Singapore haze watch: PM2.5 normal islandwide, PSI moderate in four regions

File picture of a man talking on the phone as Scoot passenger jets are parked on the tarmac at Changi Airport in Singapore on October 16, 2026, as the country continues to be shrouded in haze caused by fires in Indonesia. — AFP pic

First Published: Thursday, 22 Oct 2026 1:55 PM MYT

SINGAPORE, Oct 22 — Residents in Singapore on Thursday (October22) woke up to better air quality for a fifth consecutive day — a run that began on October2218.

While hourly PM2.5 and 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) have not returned to levels recorded before September 4, when air quality entered the unhealthy range for the first time this year, hourly concentration readings have stayed in the normal to low-elevated bands over the past days.

The improvement came as winds turned to blow from the south.

At 8am, PM2.5 was in the normal band across Singapore.

Meanwhile, PSI was in the good-to-moderate range in all regions, except in western Singapore with a low-unhealthy PSI of 108.

In its daily haze situation update on Wednesday evening, the National Environment Agency (NEA) cautioned that smoke haze may still be transported towards Singapore on Thursday and Friday.

It pointed out that while showers are forecast over Singapore and the surrounding region, dry conditions are again expected over the southern parts of Kalimantan.

This, coupled with the prevailing east-southeasterly or south-easterly winds, means that smoke haze from fires in Kalimantan may be transported towards Singapore — with the 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) forecast to be between 101 and 160 — in the unhealthy range.

The situation is forecast to persist into Friday.

Members of the public should check the latest concentration readings before participating in any outdoor activities.

Employers should take note of the Ministry of Manpower's Tuesday additional guidance to adjust outdoor work based on the hourly PM2.5 readings. — AsiaOne