Singapore’s 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) fell below the unhealthy threshold in the South and North at 3 a.m. ET (07:00 UTC) Sunday, while three regions remained unhealthy, National Environment Agency (NEA) data showed.
The South recorded a PSI of 96 and the North 97. Central registered 102, East 105 and West 119. Under NEA’s scale, readings through 100 are considered good to moderate; the unhealthy category covers 101 to 200.
One-hour PM2.5 concentrations ranged from 20 to 30 micrograms per cubic meter across the five regions, inside the agency’s normal range of 0 to 55. West had 20, North 22, East 26, Central 27 and South 30 micrograms per cubic meter. The PSI covers 24 hours, while the PM2.5 readings represent one-hour conditions.
NEA says the hourly PM2.5 figure can inform choices about immediate outdoor activity; its 24-hour PSI forecast is for planning ahead.
Saturday’s snapshot was worse. At 5 a.m. ET (09:00 UTC) Saturday, NEA reported readings from 108 to 151 across the five regions, putting every one in the unhealthy category. NEA also said haze from Sumatra was moving toward Singapore, with smoke seen over Kalimantan. The figures follow EconoTimes’ Saturday report on Singapore’s haze and indoor PM2.5 readings.
NEA had forecast a Sunday PSI of 80 to 130. It said southwesterly or westerly winds could curb smoke transport and showers might bring improvement. Every recorded PSI value at 3 a.m. ET sat within the 80-to-130 band in the agency’s Sunday outlook.
For Sunday, NEA advised healthy people to reduce prolonged or strenuous outdoor exertion. Children, older adults and pregnant women were advised to limit it, while people with chronic heart or lung conditions were told to avoid it.
For Monday and Tuesday, NEA expects southwesterly or westerly winds and showers, with haze conditions likely to improve.
