Singapore weather in 1885
A. Knight’s brief note documents the droughts experienced in Singapore during 1885, recording periods of seven or more consecutive days without measurable rain as observed at his station (p. 435).
Summary
Knight explains that he defines “droughts” as periods of seven consecutive days or more without measurable rain, or longer periods with only trifling rainfall. He lists specific drought episodes for 1885, including a 20-day period in March with only 0.06 inch of rain and a 16-day period in August with 0.09 inch (p. 435). He notes that November was the only month free from drought, and that monthly rainfall in January, March, and August was less than 2 inches (p. 436). Comparing with 1877, which was exceptionally dry, Knight found that 1885 was not surpassed in aridity: he registered rain on 162 days in 1885 versus only 125 days at the Kandang Kerbau Observatory in 1877 (p. 436). He also remarks that the South-west monsoon of 1885 was exceptionally hot, while the nights in January and February were unprecedentedly cold (p. 436).