Singapore haze: Air quality improves as 24-hour PSI readings fall to moderate levels in three regions

In its Sunday evening advisory, the National Environment Agency (NEA) forecast that the 24-hour PSI would remain in the unhealthy range on Monday, between 101 and 190.

A view of the clear skies in central Bishan on Oct 19, 2026. (Photo: CNA/Marcus Mark Ramos)

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SINGAPORE: Air quality improved across Singapore on Monday morning (Oct 19), with 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) readings falling into the moderate range in three of the country's five regions for the first time in more than a week.

At 1pm, the 24-hour PSI ranged from 85 in the north, where air quality was moderate, to 118 in the west, where it remained unhealthy.

The north was the first region to see its PSI reading fall into the moderate band at 1am, marking the first time any part of Singapore had recorded moderate air quality since Oct 9.

The south followed at 8am and the east at 10am.

CNA Games Guess Word Crack the word, one row at a time Buzzword Create words using the given letters Mini Sudoku Tiny puzzle, mighty brain teaser Mini Crossword Small grid, big challenge Word Search Spot as many words as you can Show More Show Less The hourly PM2.5 reading also improved, falling into the normal band across all five regions by noon. The reading in central dropped into the normal band at 11am, while the reading in the east, which had risen into the elevated range at 9am, returned to the normal band an hour later. The reading in the south had fallen into the normal band at 7am.

The hourly PM2.5 reading also improved, falling into the normal band across all five regions by noon.

The reading in central dropped into the normal band at 11am, while the reading in the east, which had risen into the elevated range at 9am, returned to the normal band an hour later.

The reading in the south had fallen into the normal band at 7am.

An elderly woman reads her newspaper in the corridor of her housing block in Toa Payoh on Oct 19, 2026. (Photo: CNA/Wallace Woon)

A man cycles past greenery along a path in Toa Payoh on Oct 19, 2026. (Photo: CNA/Wallace Woon)

A worker walking along Kallang river in central Bishan on Oct 19, 2026. (Photo: CNA/Marcus Mark Ramos)

Buildings shrouded in haze in Kallang are seen behind vehicles travelling along the Pan-Island Expressway in the Potong Pasir area on Oct 19, 2026. (Photo: CNA/Wallace Woon)

Pinnacle@Duxton and the State Court building shrouded by haze in the distance behind housing flats in Whampoa on Oct 19, 2026. (Photo: CNA/Wallace Woon)

The improvement came after air quality remained unhealthy across most of Singapore on Sunday.

The west was particularly badly affected , with its 24-hour PSI staying in the very unhealthy range from 8pm on Saturday until 5pm on Sunday, when it fell into the unhealthy band.

At 10am on Sunday, the region's 24-hour PSI reached 230 – the highest reading recorded during this year's haze season.

Showers were forecast over Singapore and the surrounding region on Monday, while winds blowing from the south-southeast or south could limit the movement of smoke haze from Kalimantan towards Singapore, NEA said.

However, some smoke haze from Sumatra could still drift towards Singapore.

The agency said the movement of smoke haze from Kalimantan towards Singapore could also ease on Tuesday, with showers expected in the surrounding region and winds forecast to blow from the southeast or south.

"However, the winds are likely to turn east-southeasterly from Tuesday night, which may bring smoke haze from fires in Kalimantan towards Singapore overnight," said NEA.

ADVICE FOR VULNERABLE GROUPS

When the 24-hour PSI is in the unhealthy range, NEA advises the elderly, pregnant women and children to minimise prolonged or strenuous outdoor physical exertion.

People with chronic diseases, including heart or lung conditions, should avoid such activities.

For decisions on mask use and immediate outdoor activities, the public should refer to the one-hour PM2.5 readings instead.

When the 1-hour PM2.5 readings are in the high band, vulnerable individuals, including the elderly, pregnant women and those with chronic heart or lung conditions, should avoid outdoor activities, according to the Ministry of Health (MOH).

Those who need to go outdoors for immediate activities may wear a well-fitting N95 mask or equivalent to reduce their exposure to haze particles.

When 1-hour PM2.5 readings reach the very high band of 251 and above, healthy individuals should also minimise all outdoor activities. Those who need to venture outdoors may similarly use an N95 mask for protection.

The ministry has also advised the elderly, pregnant women and those with severe heart or lung conditions who experience breathing difficulties to consult their doctor before using an N95 mask.

Those who experience discomfort while wearing one should take a break from using it.

Besides N95 masks, KN95, FFP2 and KF94 masks are also effective in reducing exposure to haze particles, according to MOH.

Members of the public can visit the HazeMaskGoWhere website for more information on collection locations and live updates on mask availability at the vending machines.

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国家环境局 (NEA) 在周日晚间的公告中预测，周一的 24 小时空气污染指数 (PSI) 仍将处于不健康范围内，介于 101 至 190 之间。

2026年10月19日，碧山中心地带晴空万里。（图片：CNA/Marcus Mark Ramos）

这段音频由人工智能工具生成。

新加坡：周一（10 月 19 日）上午，新加坡空气质量有所改善，该国五个地区中有三个地区的 24 小时污染物标准指数 (PSI) 读数一周多以来首次降至中等水平。

下午 1 点，24 小时空气污染指数 (PSI) 从北部空气质量中等的 85 到西部空气质量仍然不健康的 118 不等。

凌晨 1 点，北部地区率先出现空气污染指数 (PSI) 降至中等水平的情况，这是自 10 月 9 日以来新加坡任何地区首次出现中等空气质量。

南方地区于上午 8 点启动，东方地区于上午 10 点启动。

CNA游戏 猜词游戏 逐行破解单词 流行词游戏 用给定的字母组成单词 迷你数独 小谜题，脑力挑战 迷你填字游戏 小方格，大挑战 单词搜索 尽可能多地找出单词 显示更多 显示更少 PM2.5每小时读数也有所改善，到中午时分，所有五个地区的读数均已降至正常范围。中部地区的读数在上午11点降至正常范围，而东部地区的读数在上午9点升至偏高范围后，一小时后回落至正常范围。南部地区的读数在上午7点已降至正常范围。

PM2.5 小时读数也有所改善，到中午时分，所有五个地区的 PM2.5 读数均已降至正常范围。

中部地区的读数在上午 11 点降至正常范围，而东部地区的读数在上午 9 点升至高位范围后，一小时后恢复到正常范围。

早上7点，南部地区的读数已降至正常范围。

2026年10月19日，一位老妇人在大巴窑组屋的走廊里读报。（图片：CNA/Wallace Woon）

2026年10月19日，一名男子骑车经过大巴窑一条绿树成荫的小路。（图片：CNA/Wallace Woon）

2026年10月19日，一名工人在碧山中心地带的加冷河畔行走。（图片：CNA/Marcus Mark Ramos）

2026年10月19日，在波东巴西地区，行驶于泛岛高速公路上的车辆后方，可以看到加冷地区笼罩在薄雾中的建筑物。（图片：CNA/Wallace Woon）

2026年10月19日，黄埔住宅区后方，达士岭组屋和远处笼罩在薄雾中的州法院大楼。（图片：中央社/Wallace Woon）

此前，新加坡大部分地区的空气质量在周日仍然不健康。

西部地区受影响尤为严重，其 24 小时空气污染指数 (PSI) 从周六晚上 8 点一直处于非常不健康的范围内，直到周日下午 5 点才降至不健康的范围内。

周日上午 10 点，该地区 24 小时 PSI 值达到 230，这是今年雾霾季节记录到的最高读数。

新加坡国家环境局表示，预计周一新加坡及其周边地区将有阵雨，而来自东南偏南或正南方向的风可能会限制加里曼丹岛的烟霾向新加坡移动。

然而，来自苏门答腊岛的一些烟雾仍有可能飘向新加坡。

该机构表示，周二来自加里曼丹岛的烟雾向新加坡方向移动的趋势可能会有所缓解，周边地区预计将有阵雨，风向预计为东南风或南风。

“然而，从周二晚上开始，风向可能会转为东南风，这可能会在夜间将加里曼丹岛火灾产生的烟雾带到新加坡，”国家环境局表示。

给弱势群体的建议

当 24 小时 PSI 处于不健康范围时，新加坡国家环境局建议老年人、孕妇和儿童尽量减少长时间或剧烈的户外体力活动。

患有慢性疾病（包括心脏病或肺病）的人应避免进行此类活动。

对于是否佩戴口罩以及是否立即进行户外活动，公众应参考一小时 PM2.5 读数。

根据卫生部 (MOH) 的说法，当 1 小时 PM2.5 读数处于高位时，包括老年人、孕妇和患有慢性心脏或肺部疾病的人在内的弱势群体应避免户外活动。

那些因紧急情况需要外出的人可以佩戴贴合度良好的 N95 口罩或同等防护等级的口罩，以减少接触雾霾颗粒。

当1小时PM2.5读数达到251及以上的高值区间时，健康人群也应尽量减少所有户外活动。必须外出的人群同样可以佩戴N95口罩进行防护。

该部还建议老年人、孕妇以及患有严重心脏或肺部疾病且出现呼吸困难的人在使用 N95 口罩前咨询医生。

如果佩戴时感到不适，应暂停使用。

卫生部表示，除了 N95 口罩外，KN95、FFP2 和 KF94 口罩也能有效减少接触雾霾颗粒。

公众可以访问 HazeMaskGoWhere 网站，了解更多关于口罩收集地点和自动售货机口罩供应情况的实时更新信息。

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