Haze Could Return to Singapore as Fires Intensify in Indonesia

Singapore could experience intermittent periods of haze as fires intensify in Indonesia's Sumatra and Kalimantan regions, the National Environment Agency (NEA) warned on Monday. The agency reported a significant increase in hotspot activity and smoke plumes over the weekend, primarily concentrated in Kalimantan and southern Sumatra.

"We have observed an escalation in hotspot and smoke haze activity over the weekend, with hotspots and dense smoke plumes detected mainly in Kalimantan and southern Sumatra," the NEA stated in a Facebook post. Smoke plumes were also observed in Riau province. The agency noted that prevailing winds are blowing from the south or southeast, increasing the likelihood of haze affecting Singapore.

As of Monday afternoon, Singapore's air quality was rated as "moderate," with the 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) ranging between 68 and 90. The NEA is maintaining close surveillance of the overall air quality and will issue necessary advisories if conditions worsen. Dry weather conditions are expected to persist throughout the week in the region, exacerbating the risk of fire.

The Meteorological Service Singapore had previously advised in its mid-August weather advisory that hazy conditions could affect the island nation if fires in Indonesia intensified. The NEA defines the "unhealthy" range for air quality as a PSI reading above 100, at which point daily haze advisories will be issued. Singapore's inter-agency haze task force, comprising 28 public agencies, remains prepared to implement action plans should the air quality deteriorate into the unhealthy range. The ASEAN Specialised Meteorological Centre has raised its alert level for the southern ASEAN region to Level 2, indicating an increasing risk of transboundary haze.

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We have observed an escalation in hotspot and smoke haze activity over the weekend, with hotspots and dense smoke plumes detected mainly in Kalimantan and southern Sumatra.