Haze update for Sept 24: 24-hour PSI forecast moderate to low-unhealthy range
Singapore recorded moderate air quality on Thursday (Sept 24) as rain fell over the northern parts in the afternoon.At 6pm, 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) ranged between 62 and 76 — in the moderate range — with central Singapore recording the highest reading of 76.Meanwhile, one-hour PM2.5 is in the normal band across all five regions.In its daily haze situation update on Thursday evening, the National Environment Agency (NEA) said the country's 24-hour PSI forecast is again expected to be in the moderate to low-unhealthy range.It pointed out that there is a risk of smoke haze affecting Singapore due to the prevailing east-southeast, south-easterly winds, which could bring moderate to dense smoke plumes observed from fires in Kalimantan and southern Sumatra to Singapore.Data from the ASEAN Specialised Meteorological Centre's daily hotspot count shows a sharp spike in number of hotspots recorded in Kalimantan — rising from the 304 recorded on Sept 22, to 792 on Sept 23.