Category Archives: Alert 1

August 12, 2025

Alert20250812 – Downgrade to Alert Level 1 for the Southern ASEAN Region

Downgrade to Alert Level 1 for the Southern ASEAN Region

Wetter conditions have returned to many parts of the Southern ASEAN region since early August, helping to improve the regional hotspot and smoke haze situation, with low hotspot counts and no significant smoke plumes observed over the past few days. The region continues to experience occasional rainfall, which is forecast to persist in the coming weeks. The Alert Level is being lowered to reflect the reduced likelihood of transboundary haze. While the risk of transboundary haze is low, isolated hotspots and localised smoke plumes may still occur over drier areas.

As the region is still in its traditional dry season, there remains a possibility that hotspot activity and smoke haze condition could intensify again. ASMC will continue to monitor the situation and raise the alert if it escalates.

June 12, 2025

Alert20250612 – Activation of Alert Level 1 for the Southern ASEAN Region

Start of Dry Season for the Southern ASEAN Region

Dry weather conditions have developed over many parts of the southern ASEAN region in recent days, with the establishment of the Southwest Monsoon over the region. Prevailing winds are blowing mainly from the southeast or southwest. There was a total of 18 and 5 hotspots detected in the southern ASEAN region, mainly in parts of Sumatra and Kalimantan on 10 June 2025 and 11 June 2025, respectively.

The hotspot and smoke haze situation over the region may worsen as drier conditions over the southern ASEAN region are expected to persist in the coming months.

May 13, 2025

Alert20250513 – Downgrade to Alert Level 1 for the Mekong sub-region

Downgrade to Alert Level 1 for the Mekong sub-region

In recent days, there has been an increase in shower activities in the Mekong sub-region, which led to reduced hotspot counts and haze occurrence. With wet weather conditions expected over most areas of the sub-region in the coming days, the chance of transboundary haze has been reduced significantly. Isolated hotspots and localised smoke plumes may still occur over drier areas.

Based on surveillance using the NOAA-20 satellite, a total of 24 and 9 hotspots were detected in the Mekong sub-region on 11 May 2025 and 12 May 2025 respectively. The overall hotspot and smoke haze situation over the sub-region is likely to improve with an expected increase in rainfall.

January 2, 2025

Alert20250102 – Start of Dry Season for the Northern ASEAN Region

Start of Dry Season for the Northern ASEAN Region

Northeast Monsoon conditions have become firmly established over the northern ASEAN region with the prevailing winds blowing predominantly from the northeast or east. In recent days, dry weather conditions were observed over the Mekong sub-region with gradually increasing hotspot counts. There were a total of 164 and 335 hotspots detected in the Mekong sub-region on 31 Dec 2024 and 1 Jan 2025 respectively.

The hotspot and smoke haze situation over the region may worsen as the dry conditions over the northern ASEAN region are likely to persist in the coming months.

ASMC Media Release – Start of Dry Season for the Northern ASEAN Region-2025

July 17, 2024

Alert20240717 – Start of Dry Season for the Southern ASEAN Region

Start of Dry Season for the Southern ASEAN Region

Southwest Monsoon conditions have been established over the southern ASEAN region with the prevailing winds blowing predominantly from the southeast or southwest. Persistent dry weather conditions have developed over most parts of the southern ASEAN region in recent days. There were a total of 33 and 44 hotspots detected in the southern ASEAN region, mainly in parts of Sumatra and Kalimantan on 15 July 2024 and 16 July 2024 respectively.

Many parts of the southern ASEAN region may experience periods of drier weather in the coming months. An increase in hotspot and smoke haze activity can be expected, particularly over fire-prone areas of the region.

ASMC Media Release – Start of Dry Season for the Southern ASEAN Region

May 13, 2024

Alert20240513 – Downgrade to Alert Level 1 for the Mekong Sub-Region

Downgrade to Alert Level 1 for the Mekong Sub-Region

Shower activities have become more extensive in the Mekong sub-region, leading to further reduction in hotspot counts and haze occurrence in the sub-region. The likelihood of transboundary haze is now low as dry conditions are mostly confined to parts of Myanmar, with rainfall forecast elsewhere in the sub-region in the coming days. Isolated hotspots and localised smoke plumes may still develop in drier areas.

Based on NOAA-20 surveillance, a total of 100 and 109 hotspots were detected in the Mekong sub-region on 11 May 2024 and 12 May 2024 respectively. This is a significant reduction from about a week ago. Increased shower activities over the Mekong sub-region are expected to keep the overall hotspot and smoke haze situation subdued, although western areas are likely to remain dry till end May 2024.

December 14, 2023

Alert20231214 – Start of Dry Season for the Northern ASEAN Region

Start of Dry Season for the Northern ASEAN Region

Northeast Monsoon conditions have been firmly established over the northern ASEAN region since early-Dec 2023 with the prevailing winds blowing predominantly from the northeast or east. In recent days, dry weather conditions were observed over the Mekong sub-region with gradually increasing hotspot counts. There were a total of 52 and 43 hotspots detected in the Mekong sub-region on 12 Dec 2023 and 13 Dec 2023 respectively.

As the dry conditions over the northern ASEAN region are likely to persist in the coming months, the hotspot and smoke haze situation over the region is expected to deteriorate.

ASMC Media Release – Start of Dry Season for the Northern ASEAN Region

October 24, 2023

Alert20231024 – Downgrade of Alert Level 2 to Alert Level 1 for the Southern ASEAN region

Downgrade of Alert Level 2 to Alert Level 1 for the southern ASEAN region

In recent days, increased rainfall has helped to improve the overall hotspot and smoke haze situation over the southern ASEAN region. While this has reduced the risk of transboundary haze occurrence, isolated hotspots and localised smoke plumes may still develop in fire-prone areas during brief periods of dry weather.

Based on surveillance by the NOAA-20 satellite, a total of 57 and 47 hotspots were detected in Sumatra, and a total of 5 and 8 hotspots were detected in Kalimantan on 22 and 23 October 2023, respectively. The hotspot and haze situation over the southern ASEAN region is expected to further improve as more rainfall is forecast in the coming weeks.

May 29, 2023

Alert20230529 – Start of Dry Season for the Southern ASEAN Region

Start of Dry Season for the Southern ASEAN Region

Southwest Monsoon conditions have been gradually established over the southern ASEAN region, with the prevailing winds blowing predominantly from the southeast or southwest. Over the past week, dry weather persisted over many parts of the region, and isolated hotspots with occasional smoke plumes were observed. Based on surveillance by the NOAA-20 satellite, a total of 14 and 13 hotspots were detected in the southern ASEAN region on 27 and 28 May 2023, respectively.

Over the next several months, extended periods of dry weather can be expected over many parts of the southern ASEAN region. The likely return of El Niño conditions in the second half of the year will further exacerbate the dry season, and extending it into October 2023. An escalation in hotspot activity and smoke haze development can be expected during this period, with an increased risk of transboundary haze occurrence.

ASMC Media Release – Start of Dry Season for the Southern ASEAN Region

May 9, 2023

Alert20230509 – Downgrade to Alert Level 1 for the Mekong Sub-Region

Downgrade to Alert Level 1 for the Mekong Sub-Region

With an increase in shower activities over many parts of the Mekong sub-region in recent days, there has been further improvement to the overall hotspot and haze situation in the sub-region. Based on surveillance by the NOAA-20 satellite, a total of 500 and 123 hotspots were detected in the sub-region on 7 and 8 May 2023, respectively.

In the coming days, more showers are expected over the Mekong sub-region. Some areas in the northern and western parts of the sub-region may still experience brief periods of drier weather and hotspot activity. However, the risk of transboundary haze is assessed to be low due to rainy conditions and prevailing winds that are generally light and variable in direction.