Singapore could experience slightly hazy conditions over the next few days: NEA

The National Environment Agency (NEA) said on Monday that a slight haze may return to Singapore over the next few days.

According to the haze forecast for Tuesday, which was published on NEA’s website, there has been a marked increase in the number of hotspots in Sumatra -- from 225 on Sunday to 488 on Monday, of which 267 are in Riau province and 66 in South Sumatra.

NEA added that moderate to dense smoke plumes were also observed to be emanating from some of the hotspots in central Sumatra.

For the next few days, the low level winds over Singapore are forecast to blow from the south or southeast, said NEA.

But the agency said that there is a possibility that Singapore could experience slightly hazy conditions should the winds weaken and blow from the southwest over the next few days.

The 24-hr Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) from 6pm on Monday to 6pm on Tuesday is expected to be in the “good” band (i.e. ≤50) and the 24-hr PM2.5 is expected to be slightly elevated.

As at 11pm on Monday, the 24-hr PSI is 24-31 and the 24-hr PM2.5 is 11-15 µg/m3.

NEA said it has registered Singapore’s concerns over the sharp increase in hotspot counts with the Indonesians.

Meanwhile, Minister for Environment and Water Resources Vivian Balakrishnan expressed frustration on his Facebook page over the situation.

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