Occasional hazy conditions expected tonight and tomorrow

SINGAPORE — “Occasional hazy conditions” can be expected for the rest of tonight (Aug 25) and tomorrow, the National Environment Agency (NEA) said this evening.

The 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) for the rest of today and tomorrow is expected to be in the “high-end” of the moderate range but may “enter the low-end of the unhealthy range” if the prevailing winds continue to blow the smoke haze from fires in Sumatra from the south or south-west, said the NEA in its haze update.

There were slightly hazy conditions in the afternoon today, with the haze blown in from Sumatra by the prevailing winds, the NEA said.

As of 8pm, the three-hour PSI reading was 96 while the 24-hour reading was between 80-89.

A reading of between 51 and 100 refers to air quality in the moderate range, while a reading of between 101 and 200 refers to air quality in the unhealthy range.

The NEA also said 152 hotspots were detected in Sumatra today, mainly in southern Sumatra. This was down from yesterday’s figure of 192. Smoke haze was observed in the vicinity of the hotspots, the NEA said.

Thundery showers are forecast for Singapore in the late morning and early afternoon tomorrow.