Anticipating Heatwaves, Singapore to Build 300 Cooling Centres
The Singapore government is preparing more than 300 cooling centres in various locations as part of its national plan to deal with heatwaves. These facilities will be opened when weather conditions meet the heatwave criteria set by the government.
According to The Straits Times, the cooling centres will be equipped with air conditioning and seating. Their locations include community centres, several Residents’ Committee centres and Residents’ Network centres, as well as some indoor sports halls.
Calvin Chong, Director of the Energy and Climate Policy Division at Singapore’s Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment (MSE), said the locations of the cooling centres will be announced when the official heatwave response plan is activated.
“The public will be given at least four days’ advance warning of an impending heatwave through the national weather app myENV,” Chong said in an interview with The Straits Times and Lianhe Zaobao.
According to Chong, vulnerable groups will be prioritised if the capacity of the cooling centres approaches its maximum limit. These groups include the elderly and people who require special attention regarding heat exposure.
Singapore is currently facing a combination of weather conditions that could significantly increase temperatures. The south-west monsoon season, which tends to be dry, is occurring simultaneously with the El Niño phenomenon, which brings hotter and drier conditions to the region.
In Singapore, heatwave status is declared when the average daily maximum temperature reaches at least 35 degrees Celsius for three consecutive days, while the average daily temperature reaches at least 29 degrees Celsius.
Scientists warn that the current El Niño has the potential to develop into an exceptionally strong phenomenon, which some scientists refer to as a “Godzilla” event. The NEA has also cautioned that extreme temperatures could occur as El Niño begins to weaken, which is expected to potentially take place between March and May 2027.