Category Archives: Alert 1

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.

December 15, 2022

Alert20221215 – Start of Dry Season for the Northern ASEAN Region

Start of Dry Season for the Northern ASEAN Region

Over the past week, periods of dry weather were observed over many parts of the northern ASEAN region. Based on surveillance by the NOAA-20 satellite, a total of 96, 136 and 155 hotspots were detected in Thailand, Myanmar and Cambodia, respectively, between 8 and 14 Dec 2022.

With drier conditions expected to prevail over much of the northern ASEAN region in the coming weeks, increased hotspot activity and smoke haze development can be expected. The traditional dry season is expected to persist until April/May 2023.

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

July 1, 2022

Alert20220701 – Start of Dry Season for the Southern ASEAN Region

Start of Dry Season for the Southern ASEAN Region

Over the past week, there have been periods of dry weather observed over many parts of southern ASEAN region. Based on surveillance by the NOAA-20 satellite, a total of 5 and 3 hotspots were detected in Sumatra, and 2 and 0 hotspots were detected in Peninsular Malaysia on 29 and 30 June 2022, respectively.

With drier conditions expected to persist over much of the southern ASEAN region in the coming weeks, there remains a risk of increased hotspot activity and smoke haze development. The traditional dry season is expected to persist until October 2022.

ASMC Media Release – Start of southern ASEAN dry season

May 10, 2022

Alert20220510 – Downgrade to Alert Level 1 for the Mekong Sub-Region

Downgrade to Alert Level 1 for the Mekong Sub-Region

In recent days, shower activities have increased over the Mekong sub-region. The showers have helped to improve the overall hotspot and haze situation, with localised hotspots and smoke haze observed over some parts of Myanmar, northern Thailand, and northern Lao PDR. With rainy weather forecast to continue in the coming days, the hotspot and haze situation over the Mekong sub-region is expected to improve further.

The hotspot count over the Mekong sub-region continued to be on a declining trend, with a total of 183 and 39 hotspots detected on 7 and 8 May 2022 respectively, from the surveillance by the NOAA-20 satellite.

December 7, 2021

Alert20211207 – Start of Dry Season for the Northern ASEAN Region

Start of Dry Season for the Northern ASEAN Region

Dry weather conditions associated with the Northeast Monsoon have prevailed over much of the northern ASEAN region in the past several days, contributing to an increase in hotspot activities. Based on surveillance by the NOAA-20 satellite, a total of 86, 156 and 115 hotspots were detected in Myanmar, Thailand, and Viet Nam, respectively, between 1 and 6 Dec 2021.

The Northeast Monsoon conditions are expected to persist until March 2022, during which extended periods of dry weather may lead to further increases in hotspots activities.

ASMC Media Release – Start of northern ASEAN dry season

July 15, 2021

Start of Dry Season for the Southern ASEAN Region

In recent days, drier weather has been observed over parts of the southern ASEAN region, particularly in the southern parts of Sumatra and Kalimantan. Based on the NOAA-20 satellite, there were no hotspots detected in Sumatra and Kalimantan on 14 and 15 July 2021.

The dry season is expected to extend into October 2021. During this period, above-average rainfall is expected over most parts of the region. However, there could still be occasional periods of dry weather, and this could contribute to an increase in hotspot activities in the fire-prone areas of the region.

ASMC Media Release – Start of southern ASEAN dry season

April 30, 2021

Alert20210430 – Downgrading of Alert Level 2 to Alert Level 1 for the Mekong Sub-region

Downgrading of Alert Level 2 to Alert Level 1 for the Mekong Sub-region

In the past week, there has been an increase in shower activities over many parts of the Mekong sub-region. The showers have helped to improve the hotspot and haze situation there. Based on surveillance by the NOAA-20 satellite, the number of hotspots has been steadily decreasing in recent days. 210 and 173 hotspots were detected in the Mekong sub-region on 28 and 29 Apr respectively, a significant reduction from the high of over 3000 hotspots detected last week.

More rain is forecast for the Mekong sub-region in the coming weeks. This would help to further subdue the hotspot activities in the region. Occasional isolated hotspots with localised smoke plumes may still be expected during brief periods of dry weather.

 

 

December 3, 2020

Alert20201203 – Start of Dry Season for the Northern ASEAN Region

Start of Dry Season for the Northern ASEAN Region

Over the past several days, dry weather has persisted over the northern ASEAN region, and this has contributed to an increase in hotspot activities. In particular, localised smoke plumes were observed to emanate from some of these hotspots in Thailand and Myanmar. Based on surveillance by the NOAA-20 satellite, 95 and 27 hotspots were detected in the northern ASEAN region on 1 and 2 December 2020 respectively.

The Northeast Monsoon is expected to last until March 2021. Extended periods of dry weather may lead to a further increase in hotspot activities in the northern ASEAN region over the next several months.

August 3, 2020

Alert20200803 – Start of Dry Season for the Southern ASEAN Region

Start of Dry Season for the Southern ASEAN Region

In recent days, drier weather was observed over the southern ASEAN region, particularly in the southern parts of Sumatra and Kalimantan. Based on surveillance by the NOAA-20 satellite, a total of 19 and 5 hotspots were detected in Sumatra, while 2 and 3 hotspots were detected in Kalimantan, on 1 and 2 Aug 2020 respectively. There was no significant smoke haze observed in the vicinity of these hotspots.

The prevailing dry season is expected to continue into October 2020. For the next few months, above average rainfall is forecast in large parts of the region, which would help to reduce the risk of widespread land and forest fires. However, periods of dry weather can be expected occasionally, and this can lead to an increase in hotspot activities in the fire-prone areas.

April 28, 2020

Alert20200428 – Downgrading of Alert Level 2 to Alert Level 1 for the Mekong sub-region

Downgrading of Alert Level 2 to Alert Level 1 for the Mekong sub-region

In the past week, increased shower activities over many areas of the Mekong sub-region have contributed to a significant improvement in the hotspot and haze situation there. The air quality in many parts of the sub-region have been in the good to moderate range.

Based on surveillance by the NOAA-20 satellite, the number of hotspots detected has been decreasing over the past week. 160 and 60 hotspots were detected in the Mekong sub-region on 26 and 27 Apr respectively, a significant reduction from a high of over 700 hotspots a week earlier.

Rainy weather is forecast to persist in the Mekong sub-region over the next few weeks. This is expected to bring a further improvement in the hotspot and haze situation in the Mekong sub-region. However, isolated hotspot activities with localised smoke plumes could still develop during brief periods of dry weather.