Category Archives: Alert 1

Start of Dry Season for the Northern ASEAN Region

The Northeast Monsoon has set in over the northern ASEAN region since the end of Nov 2025, with low-level winds blowing mainly from the northeast. Recently, dry conditions were observed over the Mekong sub-region with gradually increasing hotspot counts. There were a total of 114 and 104 hotspots detected in the Mekong sub-region on 24 and 25 Dec 2025 respectively.

The hotspot and smoke haze situation over the region may deteriorate as dry weather is expected to continue over the northern ASEAN region in the coming months.

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.

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

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

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

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.

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