Air quality in Singapore enters “unhealthy” range due to hotspots in Indonesia

Singapore’s air quality plummeted to unhealthy levels this Saturday morning, amidst growing concerns over increasing hotspots in Indonesia and the wider ASEAN region.

As of 10 a.m., the eastern region of Singapore registered a 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) reading of 109, breaching the “unhealthy” bracket set by the National Environment Agency (NEA) for levels between 101 and 200.

While most of the city-state saw PSI readings within the moderate range (51-100), the central region, with its 99 PSI reading, is just a hair away from being unhealthy.

NEA forecasts suggest “slightly hazy” conditions throughout the north, south, east, and central parts of Singapore. The western region, however, might see partly cloudy skies.

Dry weather prevailed over southern and central Sumatra, Java, and the Lesser Sunda Islands today.

Yet, persistent hotspots emitting moderate to dense smoke haze were observed in southern Sumatra. These smoke plumes, carried by prevailing winds, drifted mainly northwestward and occasionally northward.

Central Sumatra also reported isolated hotspots. The situation in Kalimantan was equally concerning, with satellite imagery capturing widespread dense haze over southern parts, despite partial cloud cover.

Air quality in southern Kalimantan predominantly hovered in the “Unhealthy” range.

The outlook for the weekend remains pessimistic. Dry conditions are forecasted to persist in critical areas like southern and central Sumatra and southern Kalimantan.

“With the dry weather expected to continue over these fire-prone regions, hotspot activities and hazy conditions are predicted to be widespread. There is a serious risk of transboundary haze, especially with prevailing winds blowing mainly from the southeast or south and at times from the southwest,” warns NEA.

For context, it’s worth noting that Singapore last witnessed a 24-hour PSI reading exceeding 80 back in 2019.

Addressing the situation, NEA announced it will commence daily haze advisories from Saturday evening, aiding the public in planning their activities.

“These advisories, including the 24-hour PSI forecast, were previously issued to institutions like healthcare centers, preschools, and workplaces. The objective remains the protection of vulnerable segments,” remarked the NEA.

On a brighter note, rainy weather is anticipated for the northern ASEAN region, leading to an expected reduction in hotspot activity there, coupled with generally light and variable wind directions.

For up-to-date air quality metrics and advisories, the public is directed to visit www.haze.gov.sg or access the myENV app.