Singapore shrouded in haze; PSI readings in the unhealthy band across the island

In its daily haze advisory on Oct 7, the NEA had forecast that the haze situation would worsen, with the PSI expected to be in the unhealthy range.

ST PHOTO: CHONG JUN LIANG

Published Oct 08, 2026, 06:15 AM

Updated Oct 08, 2026, 06:15 AM

SINGAPORE – The air quality across Singapore remained in the unhealthy range early on Oct 8, with the 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) at 6am standing at 113 in the north, 120 in the south, 128 in the east, 161 in the west and 147 in the central region.

Air quality is considered unhealthy when the PSI – a 24-hour rolling average of six key air pollutants and used in planning for outdoor activities the next day – is in the range of 101 to 200.

However, PM2.5 readings, which points to the current air quality and is used as a gauge for immediate activities, were elevated in only the west (76) and central (61) regions.

They remained in the normal band for the north (40), south (44), and east (41).

An hourly PM2.5 reading between 56 and 150 indicates an elevated concentration of fine particles.

When the 24-hour PSI readings are in the unhealthy band, those who are healthy should reduce prolonged or strenuous outdoor physical activities, according to the National Environment Agency’s (NEA) haze advisory.

Vulnerable people – including the elderly, pregnant women, children and those with chronic lung or heart disease – should minimise or avoid such activities entirely.

It was the first time since the agency started issuing daily haze advisories on Sept 4 that the forecast has fallen completely within the unhealthy band of 101 and 200. Previous forecasts in the same period were in the moderate, or moderate to unhealthy ranges.

NEA said that moderate to dense smoke plumes from southern Sumatra in neighbouring Indonesia were observed to be drifting towards Singapore whilst there was also moderate to dense smoke haze from hotspots in Kalimantan.

“Under the prevailing south-easterly to southerly winds, smoke haze from these areas may continue to drift towards Singapore,” it added.

The PSI crossed into the unhealthy range four weeks ago, hitting 101 in central Singapore on the morning of Sept 4. In the days that followed, readings in the central, eastern and western parts of the island occasionally crossed into the unhealthy range.

The highest reading of the year – 167 in central Singapore – was recorded on Sept 29.

These developments over the past month marked the first time since October 2023 that the PSI in Singapore hit unhealthy levels because of haze, with the authorities earlier warning of the risk of haze between June and October as a result of warmer and drier conditions brought on by both El Nino and the Indian Ocean Dipole.

National Environment Agency

10月7日，国家环境局在其每日雾霾预警中预测，雾霾情况将会恶化，空气污染指数预计将达到不健康水平。

《海峡时报》照片：梁崇俊

发布于 2026 年 10 月 8 日上午 6:15

更新于2026年10月8日 上午6:15

新加坡——10月8日清晨，新加坡各地空气质量仍处于不健康水平。早上6点，24小时污染物标准指数（PSI）北部为113，南部为120，东部为128，西部为161，中部地区为147。

当 PSI（六种主要空气污染物的 24 小时滚动平均值，用于规划第二天的户外活动）在 101 到 200 的范围内时，空气质量被认为是不健康的。

然而，PM2.5 读数（反映当前空气质量并用作衡量当前活动的指标）仅在西部（76）和中部（61）地区升高。

它们的北向（40）、南向（44）、东向（41）均保持在正常范围内。

PM2.5 小时读数在 56 至 150 之间表示细颗粒物浓度升高。

根据国家环境局 (NEA) 的雾霾建议，当 24 小时 PSI 读数处于不健康范围时，健康人群应减少长时间或剧烈的户外体育活动。

弱势群体——包括老年人、孕妇、儿童以及患有慢性肺病或心脏病的人——应尽量减少或完全避免此类活动。

这是自该机构9月4日开始发布每日雾霾预警以来，预测值首次完全落在101至200的不健康范围内。此前同期预测值均处于中等或中等至不健康范围内。

新加坡国家环境局表示，从邻国印度尼西亚苏门答腊南部观测到的中等至浓重的烟柱正向新加坡飘移，同时加里曼丹岛热点地区也出现了中等至浓重的烟霾。

“在盛行的东南风至南风的影响下，这些地区的烟雾可能会继续向新加坡飘去，”声明补充道。

四周前，新加坡空气污染指数（PSI）进入不健康范围，9月4日上午，新加坡中部地区的PSI达到101。在接下来的几天里，该岛中部、东部和西部地区的读数偶尔也会进入不健康范围。

今年最高读数——新加坡中部 167——出现在 9 月 29 日。

过去一个月的这些发展标志着自 2023 年 10 月以来，新加坡的空气污染指数 (PSI) 首次因雾霾达到不健康水平。此前，当局曾警告称，由于厄尔尼诺现象和印度洋偶极子现象带来的气候变暖和干燥，6 月至 10 月期间存在雾霾风险。

国家环境局