Singapore’s air quality to stay in normal range to Sunday: NEA

Channel NewsAsia 3 Sep 16;

SINGAPORE: Air quality in Singapore is expected to remain in the normal range for the next 24 hours and the likelihood of the city-state being affected by transboundary haze is low over the next few days, the National Environment Agency (NEA) said in a press release on Saturday (Sep 3).

As of 5pm, the 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) was 54-65, in the Moderate range, while the 1-hour PM2.5 was 15-23 µg/m3, in Band I (Normal), NEA said.

“The weather was fair today, and the current conditions are expected to persist for the rest of the day with prevailing winds blowing from the southwest,” the agency added. "Given the air quality forecast for the next 24 hours, everyone can continue with normal activities."

A total of 13 hotspots were detected in Sumatra on Saturday, with all of them located in southern Sumatra, but no visible smoke plume or haze was observed, NEA said.

Over the next 24 hours, the 1-hour PM2.5 concentration is expected to stay in Band I (Normal) and the 24-hour PSI is forecast to remain in the Moderate range, according to the statement. NEA added that prevailing winds are forecast to be light and will blow from the southwest or west, while thundery showers are expected in Singapore during the late morning and early afternoon.

Meanwhile, the likelihood of Singapore being affected by transboundary haze is low over the next few days in the coming week, as the prevailing light winds are expected to continue blowing from the southwest or west. Showers are also forecast over parts of Sumatra and the surrounding region, said NEA, adding that it is monitoring the situation closely.

- CNA/sk