Latest Weather and Haze Situation

Dry conditions continued over many parts of the southern ASEAN region today, apart from showers mainly over the northern and central parts of Sumatra, and parts of Borneo. Scattered to widespread hotspots were detected in Kalimantan and the southern parts of Sumatra, while few to isolated hotspots were detected elsewhere in the southern ASEAN region. Moderate to dense transboundary smoke haze was observed over parts of Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore, Kalimantan, Sumatra, and the western parts of Sarawak. Moderate to dense smoke haze was also observed over Papua, the Maluku Islands and Sulawesi. Air quality stations in Singapore and Peninsular Malaysia recorded Unhealthy levels, while those in Borneo and Sumatra reported Unhealthy to Hazardous levels. The full extent of the hotspot situation over Kalimantan and Sumatra could not be determined due to obscuration by thick smoke haze and cloud cover, while the smoke haze situation over parts of the region could not be fully determined due to cloud cover. Dry weather was observed over the northern ASEAN region today, except over parts of the Philippines and the southern and central parts of the Mekong sub-region where there were some showers. Few hotspots were detected mainly in Viet Nam and the northern parts of Thailand, but no significant smoke plumes were observed.
Updated on 5:32 PM 19 October

Weather and Haze Outlook

In the coming days, dry conditions are forecast to continue over parts of the southern ASEAN region, except for showers expected over Peninsular Malaysia, the northern and central parts of Sumatra, and parts of Borneo. While the hotspot and smoke haze situation may improve in areas experiencing showers, the situation is expected to remain elevated in fire-prone regions experiencing prolonged dry conditions, with a continued risk of severe transboundary haze occurrence. The prevailing winds over the southern ASEAN region are expected to blow mainly from the east-southeast to south-southwest, except over parts of Borneo where winds are forecast to be light and variable in direction. Meanwhile, showers are expected over the northern ASEAN region, except for relatively drier conditions forecast over the northern parts of the Mekong sub-region. The hotspot and smoke haze situation is expected to remain subdued. The prevailing winds over the Mekong sub-region are forecast blow mainly from the northeast to southeast, except over the northwestern parts of the Mekong sub-region where winds are expected to be light and variable in direction. The winds over the Philippines are expected to be variable in direction.
Updated on 5:32 PM 19 October