Singapore Air Quality Returns to Moderate Levels After Haze
- Singapore’s air quality returned to moderate levels across the island early on Sept 28, following a day of unhealthy readings driven by regional smoke haze.
- At 6am on Sept 28, the northern, southern, eastern, and western regions recorded 24-hour PSI readings of 62, 68, 74, and 68 respectively, all safely within the moderate...
- Organizers of Decathlon’s inaugural Kiprun race adjusted their event format due to the poor atmospheric conditions.
Singapore’s air quality returned to moderate levels across the island early on Sept 28, following a day of unhealthy readings driven by regional smoke haze. The National Environment Agency reported that the 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index for the central region dropped to 80 at 6am on Sept 28, bringing all five geographic zones below the 101 threshold for the unhealthy band.
Regional PSI Readings and Air Quality Recovery
At 6am on Sept 28, the northern, southern, eastern, and western regions recorded 24-hour PSI readings of 62, 68, 74, and 68 respectively, all safely within the moderate range of 51 to 100. This followed a marked improvement from the previous day, when the central region peaked at an unhealthy PSI of 110 on Sept 27 before easing to 95 at midnight. Additional coverage from The Straits Times noted that the eastern region also retreated from the unhealthy band late on Sept 27, dropping to 99 by 9pm. By comparison, earlier in the morning of Sept 27, the central region stood at 128, the east at 115, and the west at 106. Hourly PM2.5 readings, which measure the concentration of fine particulate matter, remained in the normal band across all districts as the air cleared.
Impact on Weekend Sporting Events
Organizers of Decathlon’s inaugural Kiprun race adjusted their event format due to the poor atmospheric conditions. The scheduled 21.1km half-marathon was shortened to a 10km distance, while the 10km, 5km, and 670m Kids Dash formats proceeded without changes.
Weather Forecast and Ongoing Smoke Haze Risks
While light showers are forecast over Singapore and surrounding areas on Sept 28, the National Environment Agency cautioned that dry conditions persist over southern Sumatra and southern Kalimantan. Prevailing winds blowing from the south-east mean a continued risk of smoke haze affecting the island. For public planning, the National Environment Agency advises residents to consult hourly PM2.5 concentrations for immediate outdoor activities and use the 24-hour PSI figures for day-ahead preparations. When air quality enters the unhealthy range, healthy individuals should reduce prolonged or strenuous outdoor exertion. Meanwhile, vulnerable groups—including the elderly, children, pregnant women, and those with chronic lung or heart disease—are advised to minimize or entirely avoid outdoor physical activity.