Singapore's overall air quality to stay in moderate range

Channel NewsAsia 19 Mar 14;

SINGAPORE: The National Environment Agency (NEA) said Singapore's overall air quality was in the moderate range on Wednesday. It is expected to stay in that range for the next 24 hours.

As of 8pm, the 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) was between 28 and 37, while the 24-hour PM2.5 measurement was in the moderate range of 15 to 20 micrograms per cubic metre.

NEA said showers in parts of Peninsular Malaysia and central Sumatra on Wednesday afternoon helped to further improve the haze situation there.

Nine hotspots were detected in Peninsular Malaysia while 26 were found in Sumatra.

NEA added that the low hotspot count is due to cloud cover.

As of 4pm, the air quality in most areas of Peninsular Malaysia was in the good range.

NEA said over the next few days, prevailing winds in the surrounding region are forecast to blow mainly from the northeast, and Singapore can expect thundery showers in the afternoon.

- CNA/fa