Haze update Sept 16: Singapore’s air quality forecast to range from moderate to low unhealthy

Showers over parts of Kalimantan, where hotspots have been detected, contributed to improvements to Singapore’s air quality on Wednesday (Sept 16), although haze risks remain. Data from the National Environment Agency (NEA) showed that 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) at 11am was in the moderate range for all regions in the city state. At 5pm, 24-hour PSI was between 71 and 89, with central Singapore recording the highest reading of 89. Readings of between 51 to 100 denote moderate air quality.Meanwhile, one-hour PM2.5 concentrations — an indicator of fine particulate matter in the air and a measure of current air quality — is in the normal band for all regions except for central Singapore, which has a concentration reading of 59. PM2.5 readings of between 56 to 150 are in the elevated band. In its daily haze situation update on Wednesday evening, NEA said it expects Singapore’s 24-hour PSI forecast to remain in the moderate to low unhealthy range over the next 24 hours.