Haze clears in Singapore, PSI expected to remain in moderate range on Monday
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People playing beach volleyball outside the Singapore Sports Hub at around 3.30pm on Oct 8 as the air quality returned to healthy levels.
ST PHOTO: DESMOND WEE
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SINGAPORE - Clearer skies returned over Singapore on Sunday afternoon as the air quality improved, the National Environment Agency (NEA) said in its daily haze advisory.
In its latest update issued in the evening, the agency said the 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) reading stood between 57 and 86, back in the moderate range.
The 24-hour PSI reading for Monday is also expected to be in the moderate range. On Saturday, the PSI reading reached between 67 and 123 at 9pm, with the highest recorded reading in the east.
A PSI reading of 101 to 200 is in the unhealthy range, for which the NEA advises the public to cut down on outdoor activities.
It was the first time the PSI reading had ventured into the unhealthy range
NEA said 68 hot spots were detected on Sunday, mainly across the southern and central parts of Sumatra, down from the 188 detected the day before.
The smoke had originated from some 212 hot spots detected in the same region on Friday.
On Sunday, NEA’s website showed that winds across Singapore were coming from the country’s south-east.
However, the direction of prevailing winds is forecast to blow mainly from the east on Monday, which lowers the possibility of haze affecting Singapore, the advisory added.
“Showers are also expected over Singapore and the surrounding region, which could bring about some improvement to the regional haze situation,” said NEA.
The improvement in air quality, however, came too late for organisers of Club Rainbow’s Ride and Ralk for Rainbows, who had cancelled the event that was scheduled to kick off at 5am on Sunday.
In a post on its Facebook page, the children’s charity said: “We have been eagerly anticipating to meet you at this year’s event. Unfortunately, it is with deep regret that we have to cancel the physical ride and ralk categories due to the worsening haze situation.”
Club Rainbow added in its statement that preparations were being made to convert the physical event into a virtual one for participants.
