Update, September 28: The haze has eased back to the Moderate band islandwide — by 6am, 24-hour PSI readings stood at Central 80, East 74, South 68, West 68 and North 62, down from Unhealthy levels (106-128) just a day earlier. NEA still expects air quality to hover between Moderate and low-Unhealthy over the next day, with continued haze risk from southeast winds carrying smoke from Kalimantan, so this is an improvement rather than a resolution — the episode itself is still ongoing since September 4.
Update, September 27: The haze has returned to Unhealthy levels again, part of the same episode rather than a new one — NEA data shows PSI first crossed back into the unhealthy range on September 4, with the September 15 spike as its peak so far. By 7am on September 27, the 24-hour PSI reading stood at 128 in the Central region, 115 in the East and 106 in the West, all in the Unhealthy band (101–200), while the North (89) and South (95) stayed in the Moderate range. Central crossed back into Unhealthy first, around 8pm on September 26. NEA’s standard guidance still applies: healthy people should reduce prolonged or strenuous outdoor activity, while the elderly, pregnant women, children and anyone with chronic heart or lung conditions should minimize or avoid outdoor activity while readings stay in this range. The source remains smoke drifting in from fires in Kalimantan and southern Sumatra.
Singapore’s haze made a real comeback in mid-September 2026 — on September 15, the 24-hour PSI climbed into the Unhealthy band (101-200) in all five of the island’s regions at the same time, something that hadn’t happened since September 2019. If you’re planning outdoor time in Singapore over the next few weeks, here’s what actually happened and what to check before you head out.
What Happened on September 15
The National Environment Agency (NEA) recorded 24-hour PSI readings of 154 in the Central region, 128 in the East, 128 in the West, 111 in the South, and 104 in the North — the first time since September 2019 that every region hit Unhealthy at once. The source was smoke drifting in from fires burning in Kalimantan and southern Sumatra, Indonesia, pushed toward Singapore by southeasterly to east-southeast winds. NEA linked the dry conditions fueling those fires to El Niño and a positive Indian Ocean Dipole, and noted the fires remained active in the source regions. Singapore’s Haze Task Force, which coordinates 28 public agencies with pre-set action plans once PSI passes 100, was activated in response.
Where Things Stand Now
The picture had eased somewhat by NEA’s September 17, 5pm update: the 24-hour PSI had come down to a 66-93 range (Moderate), with 1-hour PM2.5 readings of 46-78 µg/m³ (Normal to Elevated). NEA’s forecast at the time was “High Moderate to Low Unhealthy,” with the haze risk expected to continue given dry conditions persisting over southern Sumatra and southern Kalimantan and winds still blowing from the south-east to east-southeast. In short: the worst of the September 15 spike had passed, but the underlying fire season hadn’t, so PSI could tick back up on a bad-wind day.
That’s exactly what happened next: by NEA’s September 19 update, the 24-hour PSI was back in the Unhealthy range in Central Singapore (108), with the West at 96 and the East at 93 — both still Moderate but close to the line. One-hour PM2.5 in Central Singapore peaked at 149 µg/m³ around midday before easing to 61 µg/m³ by evening. NEA’s 24-hour forecast stayed in the “High Moderate to Mid-Unhealthy” range, with the same south-east to east-southeast winds continuing to carry smoke from the Kalimantan and southern Sumatra fires. The pattern through September has been up-and-down rather than a steady trend in either direction, so it’s worth checking the same-day reading rather than assuming a good day means the haze has settled for good.
What This Means for Travelers
NEA’s health guidance is tied to the 24-hour PSI band, not the daily headlines, so it’s worth checking the current reading yourself before a day of walking, cycling, or outdoor dining:
- Healthy adults: cut back on strenuous outdoor activity once PSI reaches Unhealthy (101+).
- Elderly travelers, pregnant women, and young children: minimize prolonged outdoor exertion during Unhealthy readings, even light activity.
- Anyone with chronic heart or lung conditions: avoid strenuous outdoor activity whenever PSI is Unhealthy.
- N95 masks aren’t necessary for everyday outdoor time at current levels — NEA recommends them mainly for extended outdoor exposure once PSI passes 300, which hasn’t happened this round.
NEA publishes updated PSI readings by region throughout the day, so it’s worth a quick check on a hazy-looking morning rather than guessing from the skyline. If a haze day does land on your trip, that’s a reasonable cue to swap a Southern Ridges walk or park visit for an indoor stretch — see our Southern Ridges walking trail guide for when conditions are clear, and our Best Time to Visit Singapore guide for how haze season fits into the wider year-round weather picture.
Update, September 29
The haze has worsened sharply again. After easing to Moderate on September 28 morning, PSI climbed back into Unhealthy territory across all five regions by September 29: Central 158 (the highest reading), Western 143, Eastern 130, Southern 129, and Northern 103. Central and Southern crossed into Unhealthy by the evening of September 28, with Northern the last to follow at 7am on September 29. NEA attributes the smoke haze to fires in southern Sumatra and Kalimantan, and the episode — ongoing since September 4 — continues to swing between Moderate and Unhealthy rather than resolving.
Sources
National Environment Agency (NEA) Haze Situation Updates, 15, 17, 19, and 28 September 2026; IBTimes Singapore, 15 September 2026; AsiaOne, 19 and 29 September 2026.
For more on the area, see our guides to Singapore Haze Worsens: PSI Unhealthy Across All Five Regions and Is Singapore Safe for Tourists? Crime, Scams, and Safety Tips.
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