The situation in October 2026
Smoke from land and forest fires in Sumatra and Kalimantan has pushed Singapore's air quality into the unhealthy range repeatedly since early October 2026. The season's highest 24-hour PSI so far was 192, recorded in the central region on 9 October, according to reports of NEA readings. On 18 October, readings improved as winds shifted to the south, but the 24-hour PSI remained in the unhealthy band.
Haze changes quickly with wind direction. Check the live readings on NEA's website or the myENV app before planning outdoor activities.
What the PSI numbers mean
Singapore uses the Pollutant Standards Index (PSI). The 24-hour PSI is used for health advice.
| 24-hour PSI | Band | General advice |
|---|---|---|
| 0 to 50 | Good | Normal activities |
| 51 to 100 | Moderate | Normal activities |
| 101 to 200 | Unhealthy | Reduce prolonged or strenuous outdoor activity |
| 201 to 300 | Very unhealthy | Avoid prolonged or strenuous outdoor activity; vulnerable groups should minimise outdoor activity |
| Above 300 | Hazardous | Minimise outdoor activity; vulnerable groups should avoid it |
NEA also publishes 1-hour PM2.5 readings, which show how the air is right now, and are useful for deciding whether to go for a run this evening.
Vulnerable groups include older adults, pregnant women, children, and people with chronic heart or lung disease such as asthma or COPD.
Protecting your health
Indoors:
- Close windows and doors when the haze is bad.
- Use an air purifier with a HEPA filter in the room where you spend the most time, especially the bedroom. Check the purifier is sized for the room.
- Air-conditioning helps, particularly with clean filters, though most systems recirculate rather than filter fine particles well.
- Avoid adding indoor pollution, such as smoking or burning incense, on bad days.
Outdoors:
- Cut back strenuous exercise outdoors when the PSI is unhealthy. Move workouts indoors.
- N95 masks filter fine particles when properly fitted. Surgical and cloth masks do not. The government has said it will distribute N95 masks to eligible residents if air quality reaches very unhealthy levels.
- Keep medicines handy if you have asthma or another lung or heart condition, and follow your action plan.
See a doctor if you have breathlessness, chest pain, wheezing that does not settle, or dizziness. Call 995 for emergencies.
Children, schools and workplaces
- Schools follow Ministry of Education guidance and reduce outdoor activities as the PSI rises.
- Employers have to assess risks for staff who work outdoors. The Ministry of Manpower publishes haze guidelines for employers, including rest breaks, masks and reducing outdoor work at higher PSI levels.
- Parents of young children should keep them indoors on very unhealthy days and watch for coughing or breathing difficulty.
The crackdown on companies
On 23 October 2026, Singapore stepped up action against companies linked to the haze:
- NEA served notices on 10 Singapore-registered companies under section 10 of the Transboundary Haze Pollution Act 2014, requiring them to provide documents and information. It was the first time notices had been served on Singapore-based firms in this way, according to reports. Representatives of firms that fail to comply can face fines or jail.
- First Resources, an SGX-listed palm oil company, disclosed on 24 October that it had received such a notice and said it intends to comply.
- The government announced a specialist panel of law, audit and investigative firms to carry out cross-border inquiries, trace corporate relationships and examine supply chains. Davinder Singh Chambers was appointed to advise on coordinating it.
- Earlier in October, NEA sent preventive measure notices under section 9 to 10 Indonesian companies over fires in Sumatra and Kalimantan.
Receiving a notice does not mean a company has been found responsible for the haze. The notices are part of an investigation.
Why haze keeps coming back
- Peatland fires are the main source. Drained peat is extremely flammable and can smoulder underground for weeks.
- Land clearing for plantations has been linked to fires, which is why investigations focus on supply chains, including palm oil and pulp and paper.
- Weather matters. Dry conditions, often worse in El Niño years, make fires more likely, and the southwest monsoon season (roughly June to September) brings winds from Sumatra towards Singapore. Haze often eases when the monsoon changes and rain returns.
Climate change raises the risk of longer, hotter dry seasons across the region. See our overview of where the climate stands in 2026.
Where to check
- NEA website and myENV app: live PSI and PM2.5 readings, 24-hour forecasts and health advisories.
- haze.gov.sg: the government's haze information page.
- ASEAN Specialised Meteorological Centre: hotspot maps showing where fires are burning.
Planning to be out and about over the Deepavali long weekend? Check the readings first, and see our Deepavali 2026 guide.
Key takeaways
- A 24-hour PSI above 100 is unhealthy; reduce strenuous outdoor activity.
- Use HEPA purifiers indoors and N95 masks if you must be outdoors on very unhealthy days.
- In October 2026, NEA served notices on 10 Singapore companies, including First Resources, and a specialist panel was set up to investigate.
- Haze levels change with the wind, so check NEA's readings daily.
This article is general information, not medical advice. It was last updated on 24 October 2026; follow NEA and Ministry of Health advisories for current guidance.