Singapore, 19 September 2019 –  The air quality in Singapore has continued to improve gradually today. This is due to a strengthening of winds blowing from the southeast after midnight today that helped to disperse the smoke haze away from Singapore. For the rest of the day, slightly hazy conditions are expected to persist, and the prevailing winds are forecast to blow mainly from the southeast. As at 6pm, the 24-hr PSI was 97-110, in the high end of the Moderate and the low end of the Unhealthy range, and the 1-hr PM_2.5 concentration readings were 21-36 µg/m³, in Band I (Normal).

2         The weather over central and southern Sumatra has remained dry, and a total of 196 hotspots were detected mostly in Riau, Jambi, South Sumatra and Lampung provinces. Moderate to dense smoke haze continued to emanate from the persistent hotspots. Some of the smoke haze has been blown across the Strait of Malacca and affected parts of Peninsular Malaysia.

3         For the next few days, the weather in Singapore is expected to be generally dry. Dry weather is forecast to persist over central and southern Sumatra, and the haze situation there is expected to persist. The prevailing winds are forecast to blow from the southeast or south, and are expected to gradually weaken. Singapore may experience increased haziness if the winds shift to blow smoke haze from the surrounding region to Singapore. For the next 24 hours, the 1-hr PM_2.5 concentration readings are expected to remain in Band I (Normal), and may enter Band II (Elevated) if smoke haze from the surrounding region is blown in. The 24-hr PSI is forecast to be between the high end of the Moderate range and low end of the Unhealthy range.  

4         NEA is monitoring the situation closely and will provide further updates when necessary.

5        The health impact of haze is dependent on one’s health status, the PSI level, and the length and intensity of outdoor activity. Reducing outdoor activities and physical exertion can help limit the ill effects from haze exposure. Given the air quality forecast for the next 24 hours, healthy persons should reduce prolonged or strenuous outdoor physical exertion. The elderly, pregnant women and children should minimise prolonged or strenuous outdoor physical exertion, while those with chronic lung or heart disease should avoid prolonged or strenuous outdoor physical exertion. Persons who are not feeling well, especially the elderly and children, and those with chronic heart or lung conditions, should seek medical attention.

6          Air quality indicators and health advisories during periods of transboundary haze refer primarily to the 24-hour PSI. There are no accompanying health advisories for any other air quality indicators. In addition, the main air pollutant during the haze season is PM_2.5. Hence, the 1-hour PM_2.5 concentration readings are a good indicator of the current air quality. Use this for immediate activities like going for a jog.

7          For updates, visit our NEA website (www.nea.gov.sg), MSS website (www.weather.gov.sg), the haze microsite (www.haze.gov.sg), mobile apps (myEnv and Weather@SG) or follow us on NEA Facebook (www.facebook.com/NEASingapore) and NEA Twitter (@NEAsg). For information on the distribution of hotspots detected over the past fortnight in the region, please refer to the ASEAN Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC) website at asmc.asean.org.