Haze watch: Singapore air quality mostly unhealthy, only southern region moderate

Residents in most areas of the Republic woke up to unhealthy air quality on Tuesday (Oct 6), with 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) remaining in the range — at all but one region — southern Singapore. 

Air quality deteriorated through Monday evening, with all five regions recording unhealthy PSI readings by 9pm.

At 9am on Tuesday, the PSI ranged from 96 to 128, with central Singapore recording the highest reading.

The next highest readings were recorded in western (114) and eastern (113) Singapore. 

Meanwhile, one-hour PM2.5 has been improving since midnight, with only the central region (57) marginally in the elevated band. 

All four other regions — northern (42), western (43), eastern (49) and southern (39) — are in the normal band.

In its daily haze situation updated issued earlier on Monday evening, the National Environment Agency said the country's 24-hour PSI is forecast to be in the high-moderate to mid-unhealthy range.

It noted that moderate to dense smoke haze plumes from southern Sumatra were observed to have drifted towards Singapore, while smoke haze was also observed from fires in Kalimantan.

Data from the ASEAN Meteorological Centre shows that the number of hotspots in Kalimantan spiked from 175 to 533 on Oct 4. 

Given that dry conditions are expected to persist over southern Sumatra and Kalimantan, and with the prevailing south-easterly or east-south-easterly winds, smoke haze could continue to affect Singapore, NEA stated.

Members of the public should check the latest one-hour PM2.5 concentration readings before participating in outdoor activities.

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