Regional Haze Situation

Print this map
Select Date
icon-calendar
Overlays
MSSModerate Haze MSSDense Haze MSS 2500 ft Wind MSSLow Confidence Hotspot MSSMedium Confidence Hotspot MSSHigh Confidence Hotspot

MSS Wind Speed (km/h) MSS Rainfall (mm)

Latest Weather and Haze Situation

Dry conditions were observed over most parts of the Mekong sub-region this morning. Scattered hotspots were detected in the northern parts of Cambodia and the central parts of Myanmar from overnight satellite imagery. Isolated hotspots were detected elsewhere in the Mekong sub-region. Slight to moderate smoke haze was observed in the central parts of Myanmar and the central parts of Thailand. Some air quality stations in the central parts of the Mekong sub-region reported Unhealthy levels.

Isolated showers were observed most parts of the southern ASEAN region this morning while dry conditions were observed over parts of Peninsular Malaysia. A few hotspots were detected in Peninsular Malaysia and no significant smoke plumes were observed.

Weather and Haze Outlook

In the coming days, dry conditions are expected to prevail over the northern and western parts of the Mekong sub-region while wet weather is forecast for the rest of the northern ASEAN region. While the showers may provide some respite to the sub- region, the hotspot and smoke haze situation is expected to remain elevated with a continued risk of transboundary haze occurrence. The prevailing winds over the northern ASEAN region are expected to strengthen and blow mainly from the northeast with winds over the northwestern parts of the Mekong sub-region to be light and variable in direction.

Showers are forecast to continue over the southern ASEAN region, allowing for the hotspot activity over the region to remain subdued. The prevailing winds over the southern ASEAN region are forecast to blow from the northwest to northeast.

  • All maps are to be used solely for displaying meteorological/geophysical information, and not for any other purpose. All maps are not to scale and for illustrative purpose only.
  • The hotspots depicted on the map are derived from the NOAA satellite and they represent locations with possible fires. Hotspots may go undetected due to cloudy conditions or incomplete satellite pass.
  • At Alert Level 0 and Alert Level 1, the regional haze situation is updated once a day at 0900 UTC. The regional haze situation is updated more frequently at 0300 UTC and 0900 UTC upon activation of Alert Level 2 or Alert Level 3. Updates at 0300 UTC display hotspot information from night-time passes of the NOAA-20 satellite. Fewer hotspots were typically detected at night as fire activities usually peak during the day.
  • Reprocessed satellite data will be availed at a later timing. The hotspot information derived from satellite data reprocessed may differ slightly from that received near real-time but reprocessing is necessary for better quality data.
  • The 2500 ft winds (depicted by arrows) are model analysis winds.

Seasonal Forecast for February 2025 – April 2025

Summary of Outlook

Under the prevailing Northeast Monsoon, the northern and southern ASEAN region continues to experience their traditional dry and wet season respectively as the monsoon rainband is located south of the Equator, with prevailing low-level winds blowing from the northwest or northeast over the region. While showers are typical over the southern ASEAN region, dry spells can be expected during the dry phase of the Northeast Monsoon, typically during February. Around late March or early April, the prevailing low-level winds gradually weaken and become light and variable in direction as the Northeast Monsoon transitions into inter-monsoon conditions.

For February, below-to near-normal rainfall is predicted over the equatorial region, with above-normal predicted over the rest of the Maritime Continent. For the February to March 2025 (FMA) period overall, models predict an increased chance of above-normal rainfall over the northern half of the Maritime Continent, while below-normal rainfall is predicted over the equatorial region. There is also an increase in chance of above-normal rainfall over parts of Mainland Southeast Asia. La Niña conditions are now present, with a transition to ENSO neutral predicted by April-May 2025. La Niña conditions are typically associated with wetter than average conditions over much of Southeast Asia. Above-normal temperature is predicted over much of the ASEAN region for FMA 2025, apart from over eastern Mainland Southeast Asia where near-normal temperature is predicted.

Despite an above-normal rainfall outlook for some parts of the Mekong sub-region during the outlook period, further intensification of hotspots and smoke haze activities, along with a heightened risk of transboundary smoke haze occurrence, can still be expected over the sub-region as overall dry conditions dominate the area. While the overall hotspot activity is likely to remain subdued under the prevailing wet weather conditions over the southern ASEAN region, hotspot activity may increase during the dry phase of the Northeast Monsoon conditions, particularly in areas where below-normal rainfall is predicted.

Click here for details

ASEAN Climate Outlook Forum

The ASEAN Climate Outlook Forum (ASEANCOF) is an avenue to collaboratively develop consensus-based seasonal climate outlooks and related information on a regional scale.

22nd ASEAN COF

Related Website

ASEAN Haze Online

Recent Updates

18

Feb

Review of Regional Weather for January 2025
During January 2025, much of the Maritime Continent experienced above-average rainfall, with only parts of southern Philippines and the Malay Peninsula experiencing below-average rainfall (Figure 1). Over Mainland Southeast Asia….
More details

12

Feb

Subseasonal Weather Outlook (17 February – 2 March 2025)
Wetter conditions are predicted over much of the Maritime Continent in the next fortnight (17 February – 2 March). No significant regional temperature anomalies are predicted…
More details

06

Feb

Review of Regional Haze Situation for January 2025
Northeast Monsoon conditions persisted over the ASEAN region in January 2025. During this month, the prevailing low-level winds over regions north of the Equator blew mostly from the northeast or east, except over the northern parts of the Mekong sub-region…
More details