Batam, Singapore predicted to be haze-free

Antara 2 Mar 11;

Batam, Riau Islands (ANTARA News) - Haze from Sumatran forest fires is not likely to reach Batam and Singapore as the winds in the region are southbound, an observer said.

"Batam and Singapore will not be covered by haze because it is now the northern winds season," the Head of Observation Division of Climatology and Geophysics Agency of Batam, Imam Prawoto, said here Wednesday.

The winds in the region were southbound so that the haze would not cover Batam and Singapore, he said.

According to the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) satellite, there are around 10 hot spots in Sumatra, among others in Jambi and Riau provinces.

Imam said forest fires in 2011 would not be as severe as in 2007 because the weather in 2011 was not too hot as it was the period of La Nina, not El Nino, which occurred in 2007.

However, he advised people not to burn garbage nor forests to clear land and also not to throw burning cigarettes in the forest as it could trigger fires which could endanger the forest, especially when the weather is hot and dry.

The BMKG predicted the weather and temperature in Riau Islands territory, in the first week of March, would be hot as the sun is directly over the equator.

Based on an observation, the clouds over Riau Island are thin so that the area would be hot and without rain.The temperature was predicted to be around 32-33 centigrades.(*)

Editor: Aditia Maruli