PUBLISHED ONOctober 19, 2026 1:12 AMBYSean LerResidents in Singapore started the week with clearer skies and fresher air on Monday (Oct 19) morning, extending a welcome respite that started on Sunday after a change in wind directions.
In its daily haze situation update on Sunday evening, the National Environment Agency (NEA) explained that the improvement in air quality was due to the turning of winds to blow from the south.
At 9am, hourly PM2.5 was in the normal band in the northern (50µg/m3) and southern (39µg/m3) regions. The 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) readings there are also in the good-moderate range (PSI 0 to 100)
Elsewhere, concentration readings in western (74), central (70) and eastern (69) Singapore are in the low-elevated band.
The 24-hour PSI readings in these regions were in the low-unhealthy range.
Showers are forecast over Singapore and the surrounding region on Monday.
According to the Meteorological Service Singapore's 24-hour forecast, thundery showers are expected over northern and western Singapore in the afternoon.
Winds are again forecast to blow from the south-southeast or south, which could limit the transport of smoke haze from Kalimantan to Singapore, NEA stated.
However, some smoke haze from Sumatra may still drift towards Singapore, it added.
Despite the possibility of another day of better air quality on Monday, NEA also cautioned that Singapore could again experience smoke haze from Tuesday night.
This is due to a likely change in wind directions to east-southeasterly, which may then bring smoke haze from fires in Kalimantan towards Singapore overnight.
Members of the public are advised to check the latest PM2.5 readings before participating in outdoor activities.
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