Haze pushes air quality into the unhealthy range across Singapore. NEA expects no quick relief on Tuesday
On Monday, 5 October, the 24-hour PSI was in the unhealthy range (101 to 200) in all regions of Singapore, according to CNA and the Straits Times. The Straits Times had reported earlier that air quality fell back into the unhealthy range overnight. On Sunday morning only the central region was unhealthy, at 102. NEA forecast Tuesday's 24-hour PSI in the high moderate to mid unhealthy range, as winds were expected from the south-east or east-south-east. The smoke comes from fires in southern Sumatra and Kalimantan. Regional forecasters expect strong El Niño conditions and below-normal rainfall until November. The current episode began with the first unhealthy reading since 2023 on 4 September.
Haze is a health problem first, and a cost to the economy second: lost working days, hospital visits, cancelled outdoor events and lost tourist spending. A long, dry El Niño season means the episode may not end soon. CNA's explainer on regional losses shows why the issue keeps returning to ASEAN's agenda.
Check the 24-hour PSI and the one-hour PM2.5 reading before exercise. If you are older, pregnant, or have heart or lung conditions, keep outdoor activity to a minimum on unhealthy days. Keep windows closed and consider an air purifier for the room where you sleep.
Prevention is working better than in 2015 and 2019, and this year's haze is mainly the result of an unusually dry El Niño season that no government can control.
Regional commitments still depend on enforcement on the ground. Until companies that clear land by fire face real penalties, haze will return every dry year.
Watch two things this week: whether NEA's forecast moves into the mid unhealthy range on Tuesday, and whether race organisers announce any changes to outdoor events. A wind shift could bring relief within days, but a dry October could keep the haze with us until the monsoon. Our advice is plain: plan outdoor exercise for the morning check, not by habit.
DailyDrop Singapore edition No. 1 · Morning · MON., OCT. 5, 2026