---
title: "PSI in western part of Singapore hits 208, a new high this haze season"
url: "/trending-now/psi-western-part-singapore-hits-208-new-high-haze-season"
published: "2026-10-15T02:06:25.000Z"
updated: "2026-10-15T02:40:11.000Z"
section: "Trending Now"
tags: ["TNP News","Singapore news","haze","unhealthy","NEA","weather"]
---

# PSI in western part of Singapore hits 208, a new high this haze season

Daniel Lai
The Straits Times
Oct 15, 2026

Hazy conditions persisted across Singapore, with the PSI reading in the west remaining in the “very unhealthy” range and reaching a new high this haze season while hourly PM2.5 readings were elevated islandwide.

At 9am, the 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) in the west stood at 208, the highest so far in 2026. Readings in the rest of the island remained in the unhealthy band: central (185), east (171), south (158) and north (125).

The 24-hour PSI in the west first crossed into the “very unhealthy” range at 9pm on Oct 14 with a reading of 203, and has remained in that band since.

Air quality is considered unhealthy when the PSI – a 24-hour rolling average of six key air pollutants – is in the 101-200 range, and very unhealthy when it is in the 201-300 range.

At 9am, the hourly PM2.5 readings – measured in micrograms per cubic m and used as a gauge for current air quality – were in the elevated zone across Singapore: central (133), south (107), west (104), east (92) and north (67).

![Singapore haze: PSI hits new high of 208 in the west](https://cassette.sphdigital.com.sg/image/stomp/274ab180597a3371e74e9162d9145cc5cf7850ca08da1a1340960007ac22cce1)
*Air quality in the west of Singapore was in the “very unhealthy” range on the morning of Oct 15.*

At 3pm on Oct 14, PM2.5 readings in the western part of Singapore soared to the “very high” range at 288, the highest reading so far in 2026.

PM2.5 scores from 0 to 55 represent normal values, those between 56 and 150 indicate an elevated concentration of fine particles, while readings between 151 and 250 are considered high and scores above 251 are classified as very high.

Given the worsening haze situation, the Government has commenced the distribution of masks, the National Environment Agency (NEA) said in a statement on Oct 14.

Air-conditioned rooms in more than 300 community clubs (CC), and residents’ committee and residents’ network centres, have also been set up as haze shelters for the public to seek respite in. Residents may contact their nearest CCs regarding the operating hours and location of the haze shelters.

Dense smoke haze from fires in Kalimantan was observed to drift towards Singapore under the prevailing south-easterly winds, said NEA, adding that smoke haze was also observed over Sumatra.

“The dense smoke haze is expected to continue drifting towards Singapore overnight and tomorrow,” the agency added in its Oct 14 statement.

“While some showers are forecast over Singapore and parts of the surrounding region tomorrow, dry conditions are expected to persist over parts of southern Sumatra and Kalimantan.”

NEA forecast that the 24-hour PSI for Singapore would be in the unhealthy to very unhealthy range.

Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu said late on Oct 14 that Singapore is “keeping its options open” on whether it will take action against errant companies under its Transboundary Haze Pollution Act.