{
  "id": 1888929,
  "title": "Haze eases for now, but could return within days, says MetMalaysia",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/19/haze-eases-for-now-but-could-return-within-days-says-metmalaysia",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-19T07:45:24.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Malay Mail",
    "slug": "malay-mail-malaymail",
    "url": "https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2026/08/19/haze-eases-for-now-could-return-within-days-says-metmalaysia/231924"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "PUTRAJAYA, Aug 19 — The MetMalaysia director-general, Mohd Hisham Mohd Anip, stated that while the haze in the Klang Valley and Sarawak has eased due to humid weather in recent days, it could worsen again in the near future. The country is currently in the Southwest Monsoon season, which is expected to last until the end of September, bringing hot and dry conditions. Hisham emphasized that as long as the Southwest Monsoon winds persist, the risk of haze remains. During the monsoon, lower humidity causes reduced rainfall and fewer rain-free days. The haze conditions are also affected by the moderate El Niño, which is projected to intensify between October and December. This combination of factors is resulting in drier conditions and a higher risk of forest and peatland fires, potentially leading to local and transboundary haze. According to Hisham, meteorological analysis, ASMC hotspot data, atmospheric modelling, the Malaysian Community Multiscale Air Quality model, and wind trajectory analysis indicate that haze in the Klang Valley is primarily local, while haze in parts of Sarawak has both local and transboundary origins. Satellite imagery from ASMC and weather information from neighboring countries have supported this monitoring. As of this morning, five areas in Sarawak recorded unhealthy API readings, with Serian having the highest at 156. Across the country, 58 areas showed moderate API readings between 51 and 100, and five areas had good air quality (readings below 50). Earlier, Hisham had predicted that there was a 90% chance of El Niño reaching the \"Super El Niño\" category from October to December, potentially making it one of the most extreme events on record. This strong El Niño event is likely to coincide with a positive Indian Ocean Dipole, further exacerbating the decline in rainfall across the region.",
  "summary": "PUTRAJAYA, Aug 19 — Humid weather over the past few days has helped ease haze in the Klang Valley and Sarawak, but...",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Malay Mail",
        "title": "Haze eases for now could return within days, says MetMalaysia",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/19/haze-eases-for-now-could-return-within-days-says-metmalaysia",
        "published": "2026-08-19T07:45:24.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}