Singapore air quality forecast as moderate to unhealthy on Oct 24
Air Quality Drops Into Unhealthy Range Across Singapore
Singapore recorded a 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index forecast of 90 to 140 for October 24, 2026, placing air quality in the moderate to unhealthy range as smoke haze drifted from Sumatra and Kalimantan.
Smoke Haze Drifts From Regional Hotspots
Air quality began to worsen on Friday, October 23, 2026, with the western and central regions of Singapore entering the unhealthy band first. The National Environment Agency reported that smoke haze from Sumatra was observed drifting toward the country, alongside smoke haze detected over Kalimantan. A regional weather and haze assessment published on Friday identified scattered hotspots in southern Sumatra and Kalimantan, accompanied by moderate to dense transboundary smoke haze over Singapore and surrounding areas.
Dry weather conditions persisted across the island to fuel the situation. Hourly PM2.5 concentration readings reached 70 to 98 micrograms per cubic meter by 6:00 PM on October 23, placing them in Band 2 as elevated, while the 24-hour PSI ranged from 85 to 108. These figures followed an earlier improvement when hourly PM2.5 readings had briefly dropped back into safe levels following a smog-filled weekend where the West region hit a 24-hour PSI of 230 on October 18, marking the highest number of the 2026 haze season, according to Secret Singapore.
NEA Advises Public to Limit Outdoor Physical Exertion
The National Environment Agency advised healthy individuals to reduce prolonged or strenuous outdoor physical exertion for October 24, while elderly persons, pregnant women, and children were advised to minimize such activities. Persons with chronic lung or heart disease were instructed to avoid prolonged or strenuous outdoor physical exertion entirely. For immediate outdoor activities, authorities directed the public to check 1-hour PM2.5 concentration readings via the official haze microsite or the myENV mobile app rather than relying solely on the 24-hour PSI forecast.
Workplace adjustments accompanied the worsening air. The Ministry of Manpower previously issued additional guidance instructing employers to adjust outdoor work based on hourly PM2.5 readings rather than solely relying on the 24-hour PSI forecast, AsiaOne.com reported. Under those guidelines, when hourly PM2.5 levels reach elevated bands between 56 and 150 micrograms per cubic meter, healthy employees are told to reduce strenuous outdoor work, while vulnerable employees must avoid it entirely. Employers are expected to mitigate risks through mechanical aids, job rotation, indoor rest breaks, and adequate hydration.
Online discussions on platforms such as Reddit reflected varied corporate responses, with some offices implementing flexible work-from-home arrangements or distributing N95 masks to help employees cope with building air quality conditions, The Independent Singapore reported.
Wind Shifts and Showers May Clear Haze by Sunday
Showers were forecast over Singapore and the surrounding region for Saturday, October 24, 2026, though smoke haze could continue arriving from Sumatra under prevailing south-southeasterly or south-southwesterly winds. Relief is anticipated from Sunday onward as winds shift to blow from the southwest or west, which may reduce the volume of transboundary smoke transported to the city-state. Forecasters noted that accompanying showers over Singapore and its vicinity could further assist in clearing the air.