Singapore Haze Hits New Peak: Central PSI Reaches 164 on September 29

Singapore’s air quality plummeted on September 29 as all five regions breached the unhealthy threshold simultaneously for the first time in two weeks. The central region’s 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) reached 164 at 10am, surpassing the previous season high of 154 set on September 15. Smoke from fires in Kalimantan and southern Sumatra drifted across the island, with one-hour PM2.5 readings ranging from 57 to 95 nationwide.

How bad is the haze right now

All five Singapore regions entered the unhealthy PSI band on the night of September 28 and morning of September 29. Central region hit 164 at 10am, north reached 106, south 131, east 134, and west 148. The 24-hour PSI between 101 and 200 is classified as unhealthy. One-hour PM2.5 readings ranged 57 to 95 at 10am, all in the elevated band, though trending downward from a midnight peak of 85 to 165.

Where the smoke is coming from

The National Environment Agency detected moderate to dense smoke plumes from hotspot clusters in large parts of Kalimantan and central and southern Sumatra. Moderate transboundary smoke haze covered parts of Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore and northwestern Borneo. Dry conditions persisted over southern ASEAN regions, with prevailing east-southeasterly winds carrying the smoke toward Singapore.

What this means for residents and businesses

The National Environment Agency advised healthy persons to reduce prolonged or strenuous outdoor activity when PSI is unhealthy. Elderly people, pregnant women, children, and those with chronic lung or heart disease should minimize or avoid outdoor exertion. The volatility between moderate and unhealthy readings poses a business continuity risk, requiring companies to plan for rapid air quality swings rather than a single sustained crisis.

Forecast and regional context

The NEA forecast PSI to remain in the high moderate to mid-unhealthy range for the next 24 hours. While showers were expected over Singapore, the wind direction poses the greater risk. The Singapore Institute of International Affairs issued a rare Red risk rating in June 2026 for severe transboundary haze in the second half of the year, citing El Niño, economic pressure, and rising biofuel demand. This is only the second Red rating issued since the outlook began in 2019.

Final Thoughts

Singapore faces volatile air quality swings driven by regional fires, not a fixed crisis. Residents should monitor hourly PM2.5 readings for immediate activities and plan outdoor schedules around the 24-hour PSI forecast. The elevated risk through year-end requires both personal precautions and business continuity planning.

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