Haze continues to shroud Singapore, with air quality remaining in the unhealthy range across most regions of the city-state. As of October 6, the 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) indicated readings of 107 in the north, 112 in the east, 117 in the west, and 130 in the central region. Only the southern part of the island recorded a moderate PSI reading of 95. A PSI between 101 and 200 is deemed unhealthy, based on a 24-hour average of key air pollutants.
The haze, primarily attributed to smoke from Kalimantan and southern Sumatra in Indonesia, is exacerbated by dry conditions in those regions, causing moderate to dense smoke plumes to drift towards Singapore. The prevailing winds from the southeast and east-southeast are expected to continue influencing the island’s air quality.
Singapore’s current haze situation has been deteriorating since September, when the PSI levels first escalated into the unhealthy range. The highest PSI reading this year was recorded at 164 in the central region on September 29. Authorities predict that the PSI could hover between high-moderate to mid-unhealthy levels as dry conditions persist across parts of Southeast Asia.
Adding to the concern, elevated levels of fine particle pollution (PM2.5) have been noted in several areas. The central region recorded PM2.5 levels of 60, with the east at 56, the west at 59, and the north at 48. Only the south showed a relatively lower PM2.5 reading of 35.
There are concerns that the dry spell might extend longer than usual due to weather patterns associated with a strong El Niño, which could delay the onset of the wetter season in Southeast Asia. This delay may prolong the period of poor air quality in Singapore.