Haze watch 15 Oct: Morning thundery showers cool Singapore but PM2.5, PSI still rising

Early morning thundery showers across the eastern, southern and western regions helped cool Singapore on Thursday (Oct 15) morning, but has not improved air quality.

At 9am, the 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) in western Singapore was 208.

This remains in the "very unhealthy" range — which the region entered at 9pm on Wednesday — marking a new high for the year.

In other areas across the city state, PSI ranged from 125 in northern Singapore to 185 in the central region.

Meanwhile, one-hour PM2.5 concentration readings have been climbing again after falling back into the elevated band (56 to 150µg/m3) overnight.

The highest concentration reading of 133 was recorded in central Singapore, while the next highest readings of 107 and 104 were in the southern and western regions respectively.

But temperatures did fall to around 23.4 deg C in several areas across the island at 8am.

The lowest temperature of of 23.2 deg C was recorded at 8.07am at Kim Chuan Road.

On Tuesday, Indonesia Environment Minister Jumhur Hidayat said the intesity of fires in Indonesia is starting to decline, adding that they could be extinguished "in the next few weeks" .

In its daily haze situation update on Wednesday evening , the National Environment Agency said the country's 24-hour PSI forecast is expected to be in unhealthy to very unhealthy range.

It noted that dense smoke haze from fires in Kalimantan was observed to drift towards Singapore under the prevailing southeasterly winds, while smoke haze was also observed over Sumatra.

And although showers are forecast over the Republic on Thursday, dry conditions over southern Sumatra and Kalimantan, coupled with the prevailing winds, mean that dense smoke haze is expected to continue drifting towards Singapore overnight and on Thursday.

N95 mask distribution

The Government, citing PM2.5 levels in the very high range and the possibility that the 24-hour PSI could enter the very unhealthy range, announced on Wednesday afternoon (Oct 14) that it has commenced the phased distribution of N95 masks to vulnerable Singaporeans .

Those from the Pioneer Generation and Merdeka Generation; holders of the Community Health Assistance Scheme (CHAS) Blue and Orange cards and Medical Fee Exemption Cards (MFEC); and recipients of ComCare Assistance are eligible to collect their masks at Community Clubs or designated vending machines located at selected public transport hubs, social service offices and People's Association venues.

In addition, pregnant women, children between the ages of seven and 16, and those with medical conditions such as asthma may collect their masks at Community Clubs.

Each mask pack comes with two N95 masks. They are available in either the medium or large size.

Haze shelters, ActiveSG facilities

Haze shelters at community clubs and selected Residents' Committee and Residents' Network centres have also been activated on Wednesday.

The same afternoon, Sport Singapore announced the temporary closure of outdoor and non-aircon ActiveSG facilities in the eastern, central and western regions as a precautionary measure.

The restriction was later eased for facilities in the eastern and central regions at 11pm.

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

When concentration readings reach the "very high" band, healthy persons should minimise all outdoor activities for the next hour.

In such conditions, vulnerable persons, including those with chronic lung or heart disease, are advised to avoid all outdoor activities for the next hour.

周四（10 月 15 日）清晨，新加坡东部、南部和西部地区普降雷阵雨，气温有所下降，但空气质量并未改善。

上午 9 点，新加坡西部 24 小时污染物标准指数 (PSI) 为 208。

这一数值仍然处于“非常不健康”的范围内——该地区于周三晚上 9 点进入该范围——创下今年新高。

在新加坡其他地区，PSI 指数从北部的 125 到中部地区的 185 不等。

与此同时，PM2.5 一小时浓度读数在夜间回落至较高水平（56 至 150µg/m3）后再次攀升。

新加坡中部记录到的最高浓度读数为 133，其次是南部和西部地区，分别为 107 和 104。

但早上 8 点，岛上多个地区的气温确实降至 23.4 摄氏度左右。

上午 8 点 07 分，金泉路记录到最低气温 23.2 摄氏度。

周二，印尼环境部长朱姆胡尔·希达亚特表示，印尼的火灾强度开始下降，并补充说，这些火灾可能会在“未来几周内”被扑灭。

国家环境局在周三晚间发布的每日雾霾情况更新中表示，该国24小时空气污染指数（PSI）预计将处于不健康至非常不健康的范围内。

报告指出，加里曼丹岛火灾产生的浓烟在盛行的东南风作用下向新加坡飘去，同时苏门答腊岛上空也出现了烟霾。

虽然预计周四新加坡会有阵雨，但苏门答腊南部和加里曼丹的干燥天气，加上盛行风向，意味着浓烟预计将在周四夜间继续向新加坡飘移。

N95口罩分发

政府指出 PM2.5 水平处于非常高的范围内，并且 24 小时空气污染指数 (PSI) 有可能进入非常不健康的范围，于周三下午（10 月 14 日）宣布，已开始分阶段向弱势新加坡人分发 N95 口罩。

建国一代和独立一代人士；持有社区健康援助计划（CHAS）蓝卡和橙卡以及医疗费用豁免卡（MFEC）的人士；以及社区关怀援助的受益人，均可在民众俱乐部或指定公共交通枢纽、社会服务办事处和人民协会场所的指定自动售货机领取口罩。

此外，孕妇、7至16岁的儿童以及患有哮喘等疾病的人可以在社区俱乐部领取口罩。

每包口罩内含两只N95口罩，有中号和大号两种尺寸可选。

雾霾避难所，ActiveSG设施

周三，社区俱乐部和部分居民委员会及居民网络中心的雾霾避难所也已启用。

当天下午，新加坡体育理事会宣布暂时关闭东部、中部和西部地区的室外及无空调ActiveSG设施，作为一项预防措施。

晚上 11 点，东部和中部地区的设施放宽了限制。

公众在参加任何户外活动前，应查看最新的1小时PM2.5浓度读数。

当注意力读数达到“非常高”级别时，健康的人应在接下来的一个小时内尽量减少所有户外活动。

在这种情况下，建议包括患有慢性肺病或心脏病在内的弱势群体在接下来的一个小时内避免所有户外活动。