Drier weather conditions could increase the risk of transboundary haze and already isolated hotspot activities were spotted in parts of Indonesia, the National Environment Agency (NEA) says.
With the onset of the traditional dry season, the National Environment Agency (NEA) will start providing daily haze forecasts and health advisories starting next Monday (June 16), the agency said on Friday.
The dry season raises the possibility of transboundary haze, the NEA said. “Over the past few days, drier weather conditions have affected parts of the region, and isolated hotspot activities were visible in parts of Sumatra and Kalimantan.
In the coming weeks, the prevailing Southwest Monsoon is expected to strengthen and persist with winds forecast to blow mostly from the southeast or southwest,” it said.
The Meteorological Service Singapore had also earlier forecast weak to moderate El Nino conditions to develop in the next few months, which could exacerbate the drier and warmer conditions and increasing the risk of transboundary smoke haze from land and forest fires in the region, the agency added.
Forecasts and advisories will be based on the new Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) system, which incorporates the measurement of PM2.5 pollutants, the NEA said. The advisories will also take into account the revised Ministry of Health’s health guidelines and the Ministry of Manpower’s workplace guidelines.
The public will be able to read the latest advisories at the Government’s haze microsite, or the NEA website.
