After enduring 18 days of unhealthy air quality, Singapore’s atmosphere has finally improved, returning to a good-to-moderate range as of October 22. This marks the end of a period marred by haze, which began on October 5 when the Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) readings surpassed the unhealthy threshold of 101. At 3 p.m. on the 22nd, the 24-hour PSI values ranged from 71 to 99 across the island, allowing residents to safely engage in outdoor activities once more.
The western region of Singapore was the last to move out of the unhealthy category, with its PSI dropping from 101 to 99. Meanwhile, fine particulate matter, or PM2.5, levels remained within the normal range, with one-hour readings between 16 and 39 micrograms per cubic metre at the same time.
Despite this improvement, the haze situation in the surrounding region continues to pose a concern. Observations via satellite reveal ongoing hotspots in Indonesia, although prevailing winds have so far kept much of the smoke away from Singapore. Neighboring areas such as Peninsular Malaysia, Kalimantan, Sumatra, and western Sarawak have experienced more severe pollution.
The return to healthier air quality in Singapore offers a temporary reprieve for its residents, but the broader regional haze issue underscores ongoing environmental challenges. Authorities and residents alike remain watchful as conditions in surrounding areas could still impact Singapore’s air quality in the coming days.