SINGAPORE, Oct 19 — Sun shined brightly, along with clearer skies and fresher air continued into a second day today amid a favourable wind direction.
Throughout the day, hourly PM2.5 was mostly in the normal band (0 to 55µg/m3) in the northern, eastern and southern regions, with 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) in these areas also remaining in the good-to-moderate range.
In central and western Singapore, the concentration reading was in the low-elevated band, while PSI dropped towards the low-unhealthy range.
At 6pm, concentration readings ranged from 51 in eastern Singapore to 79 in the central region.
Meanwhile, PSI readings were in the low-unhealthy range in western (114) and central (105) Singapore, but stayed in the good-to-moderate range in southern (88), northern (89) and the eastern (91) regions.
Explaining a second continued day of improved air quality, the National Environment Agency (NEA) said in its daily haze situation update on Monday evening that it is due to the turning of winds to blow from the south-southeast and showers in the vicinity.
But smoke haze from Kalimantan and Sumatra was still observed in the vicinity of Singapore, it added.
PSI and weather forecast
Residents in Singapore can expect showers over Singapore and the surrounding region tomorrow.
Under the influence of south-southeasterly winds, the smoke haze from Kalimantan to Singapore may again be reduced, but smoke haze from Sumatra may still drift towards Singapore, NEA stated.
Smoke haze could return from October 20 night
Despite the possibility of a three-day stretch of better air quality, the agency warned that Singapore could again experience smoke haze from Tuesday night till Thursday.
This, it said, as winds are likely to turn east-southeasterly with dry conditions forecast over the surrounding region, including parts of Kalimantan.
“This may bring smoke haze from fires in Kalimantan towards Singapore,” it added. — AsiaOne
