Haze in S’pore: Air quality worsens as PSI hits unhealthy range in central, eastern and western regions
As at 7am, the 24-hour PSI stood at 128 in the central region, 115 in the east and 106 in the west.
On September 27, Singapore's air quality deteriorated further, with the 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) readings in the central, eastern, and western regions entering the unhealthy range. At 7am, the PSI readings were 128 in the central region, 115 in the east, and 106 in the west. The north and south recorded readings of 89 and 95, respectively, which remained in the moderate range.
The PSI for the central region began crossing into the unhealthy range at 8pm on September 26, reaching a peak of 127 at 3am the following morning. The eastern region entered the unhealthy range at midnight, followed by the western areas an hour later. Hourly PM2.5 readings as of 7am on September 27 ranged from 29 to 60. The air quality is deemed unhealthy when the 24-hour PSI falls within the 101 to 200 range, while an hourly PM2.5 reading between 56 and 150 indicates elevated concentrations of fine particles.
On September 26, the National Environment Agency (NEA) predicted that air quality would remain in the moderate to low-unhealthy range for the next 24 hours. However, some showers were forecasted over Singapore and the surrounding region, with dry conditions expected to persist over southern Sumatra, southern, and eastern Kalimantan.
Winds blowing from the southeast or southwest could potentially bring smoke haze to Singapore, according to the NEA. The public was advised to monitor the hourly PM2.5 readings for immediate activities and the 24-hour PSI readings to plan for the day ahead. When air quality crosses into the unhealthy range, the NEA recommends healthy individuals to limit prolonged or strenuous outdoor activities, while vulnerable groups, such as the elderly, children, pregnant women, and those with chronic lung or heart conditions, should minimize or avoid such activities altogether.
The PSI first returned to the unhealthy range on September 4, marking the first instance since October 2023. The Meteorological Service Singapore forecasted more showers in the latter half of the month compared to the first.
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