Air quality unhealthy in afternoon, 3-hour PSI at 106 at 3pm

Today Online 11 Oct 14;

SINGAPORE – The three-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) reading entered into the unhealthy range again this afternoon (Oct 11) due to smoke haze from the surrounding region.

The reading was at 71 at 1am, and rose steadily since then to hit the unhealthy level at 1pm, with a three-hour PSI reading of 101. An hour later, the reading was 106. The reading dropped out of the unhealthy range at 5pm, but remained in the high end of the moderate range.

In an evening update, the National Environment Agency (NEA) said the haziness was due to smoke haze from our surrounding region, blown in by the prevailing southerly to south-easterly winds. A total of 317 and 247 hotspots were detected in Sumatra and Kalimantan, respectively. "Widespread smoke haze was visible in parts of Kalimantan and Sumatra," said the NEA.

Slightly hazy conditions are expected to persist tonight.

Tomorrow, the prevailing winds are forecast to blow mainly from the east or southeast. Thundery showers are expected in the afternoon and there may be occasional slight haze. The overall air quality is expected to be in the high end of the Moderate range.