Singapore faces elevated haze risk as ASEAN raises transboundary smoke alert to Level 2

The National Environment Agency (NEA) warned on August 9, 2026 that dry conditions are expected to continue into the following week, raising the risk of haze if hotspot activity in the region persists. As of 1pm that day, Singapore's 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) reached 81 in the central region — within the moderate range — driven by hotspots and smoke plumes over parts of Sumatra and Kalimantan drifting under southeasterly winds. The ASEAN Specialised Meteorological Centre had already elevated its alert for the southern ASEAN region to Level 2, the second-highest level, and the government's 28-agency Haze Task Force stands ready to activate tiered response plans if the PSI exceeds 100.