Occasional hazy conditions can still be expected: NEA

SINGAPORE - The National Environment Agency (NEA) has said that occasional hazy conditions can still be expected with the prevailing winds forecast to blow from the southwest for the rest of today and tomorrow, Aug 21.

Singapore has been experiencing hazy conditions since this afternoon. The haze was blown in from fires in Sumatra by the prevailing south-southwesterly winds. As at 7pm, the 24-hr PSI was 67-80, in the Moderate range. Earlier at 5pm, the 3-hr PSI had hit an unhealthy level of 103.

120 hotspots have been detected in Sumatra, mainly in the southern half of the island. Smoke plumes with slight to moderate haze were visible from some of these hotspots.

Thundery showers are forecast for Singapore. The 24-hr PSI is expected to be in the high-end of the Moderate range and may enter the low-end of the Unhealthy range if the prevailing winds continue to blow from the southwest.

NEA said the health impact of haze is dependent on one's health status, the PSI level, and the length and intensity of outdoor activity.

Reducing outdoor activities and physical exertion can help limit the ill effects from haze exposure.

Given the air quality forecast for the next 24 hours, healthy persons should reduce prolonged or strenuous outdoor physical exertion.

The elderly, pregnant women and children should minimise prolonged or strenuous outdoor physical exertion, while those with chronic lung or heart disease should avoid prolonged or strenuous outdoor physical exertion.

Persons who are not feeling well, especially the elderly and children, and those with chronic heart or lung conditions, should seek medical attention.

For updates, visit the NEA website at www.nea.gov.sg.

spanaech@sph.com.sg

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