Rain forecast for parts of the region over the next few days should help reduce hotspots and ease the haze. With prevailing winds in the region also blowing away from Singapore, local haze conditions may continue to improve.
In its forecast issued at 7pm on Sunday (25 October), the National Environment Agency (NEA) said Singapore’s 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) could fall back into the moderate range of 70 to 100 on Monday (26 October).
This is mainly because rain showers are expected over parts of Sumatra, Peninsular Malaysia, Java and Borneo. Thunderstorms over most parts of Singapore in the early hours and around dawn on Monday should also help ease the haze.
However, the NEA noted that dry weather would persist elsewhere in the southern part of the region, with isolated hotspots and smoke plumes expected. The risk of transboundary haze therefore remains.
Fortunately, prevailing winds in the southern part of the region are blowing from the southeast towards the west, making it less likely that haze will drift towards Singapore. The northern part of the region, meanwhile, is expected to see rainy weather, with light and variable winds.
According to NEA data, Sunday brought a rare spell of clear skies after a week of haze. After 6pm, PSI readings gradually fell to double digits in all areas except the west.
One-hour PM2.5 concentrations across all five regions of Singapore also remained within the normal range after 8am, at no more than 55 micrograms per cubic metre — a level at which normal activities can resume.
As the haze eased, people began returning to outdoor activities. When Lianhe Zaobao journalists visited Choa Chu Kang Park at about 4.30pm, people were jogging or walking, while parents had brought their children out to play.
Thirty-five-year-old artificial intelligence specialist Lin Weiwen, 35, and his wife Chen Yanhan, a corporate communications manager, brought their two sons, aged three and one, to the park. Chen said the family usually visited parks at weekends to play and take walks. However, the severe haze over the past few weeks had kept them mostly indoors, where they occupied themselves with activities such as baking and pitching a tent.
Lin said, “Today, I didn’t even need to check the PSI. Just looking at the sky, I knew the reading had fallen.”
Thirty-five-year-old salesperson Xie Peishan usually jogs regularly, but stopped for several weeks after the haze made it difficult for her to breathe while running. She also did not dare let her two daughters, aged six and two, play outdoors. Passing the park on Sunday, she noticed that conditions had improved and decided to stop for some playtime. But with air pollution levels not yet fully back to normal, she plans to wait and see before resuming her runs.
Fifty-five-year-old freelancer Yin Hua usually exercises at the park for half an hour, but has recently switched to indoor workouts. “I’ve been cooped up at home lately and was getting restless. When I saw that conditions had improved today, I quickly came out for some exercise.”
The NEA reminded the public to refer to the PSI forecast and related health advisories when planning outdoor activities for the following day. Those heading outdoors immediately can check the latest one-hour PM2.5 concentrations on the haze website (haze.gov.sg) or the myENV mobile app.
