Haze period could be over, says NEA

Today Online 16 Nov 15;

SINGAPORE — The haze episode that has afflicted Singapore for a prolonged period this year is likely to be over, the National Environment Agency (NEA) said today (Nov 15), adding that it will stop issuing daily advisories.

There has been more rain over the past two weeks, which has brought clear skies and clean air in Singapore. The NEA said the more frequent showers signal the end of the traditional dry season in the region, which has helped to alleviate the hotspot and haze situation in Sumatra and Kalimantan.

“More rain can be expected in the coming weeks with the onset of the Northeast Monsoon in December. For the rest of the year, the likelihood of transboundary haze affecting Singapore is low, although there may still be brief periods of slight haze if winds are unfavourable,” the NEA said, adding that the total hotspot count detected in Sumatra was 31. Thundery showers are forecast in the afternoon today and air quality is expected to be in the good to moderate range.

Although most global climate models predict that the prevailing El Nino phenomenon will persist into early next year, studies of past El Nino events have shown that there is less impact on the rainfall pattern in Singapore and its nearby region during the wet phase of the Northeast Monsoon season in December and January, the NEA said.