24-hour PSI forecast unhealthy to low-very unhealthy range; weekend showers could reduce smoke haze in Singapore: NEA

Thundery showers over several areas in Singapore on Thursday (Oct 15) morning did little to improve the haze situation here as dense smoke haze from fires in Kalimantan continued to drift towards Singapore.

In its daily haze situation update, the National Environment Agency (NEA) said this was due to the prevailing south-easterly winds, adding that smoke haze was also observed over Sumatra.

Turning to Friday, NEA said the 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) is expected to be in the unhealthy to low-very unhealthy range, even though showers are expected over Singapore and the surrounding region.

This is because southern Sumatra and parts of Kalimantan are likely to remain dry.

"With the winds forecast to be east-southeasterly or south-easterly, smoke haze is likely to continue to be carried from Kalimantan towards Singapore," NEA explained.

But there could be hopes for cleaner air over the weekend, with more showers forecast over Singapore and parts of Kalimantan, NEA said.

With prevailing winds shifting to blow from southeast or south, the transport of smoke haze from Kalimantan to Singapore could be reduced.

Some haze from Sumatra, howeverm may still drift towards Singapore, NEA cautioned.

Air quality in central Singapore worsening

Since re-entering the high-band at 4pm (181µg/m3), PM2.5 readings in the central region have been steadily rising.

At 7pm, one-hour PM2.5 ranged from 98 in the northern region to 221µg/m3 in central Singapore.

A total of four regions — southern (157µg/m3), western (166µg/m3), eastern (176µg/m3) and central — are in the high-band.

Concentration readings of more than 251µg/m3 are in the very high band.

Meanwhile, PSI across Singapore remains in the unhealthy range, with central Singapore having the highest reading of 185. This is followed by the western region (180).

Outdoor and non-air conditioned ActiveSG facilities in the eastern, western, southern and central regions are temporarily closed as a precautionary measure due to the current haze situation.

The latest list of facilities temporarily closed due to the haze can be found on the ActiveSG Circle website .

Singaporeans who are collecting their N95 masks can use the HazeMaskGoWhere website for more information on the eligibility criteria, collection locations and live updates on mask availability at the vending machines.

周四（10 月 15 日）上午，新加坡多个地区出现雷阵雨，但加里曼丹岛火灾产生的浓烟继续向新加坡飘来，并未改善新加坡的雾霾状况。

国家环境局 (NEA) 在每日雾霾情况更新中表示，这是由于盛行的东南风造成的，并补充说，苏门答腊岛上空也观测到了烟霾。

展望周五，新加坡国家环境局表示，尽管预计新加坡及其周边地区将有阵雨，但24小时污染物标准指数（PSI）预计将处于不健康到轻微至非常不健康的范围内。

这是因为苏门答腊南部和加里曼丹部分地区可能持续干旱。

“预计风向为东南偏东风或东南风，烟雾可能会继续从加里曼丹吹向新加坡，”国家环境局解释说。

但新加坡国家环境局表示，周末空气质量有望改善，预计新加坡和加里曼丹部分地区将有更多降雨。

随着盛行风向转为东南风或南风，加里曼丹岛的烟霾向新加坡的输送可能会减少。

新加坡国家环境局警告称，来自苏门答腊岛的部分雾霾仍可能飘向新加坡。

新加坡中部空气质量恶化

自下午 4 点重新进入高浓度区间（181µg/m3）以来，中部地区的 PM2.5 读数一直在稳步上升。

晚上 7 点，新加坡北部地区的 PM2.5 一小时浓度为 98 微克/立方米，中部地区为 221 微克/立方米。

共有四个区域——南部（157µg/m3）、西部（166µg/m3）、东部（176µg/m3）和中部——处于高浓度区间。

浓度读数超过 251µg/m3 属于非常高的浓度范围。

与此同时，新加坡各地的PSI指数仍处于不健康范围内，其中新加坡中部地区的读数最高，为185。其次是西部地区（180）。

由于目前的雾霾情况，东部、西部、南部和中部地区的室外及无空调ActiveSG设施暂时关闭，作为一项预防措施。

因雾霾暂时关闭的最新设施名单可在ActiveSG Circle网站上找到。

新加坡民众领取 N95 口罩时，可访问 HazeMaskGoWhere 网站，了解领取资格标准、领取地点以及自动售货机口罩供应情况的实时更新信息。