Haze is Back To Stay For A Couple Of Days

That time of the year has come once again where a familiar hazy smell will attack our nostrils the moment we step out of an air-conditioned room.

Image: Giphy

Sigh.

What’s Happening

The National Environment Agency (NEA) reported that there is an ongoing forest fire happening in Iskandar Puteri, Johor, (near Legoland) and about 60 hotspots with haze were found in the provinces of the south and central of Sumatra, Riau, and Jambi yesterday (26 August 2019).

Image: The Star

Due To Change In Wind Direction

According to NEA, due to shifts in wind direction that blew from the southwest region on Sunday, Singapore experienced slight haze yesterday morning.

Did you smell it?

It was later reported that by Monday evening, the hazy conditions seemed to have become better when the wind changed direction and blew from the south-southeast region instead.

The improvement could have also been due to the thundery showers over Singapore on Monday.

According to their website, the haze situation on Monday was depicted to be moderate with a 24-hr PSI reading of 68 to 80 and in Band I (Normal) with a 1-hr PM2.5 concentration reading of 7-30 μg/m3.

But is this a good excuse for you to stop exercising?

No.

Not A Cause For Concern

NEA warned that hazy conditions are likely to continue for a while due to the ongoing forest fires and the wind that blows the haze over to our sunny island.

However, you don’t have to worry too much as it was forecasted that there will be showers for the next few days in Singapore.

Image: National Environment Agency
Image: National Environment Agency

NEA will continue to monitor the status of the air quality here in Singapore and update the public if the level of haze becomes worse.

Since it was forecasted that Singapore will continue to have a moderate 24-hr PSI reading and a Band I (Normal) range of 1-hr PM2.5 concentration, it is safe to say that we can all continue with normal activities.

Reminder

Of course, the haze impacts on one’s health is also reliant on each individual’s health status, the PSI reading, and the duration and intensity of the outdoor activity.

With that being said, it is good to note that those who feel unwell should see a doctor, especially the elderly and children or those who have chronic heart or lung conditions.

And, of course, to stock up on masks.