Haze could enter low section of Very Unhealthy range in next 24 hours: NEA

The current hazy conditions are expected to persist for the rest of Sunday and Monday, NEA says, adding that showers forecasted in the late morning and early afternoon on Monday may only bring temporary respite.
Channel NewsAsia 13 Sep 15;

SINGAPORE: Air quality in Singapore is expected to be in the mid to high sections of the Unhealthy range in the next 24 hours, and may enter the low section of the Very Unhealthy range, the National Environment Agency (NEA) said in a media advisory on Sunday (Sep 13).

NEA added that hazy conditions on Sunday were due to haze blown in from Sumatra by prevailing winds. As at 8.00am on Monday, the 24-hour PSI was 131-156, in the Unhealthy range. The 3-hour PSI was 65.

The current hazy conditions are expected to persist for the rest of Sunday and Monday, NEA said, adding that showers forecasted in the late morning and early afternoon on Monday may only bring temporary respite.

MOE TO TAKE MITIGATION MEASURES BASED ON AIR QUALITY

In a Facebook post on Sunday evening, the Ministry of Education (MOE) said as schools reopen for term four on Monday, the ministry and schools would take mitigation measures based on the health advisory and air quality level for the day.

In its continuity plan for primary and secondary schools, MOE said it would consider closing all primary and secondary schools to students if the health advisory for the next day indicates air quality to be at the hazardous level.

"School-based student care centres will not operate during periods of closure. We will announce the closure of schools at around the same time that the health advisory is released. Schools will also contact parents to inform them of the closure of schools for students via phone or SMS," MOE said.

Kindergartens and childcare centres will take guidance from the Early Childhood Development Agency on the preparation for haze. ECDA will align the closure of kindergartens and childcare centres to the closure of schools, MOE said.

- CNA/dl

Haze level to remain in Unhealthy range on Sunday: NEA
Channel NewsAsia 13 Sep 15;

SINGAPORE: There has been a deterioration in the haze conditions in Singapore since early Sunday morning (Sep 13), and the hazy conditions are expected to persist, said the National Environment Agency (NEA).

In an advisory issued at 11.32am, NEA said as at 11am on Sunday. the 24-hour PSI was at 122-145, which is in the low to mid sections of the Unhealthy range, while the 1-hour PM2.5 was 85-112 µg/m3.

For the rest of Sunday, the prevailing winds are forecast to blow from the south-southeast to south-southwest. The current hazy conditions are likely to persist and could further deteriorate should unfavourable winds blow in denser haze from Sumatra, it said.

The 24-hour PSI for the next 12 hours is expected to be in the mid to high sections of the Unhealthy range, the agency added.

- CNA/kk

Hazy conditions could deteriorate further
Today Online 13 Sep 15;

SINGAPORE — Haze conditions have deteriorated in Singapore since this morning (Sept 13) as prevailing winds continued to blow in haze from Sumatra, the National Environment Agency (NEA) said.

Prevailing winds are forecast to blow from the south-southeast to south-southwest for the rest of today and tomorrow, the NEA said, adding that the 24-hour PSI for the next 24 hours is expected to be in the mid to high sections of the unhealthy range, and may enter the low section of Very Unhealthy range if the unfavourable winds bring in denser haze from Sumatra.

"The current hazy conditions are expected to persist for the rest of today and tomorrow. For tomorrow, the prevailing winds are forecast to blow from the south or southwest, and the haze situation could deteriorate as the current unfavourable winds may blow in denser haze from Sumatra. Thundery showers forecasted for Singapore in the late morning and early afternoon tomorrow may only bring a short temporary respite," a NEA situation update at 6pm wrote.

As of 1am (Sept 14), the 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) was 143-168, nearing the middle of the unhealthy range. The 3-hour PSI was at 222.

At 7.28pm, the NEA's Haze Situation Update said that three hotspots were detected in Sumatra today. "The low hotspot count was due to cloud cover over some areas of Sumatra," according to the NEA. "Widespread moderate to dense haze continued to be observed in central and southern Sumatra," the agency added.

This morning’s Singtel-Singapore Cancer Society Race Against Cancer run was cancelled as PSI levels were still within the unhealthy range as at 9pm yesterday. Organisers of the running event said they made the decision “for the safety and health of runners, volunteers, staff and beneficiaries”.

Registered 15km and 10km runners can collect their finishers’ medal at the Singapore Cancer Society office instead.

A second event, the POSB PAssion Run For Kids, cancelled the 10km Adults' Competitive race and Kids' Run categories this morning citing the 3-hour PSI reading of 147 at 5am as the reason. However, the 3.5km Family Walk is still scheduled to proceed, provided the PSI level at 8am is below 150, according to a statement from organisers.

Participants of the competitive races can collect their medals at the carnival, which is still on, according to POSB. Alternatively, medals can be collected at a later date, with organisers announcing more details soon.

POSB said: "Like you, we are disappointed as we have been looking forward to the run. However, your health and safety are of utmost importance to us, and we seek your kind understanding."