Haze watch: Central Singapore PSI hits 2026 high of 181, nears 'very unhealthy' range

Air quality in the Republic is worsening, with the 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) in Central Singapore reaching 181 at noon on Friday (Oct 9), the highest reading recorded so far in 2026.

At noon, PSI ranged from 123 in northern Singapore to 181 in the central region.

The next highest readings were recorded in western (170) and southern (160) Singapore.

PSI readings of between 101 and 200 are in the unhealthy range, while readings from 201 to 300 denote the very unhealthy range.

Meanwhile, one-hour PM2.5 concentration entered the high-band in the central (151) region, while remaining in the elevated band in southern (104), northern (113), western (117) and eastern (147) Singapore.

On Thursday night, the concentration reading hit the high-band in three regions — western (156), central (163) and eastern (152) Singapore — simultaneously at 11pm.

In its daily haze situation update on Thursday evening , the National Environment Agency (NEA) noted that moderate to dense smoke plumes from southern and central Sumatra and West Kalimantan were observed drifting towards Singapore.

Data from the Asean Specialised Meteorological Centre showed 162 hotspots in Kalimantan on Oct 8, while there were 314 hotspots detected in Sumatra.

"Under the prevailing south-easterly or southerly winds, smoke haze may continue to drift towards Singapore.

"The 24-hr PSI for Singapore is forecast to be in the high-moderate to mid-unhealthy range."

Schools and parents, workplaces

Preschools and schools have measures in place to safeguard the wellbeing of students. This includes adjusting outdoor activities and the use of air purifiers.

According to the Ministry of Education (MOE), it will consider closing schools when the air quality forecast for the next day is in the hazardous range. This occurs when PSI exceeds 300.

Any school closure will be announced at around the same time as the daily haze situation update in the evening, and schools will inform parents accordingly.

For now, with air quality in the unhealthy range, workplace safety remains a focus, and employers are urged to reduce the duration of prolonged or strenuous work for healthy employees.

For vulnerable workers, especially the elderly and pregnant women, they should minimise prolonged or strenuous outdoor work, while those with chronic heart and lung conditions should avoid such work.

Employers should also provide suitable protective equipment, considering pollutants present in the work environment.

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

When one-hour PM2.5 concentration readings are in the high band, healthy persons should avoid strenuous outdoor activity for the next hour, while vulnerable persons should avoid all outdoor activity for the next hour.

新加坡的空气质量正在恶化，周五（10 月 9 日）中午，新加坡中部 24 小时污染物标准指数 (PSI) 达到 181，这是 2026 年迄今为止记录的最高读数。

中午时分，新加坡北部地区的PSI指数为123，中部地区的PSI指数为181。

新加坡西部（170）和南部（160）的读数次之。

PSI读数在101到200之间属于不健康范围，而读数在201到300之间则属于非常不健康范围。

与此同时，新加坡中部地区一小时 PM2.5 浓度进入高位区间 (151)，而南部 (104)、北部 (113)、西部 (117) 和东部 (147) 地区则保持在较高水平。

周四晚上 11 点，新加坡西部（156）、中部（163）和东部（152）三个地区的空气浓度读数同时达到高位。

新加坡国家环境局（NEA）在周四晚间的每日雾霾情况更新中指出，来自苏门答腊南部和中部以及西加里曼丹的中等至浓重的烟雾正向新加坡飘去。

东盟专业气象中心的数据显示，10 月 8 日加里曼丹岛有 162 个热点，而苏门答腊岛则检测到 314 个热点。

“在盛行的东南风或南风的影响下，烟雾可能会继续向新加坡飘去。”

“预计新加坡24小时空气污染指数（PSI）将处于中高至中等不健康范围。”

学校和家长，工作场所

幼儿园和学校都已采取措施保障学生的健康福祉，包括调整户外活动和使用空气净化器。

根据教育部规定，当次日空气质量预报显示空气质量达到危险级别时，将考虑停课。这种情况发生在空气污染指数（PSI）超过300时。

任何学校停课通知都将在傍晚发布每日雾霾情况更新的同时公布，学校也会相应地通知家长。

目前，由于空气质量处于不健康范围，工作场所安全仍然是关注的重点，并敦促雇主减少健康员工长时间或剧烈工作的时间。

对于体弱的劳动者，特别是老年人和孕妇，应尽量减少长时间或剧烈的户外工作，而患有慢性心脏和肺部疾病的人应避免从事此类工作。

考虑到工作环境中存在的污染物，雇主还应提供合适的防护设备。

公众在参加户外活动前，应查看最新的1小时PM2.5浓度读数。

当一小时 PM2.5 浓度读数处于高位时，健康人群应在接下来的一个小时内避免剧烈的户外活动，而易感人群应在接下来的一个小时内避免所有户外活动。