Singapore Haze & Air Quality This Week: Tuesday, October 20, 2026

By Paul Harrison, Orbis Weather

This report is current to 7:00am SGT (UTC+8) on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, which is 7:00pm US Eastern Time (EDT) on Monday, October 19. The latest NEA readings used are from 6pm SGT on Monday, October 19.

At a glance

Singapore’s haze reached Very Unhealthy levels in the middle of the week, then eased to Moderate to low Unhealthy by Monday, but NEA expects Kalimantan smoke to return from Tuesday night.

• Latest readings: At 6pm on Monday, October 19, the 24-hour PSI was 88 to 114 (Moderate to Unhealthy). The 1-hour PM2.5 was 51 to 79 µg/m³, Band 1 (Normal) to Band 2 (Elevated).
• The past week: Air quality was unhealthy every day. The 24-hour PSI first passed 200 in the West on October 14. It hit 229 (Central) on October 16 and a 2026 high of 230 (West) at 10am on October 18.
• Cause: NEA said dense smoke from fires in Kalimantan drifted to Singapore on southeasterly winds, with some smoke from Sumatra.
• Outlook: NEA forecasts a 24-hour PSI of 90 to 160 on Tuesday. From Tuesday night to Thursday, east-southeasterly winds “may bring smoke haze from fires in Kalimantan towards Singapore”. MSS expects afternoon thundery showers each day to Saturday.
• Measures: The Haze Subsidy Scheme has run at PHPC clinics and polyclinics since October 12. NEA served haze notices on 10 Indonesian companies by October 19. Several events were cancelled or postponed.
• Johor: All schools in Johor are closed from October 19 to 23, a third closure this month. Johor stations read 105 to 161 on the API at 4pm on October 19.

The National Environment Agency (NEA) and the Meteorological Service Singapore (MSS) issue Singapore’s official air quality readings, forecasts and health advisories.

Latest readings

Air quality improved sharply on Monday, October 19. By 6pm the 24-hour PSI was Moderate in the North, South and East and low Unhealthy in the West and Central regions. NEA’s 6pm range was 88 to 114, and the regional figures below match it.

Sources: 6am figures from The Straits Times via Yahoo (October 19); 6pm figures from AsiaOne (October 19). Times are SGT.

At 6pm, the 1-hour PM2.5 ranged from 51 µg/m³ in the East to 79 µg/m³ in the Central region, according to AsiaOne. That matches NEA’s 6pm range of 51 to 79 µg/m³, Band 1 (Normal) to Band 2 (Elevated).

What the two measures mean. The 24-hour PSI averages pollution over the past day. NEA bases its health advice for planning the next day’s activities on it. Readings of 101 to 200 are Unhealthy, 201 to 300 Very Unhealthy, and above 300 Hazardous. The 1-hour PM2.5 shows fine particles in the past hour. NEA uses its four bands, from Band 1 (Normal) to Band 4 (Very High), for decisions about immediate activities, such as going for a run now.

The past week

The 24-hour PSI stayed in the Unhealthy range all week and crossed into Very Unhealthy from October 14 to 18. NEA’s evening range peaked at 159 to 222 on Friday, October 16, before falling to 88 to 114 on Monday.

NEA said dense smoke from Kalimantan drifted in on southeasterly winds through the week. The West first reached Very Unhealthy at 203 at 9pm on October 14, and hit 212 at noon on October 15. The Central region reached 229 at 3pm on October 16, and the West set the 2026 high of 230 at 10am on October 18. The highest 1-hour PM2.5 of the year, 288 µg/m³, was recorded in the West at 3pm on October 14.

Air quality improved from Sunday afternoon as winds turned southerly, and by Monday evening the North, South and East were Moderate. Malay Mail reported on October 18 that Singapore had had 14 straight days of unhealthy air since October 5. It said that matched the 14-day run of the 2015 haze crisis. NEA’s evening figures are snapshots, so higher readings earlier in the day, such as the 230, fall outside the ranges shown.

Forecast and outlook

NEA expects the 24-hour PSI to stay Moderate to Unhealthy on Tuesday, at 90 to 160. It warns that smoke from Kalimantan may return from Tuesday night to Thursday as winds turn east-southeasterly.

NEA’s PSI forecast. In its October 19 update, NEA said showers are expected on Tuesday. South-southeasterly winds may reduce smoke from Kalimantan, though some smoke from Sumatra may still drift in. From Tuesday night to Thursday, winds are likely to become east-southeasterly while parts of Kalimantan stay dry. NEA said this “may bring smoke haze from fires in Kalimantan towards Singapore”. NEA had not issued a forecast beyond Tuesday at the time of writing.

MSS four-day outlook. MSS forecasts afternoon thundery showers every day to Saturday. The outlook does not mention haze.

Source: MSS four-day outlook, issued 5:10am SGT on October 20 for Wednesday to Saturday. Tuesday’s row comes from the issue of 5:40am SGT on October 19. MSS gives no official day-by-day forecast beyond Saturday.

MSS fortnightly outlook (October 16 to November 1). MSS expects Southwest Monsoon conditions, with winds “mainly from the southeast or southwest”. It forecasts short afternoon thundery showers on most days, but rainfall “below average over most parts of the island” for the second half of October. Daily highs should be 33–35°C (91–95°F), with some nights above 27°C (81°F). MSS said haze may continue, with spikes in PSI and PM2.5 on some days. The page carries no issue date; it was last modified on October 17.

ASMC outlooks. The ASEAN Specialised Meteorological Centre’s subseasonal outlook for October 12 to 25, issued October 7, predicts drier than usual conditions over most of the southern ASEAN region in both weeks. It also says “warmer than usual conditions are predicted over most of the ASEAN region”. ASMC’s home page, last updated October 16, says “dry conditions are forecast to continue over parts of the southern ASEAN region”. Its seasonal outlook (October 5) expects the Southwest Monsoon to weaken toward the end of October and “gradually transition into inter-monsoon conditions”. ASMC says returning rain could then ease the haze.

Climate background. ASMC said on October 16 that the Niño3.4 index “supports the presence of strong El Niño conditions”, expected to continue into early 2027. It said positive Indian Ocean Dipole conditions were present in September and are forecast to “persist through November 2026”. The US Climate Prediction Center said on October 8 that “El Niño continues to strengthen”.

Where the smoke comes from

The smoke reaching Singapore this week came mainly from fires in Kalimantan, with some from southern Sumatra, according to NEA. Indonesian counts of high-confidence hotspots fell after October 15, but Central Kalimantan rose again on October 17.

These counts come from different agencies, satellites, confidence levels and cut-off times, so they cannot be compared with one another. WIB is UTC+7. The Ministry of Forestry notes that one fire “can be detected as several hotspots”.

ASMC alert level. ASMC’s Alert Level 3 for the southern ASEAN region has been in force since August 26, 2026. ASMC’s home page said on October 16 that “moderate to dense transboundary smoke haze” was observed over parts of Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore, Kalimantan, Sumatra and western Sarawak. NEA said in each update this week that hotspots could not be fully assessed “due to extensive cloud cover”.

Conditions at the source. A Health Ministry report cited by Metro TV on October 17 put West and Central Kalimantan under emergency response status. Riau, South Sumatra, Jambi, East Kalimantan and South Kalimantan were on emergency alert. The same report counted 311,363 cases of acute respiratory infection. In Palembang, the air quality index (ISPU) read 296, “very unhealthy”, on October 19, according to IDN Times Sumsel. Palangka Raya extended remote learning for preschool, primary and junior secondary pupils to October 21, Prokalteng reported. BMKG has issued a fire warning to October 24 for six provinces: South Sumatra, Riau, Jambi, and Central, South and West Kalimantan.

Firefighting. Indonesia has 61 aircraft on the fires, 44 of them for water bombing, according to the Ministry of Forestry(October 18). Water-bombing sorties at Tanjung Puting in Central Kalimantan rose from 16 on October 17 to a provisional 26 on October 18. Some helicopters could not fly from Tjilik Riwut airport because of poor visibility. Weather modification flights using dry ice are running in South Sumatra from October 16 to 25, the ministry said. On October 15, four firefighters and volunteers died fighting a fire at Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park in East Java.

Rain at the source. BMKG’s weekly outlook of October 15 said about 76% of Indonesia’s season zones were still in the dry season. It said “El Niño masih berlangsung dengan intensitas sangat kuat” (El Niño is still very strong). It forecast moderate rain in Riau and in West and Central Kalimantan from October 19 to 22. BMKG’s head said the rainy season is late in most of Indonesia, with most zones starting in November, detikSumut reported.

Health advice and measures in place

With the 24-hour PSI forecast at 90 to 160 on Tuesday, NEA’s advice is to reduce prolonged or strenuous outdoor exertion. Vulnerable groups should minimise it, and people with chronic lung or heart disease should avoid it.

NEA advice for planning Tuesday, October 20 (24-hour PSI, Unhealthy range)

NEA advice for immediate activities (1-hour PM2.5)

Source: NEA haze update, October 19. On October 14 to 17, when the PSI reached the Very Unhealthy range, NEA told healthy persons to avoid prolonged or strenuous outdoor exertion and vulnerable groups to minimise outdoor activity.

Haze Subsidy Scheme. The Ministry of Health activated the scheme on October 12 at Public Health Preparedness Clinics (PHPCs) and polyclinics. It covers haze-related conditions such as asthma, bronchitis, allergic rhinitis, conjunctivitis, COPD and upper respiratory tract infections.

• At PHPCs, it is open to Singapore Citizens aged 18 or below or 65 and above, and to CHAS Blue or Orange, Pioneer Generation, Merdeka Generation, Public Assistance and Medical Fee Exemption Card holders.
• At polyclinics, all Singapore Citizens qualify.
• Public Assistance cardholders pay nothing; Pioneer and Merdeka Generation seniors pay at most $5; others pay at most $10.

MOH has not announced an end date. Its haze page was last updated on October 19.

Thresholds for further measures. NEA leads a Haze Task Force of 28 agencies, it said on October 9. When the PSI goes above 200:

• People’s Association grassroots groups distribute N95 masks to eligible residents.
• Air-conditioned haze shelters open at community clubs and selected residents’ committee and Residents’ Network centres.
• Preschools stop all outdoor activities and strenuous indoor activities.

Above a PSI of 300, the shelters stay open until 10pm. The Ministry of Education will also consider closing schools if the next day’s 24-hour PSI forecast is above 300, Mothership reported. In the 101 to 200 range, schools avoid strenuous outdoor activities, and lessons continue in enclosed spaces with air purifiers. No school closures were reported in Singapore this week.

Workplaces. The Ministry of Manpower’s haze guidance, updated October 2, requires all employers to assess the risks of their work activities. Above a PSI of 300, employers should minimise outdoor work and provide masks or respirators where it cannot be avoided. Above 400, MOM says “non-essential work should be deferred”. Employers should not deduct wages or leave if operations are suspended.

Events affected this week. The ISCA Run on October 17 was cancelled, and ActiveSG closed some outdoor facilities on October 15, The Online Citizen reported. The Singapore FA Cup final on October 17 was postponed because the West’s PSI was above 200. Purple Parade, planned for October 24, was moved to the first half of 2027.

Enforcement. On October 19, NEA issued haze notices to three more Indonesian companies under the Transboundary Haze Pollution Act, Bernama reported. That brings the total to 10, after seven the previous Friday.

Johor and the region

Johor’s air stayed unhealthy through the weekend, and the state has closed all schools for a third time this month, from October 19 to 23. Across Malaysia, 27 stations recorded unhealthy air at 4pm on October 19.

Sources: Department of Environment readings via Malay Mail on October 18 and October 19. Times are Malaysia time (MYT, UTC+8, the same as SGT).

The highest reading in Malaysia at 4pm on October 19 was 169 at Johan Setia in Selangor. No station was in the Very Unhealthy range. On October 18, Pasir Gudang was the worst in the country at 182.

Johor school closures. All schools and educational institutions in Johor are closed from Monday, October 19 to Friday, October 23, The Star reported on October 17. Earlier closures ran on October 7 to 8 and October 12 to 16. Home-based learning continues, with limited exemptions for exams. Johor recorded 30,648 cases of asthma and upper respiratory infections so far this month, up 20.7% week on week, according to the state.

Flights. Firefly cancelled its Seletar–Subang flights from October 10 to 16 as “a proactive safety measure”, Aviationjeta reported. The airports “remain operational”, the report said. No cancellations at Changi were reported this week.

Diplomacy. Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said on October 15 that Singapore will act against responsible companies under the Transboundary Haze Pollution Act where warranted. He added: “We have offered our assistance to Indonesia, and will continue working closely with them” (Malay Mail). Indonesia’s foreign minister said on October 15 that President Prabowo had approved foreign assistance, Mothership reported.

On October 19, Senior Minister K Shanmugam rebuked an Indonesian official’s remark that “when there’s no haze, we send oxygen”. He said it was “not right to say this when this entire region is suffering”, and that the haze “is entirely preventable” (Malay Mail). He also praised President Prabowo’s measures, including a ban on slash-and-burn on peat.

Malaysia has offered Indonesia a Bombardier CL-415MP aircraft, three helicopters and 50 personnel, pending Indonesian approval, Deputy Prime Minister Zahid Hamidi said on October 19 (The Star). Malaysia’s foreign minister said he will raise the haze at the ASEAN foreign ministers’ meeting before the ASEAN Summit in Manila in November (Malay Mail).

Monsoon. The Malaysian Meteorological Department expects the Northeast Monsoon to begin at the end of October and run to mid-March 2027, Suara Keadilan reported from a forum on October 13. It gave no exact onset date.

What to watch this week

The key period is Tuesday night to Thursday, when NEA says east-southeasterly winds may carry Kalimantan smoke back to Singapore.

What could change the picture. Wind direction is the main factor in NEA’s forecasts. This week’s worst days came under southeasterly winds from Kalimantan, and Monday’s improvement came as winds turned south-southeasterly with nearby showers. ASMC says returning rain as the monsoon changes could ease the haze. Until then, it expects the hotspot and smoke haze situation “to remain escalated in the region” from October to December. MSS says spikes in PSI and PM2.5 are possible on some days to November 1.

About this report

This weekly report covers Tuesday, October 13 to Monday, October 19, 2026, and looks ahead to Monday, October 26. It is current to 7:00am SGT on Tuesday, October 20 (7:00pm EDT on Monday, October 19). Times are Singapore time (SGT, UTC+8) unless marked WIB (Western Indonesia Time, UTC+7) or MYT (Malaysia time, UTC+8).

PSI and API are index values without units. PM2.5 is in micrograms per cubic metre (µg/m³). Temperatures are in °C with °F in brackets, and wind speeds in km/h with mph in brackets. NEA’s daily figures are snapshots at the evening time each update gives, so the highest regional readings of the day can be above NEA’s evening range. Readings change hourly; check NEA’s haze.gov.sg site or the myENV app for the latest.

Frequently asked questions

Is the haze over? Not yet. The 24-hour PSI fell to 88 to 114 on Monday evening, but NEA forecasts 90 to 160 on Tuesday. It warns that smoke from Kalimantan may return from Tuesday night to Thursday.

What was the worst reading this week? The highest 24-hour PSI was 230 in the West at 10am on October 18, the highest of 2026 so far. The Central region reached 229 at 3pm on October 16. The highest 1-hour PM2.5 of the year was 288 µg/m³ in the West at 3pm on October 14.

Where is the smoke coming from? NEA attributes this week’s haze mainly to fires in Kalimantan, carried by southeasterly winds, with some smoke from Sumatra. Indonesia’s Ministry of Forestry counted the most high-confidence hotspots in Central Kalimantan and South Sumatra.

Should I exercise outdoors? At Tuesday’s forecast levels, NEA advises healthy people to reduce prolonged or strenuous outdoor exertion. The elderly, pregnant women and children should minimise it, and people with chronic lung or heart disease should avoid it. For the next hour, check the 1-hour PM2.5 band.

Are schools closed in Singapore? No school closures were reported this week. MOE will consider closing schools if the next day’s 24-hour PSI forecast is above 300. In Johor, all schools are closed from October 19 to 23.

Can I get subsidised treatment for haze-related illness? Yes, if eligible. The Haze Subsidy Scheme has run at PHPC clinics and polyclinics since October 12. Most eligible patients pay at most $10, and Public Assistance cardholders pay nothing.

When will the haze season end? No agency has given an end date. ASMC expects the Southwest Monsoon to weaken toward the end of October, and says returning rain could ease the haze. BMKG says the rainy season will start late in most of Indonesia, mostly in November.

Are flights affected? Firefly cancelled its Seletar–Subang flights from October 10 to 16. No cancellations at Changi were reported this week.