patter of raindrops, so much the better. – Jeremy (Main image: Abishek Tewari, Unsplash)

A colleague's blog post two months ago about a blizzard blanketing Singapore had me imagining our urban landscapes covered in a white blanket. But while climate change is impacting us all with hotter weather and heavier rains, the thought of snow in Singapore seems far-fetched. However, this led to another thought: Since we experience thunderstorms and monsoon surges, would it be possible for typhoons to hit Singapore? And if they did, would we be able to withstand them? Image: Carl Kho, Unsplash First, a science lesson The Coriolis Effect, caused by the earth's rotation, is positive in the northern hemisphere and negative in the southern hemisphere. What this means is that the winds in the north will curve and move counterclockwise, while the winds in the south curve and move clockwise. Meanwhile, along the equator, the Coriolis Effect is too weak to provide the necessary spin to increase wind speeds and create typhoons. According to this article from the California Institute of Technology, this is why typhoons don't form within 300km of the equator – where Singapore is located. This video also explains why this is so. But there can be exceptions due to a combination of factors. In 2001, Typhoon Vamei formed 160km north of the equator and according to this Straits Times story, delivered 10% (around 220mm) of Singapore's annual rainfall in one day. With that in mind, what if, due to a combination of factors, a typhoon did make landfall in Singapore? Infrastructure and preparedness Given the focus on climate change, I'd imagine that NEA (National Environment Agency) would be quick to issue warnings for everyone to shelter indoors. All the works (including ongoing ones) to improve drainage would also help mitigate any expected flooding. It helps that our utilities – especially power lines – are underground. So, there are no concerns about electric poles toppling and electrocuting people. We don't have telephone poles and overhead lines either, so we wouldn't need to worry about those. Traffic lights and lamp posts, however, will pose risks. Ditto for any hanging signages, trees and branches. Anything that can be caught by the wind and blown away is a potential hazard. However, while I think our infrastructure can cope, I'm not as confident that everyone can. Image: Richard Burlton, Unsplash Question marks Since most of us have only ever experienced monsoon surges and severe thunderstorms, the destructive power of a full-blown typhoon is going to be fearsome. What I'm pessimistic about is how people will react. I can picture massive panic-buying of everything, especially toilet paper. Expect empty shelves in supermarkets. Fights will break out. It will be kiasu and kiasi to the 10th power, as the panicked ones hoard six to eight months of supplies for a typhoon that passes in two or three days. Pharmacies would be emptied out, too. You don't need the entire population to do this – a few hundred irrational folks will ruin it for everyone else. The Government will have to take pre-emptive actions to prevent this from happening. Then there are those who will endanger themselves (and others) by insisting on filming and documenting the typhoon as it makes landfall. These people will probably track the typhoon's path and aim to be where the winds are strongest, so they can capture the havoc it will wreak. And it won't be for posterity. It'll be for views and subscribers. And our first responders will be put at even greater risk trying to save these people. Hey, if it happens in other countries, it'll happen here. Image: Carl Kho, Unsplash When not if It is unlikely for a typhoon to pass directly through Singapore, but if Typhoon Vamei came so close, it could happen. We shouldn't wait till then to mentally prepare ourselves for this possibility – no matter how remote it may be. At the very least, we should remind ourselves that in any extreme weather event, the first course of action is to shelter at home and not venture outside unless it's an emergency that requires us to leave our residence. Remember, even during the COVID circuit breakers, we still had access to food, groceries, and petrol. If we can survive four months being cooped up at home, waiting for two or three days for a typhoon to pass is nothing. Above all, events like these are a test of national unity. If we adopt the mindset of looking out for each other and thinking about what's best for the community, we'll be able to withstand not just typhoons, but any national challenges that come our way. – Jeremy Main image: NASA, Unsplash

When is the monsoon season? Planning to drive to the east coast of malaysia during end Sept to early Oct, is this a good time?