PSI improves but central region remains in very unhealthy range; 24-hour forecast in unhealthy to very unhealthy range: NEA
For most of Friday (Oct 16), residents in Singapore endured poor air quality as the 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) stayed in the very unhealthy range in three regions and hourly PM2.5 readings remained in the high band across the Republic.This was due to dense smoke haze from fires in Kalimantan drifting towards Singapore under prevailing south-easterly winds, the National Environment Agency (NEA) said in its daily haze update on Friday night. Smoke haze was also observed over Sumatra.Looking ahead, NEA said the 24-hour PSI is forecast to be between 150 to 230. This is in the unhealthy to very unhealthy range, even as some showers are expected over Singapore and surrounding region, including parts of Kalimantan.Data from the ASEAN Specialised Meteorological Centre shows that there were 262 hotspots in Kalimantan on Oct 15, while 285 hotspots were recorded in Sumatra that day. But there could be cause for limited optimism on Saturday, with winds forecast to shift to blow from the southeast or south-southeast.