Singapore haze: Air quality may reach Very Unhealthy range as F1 weekend gets underway

Unhealthy air pollution levels due to smoke from fires in Sumatra and Kalimantan continued to impact the central and southern regions of the peninsula today. As of 5:45pm, 36 areas were recorded with unhealthy air pollution readings, predominantly in central and southern parts of Malaysia. Pasir Gudang in Johor reported the highest reading at 190.

The Asean haze monitoring centre detected isolated to scattered hotspots in Kalimantan and southern Sumatra, with moderate to dense transboundary smoke haze observed in parts of Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore, Kalimantan, and southern and central Sumatra. Showers are expected over Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, and northern and central Borneo in the coming days, potentially improving the situation.

Dry conditions are forecast over other parts of the southern ASEAN region, with a continued risk of severe haze occurrence in fire-prone areas experiencing prolonged dry conditions. Many air quality stations across Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore, Kalimantan, and Sumatra reported unhealthy to hazardous levels of air pollution. In the peninsula, affected areas were mainly in Johor, Negeri Sembilan, Melaka, the Klang Valley, Perak, Pahang, Kedah, and Penang.

Johor experienced the worst readings, with Segamat, Larkin, Tangkak, Batu Pahat, Kluang, Pengerang, and Kota Tinggi recording levels over 175. Negeri Sembilan had readings above 189 in Seremban, Nilai, and Port Dickson. Melaka saw readings over 183 in Bukit Rambai, Bandaraya Melaka, and Alor Gajah. Selangor reported readings up to 181 in Johan Setia, Shah Alam, Petaling Jaya, Klang, Banting, and Kuala Selangor.

Kuala Lumpur recorded levels of 177 in Cheras and 172 in Batu Muda, while Putrajaya had a reading of 170. Perak reported readings up to 182 in Tasek Ipoh, Pegoh Ipoh, Tanjung Malim, Seri Manjung, and Taiping. Pahang had readings of 162 in Rompin, 158 in Indera Mahkota in Kuantan, and 156 in Temerloh. Kedah had readings of 156 in Sungai Petani and Alor Setar, and Penang had readings of 147 in Seberang Jaya and 129 in Seberang Perai.