MTGS

If you have stepped outside recently, you have likely noticed a familiar, acrid smell and a dull grey blanket stretching across the skyline. Singapore’s 2026 haze season is officially here, with the 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) fluctuating between the High Moderate and Mid Unhealthy ranges. For the first time since late 2023, the air quality has crossed the critical 100 threshold. Here is a comprehensive breakdown of what is causing the smoke, how long it will stick around, and how schools, workplaces, and the government are responding to keep everyone safe. 💨 What is Causing the Recent Haze? The current haze is a transboundary issue driven by a combination of climate factors and land-clearing practices. Moderate to dense smoke plumes are drifting over from intensifying forest and peatland fires in southern Sumatra and Kalimantan, Indonesia . The severity of the burning this year is heavily amplified by weather patterns. The convergence of the El Niño climate phenomenon...