Category Archives: Alert 1

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.

December 5, 2019

Alert20191205 – Start of Dry Season for the northern ASEAN region

Start of dry season for the northern ASEAN region

In recent days, dry conditions have contributed to an increase in hotspot activities in the Mekong sub-region. Localised smoke plumes have also been observed emanating from some of these hotspots. Based on surveillance by the NOAA-20 satellite, there were 114 and 257 hotspots detected in the Mekong sub-region on 3 and 4 December 2019 respectively.

The prevailing Northeast Monsoon is expected to persist until March 2020, during which extended periods of dry weather may lead to further increase in hotspot activities in the Mekong sub-region.

October 3, 2019

Alert20191003 – 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

Increased shower activities over many areas of southern ASEAN region have contributed to a significant improvement in the hotspot and haze situation. Based on surveillance by the NOAA-20 satellite, 33 and 5 hotspots were detected in Sumatra, and 10 and 9 hotspots were detected in Kalimantan on 2 and 3 October 2019 respectively. The hotspots were detected mostly in southern Sumatra and the southern and eastern parts of Kalimantan.

In the coming days, the prevailing winds over the southern ASEAN region are forecast to be light and variable in direction. More showers can be expected over the region. However, some areas including the southern parts of Sumatra and Kalimantan, can still experience brief periods of dry weather and hotspot activities may still persist in these areas. The risk of transboundary haze is currently assessed to be low due to rainy conditions elsewhere in the region, and prevailing winds that are generally light and variable in direction.

July 2, 2019

Alert20190702 – Start of Dry Season for the Southern ASEAN Region

Start of dry season for the southern ASEAN region

In the past few days, drier weather conditions were observed over many parts of the region, particularly in the southern parts of Sumatra and Kalimantan. Isolated hotspots, occasionally with localised smoke plumes, were detected in Sumatra, Kalimantan and Peninsular Malaysia. Based on surveillance by the NOAA-19 satellite, 2 and 6 hotspots were detected in Sumatra, and 3 and 0 hotspots were detected in Kalimatan on 30 June and 1 July 2019 respectively

The prevailing Southwest Monsoon is expected to persist until October 2019. Extended periods of dry weather can be expected occasionally, and this can lead to an increase in hotspot activities in the fire-prone areas.

May 13, 2019

Alert20190513 – Downgrade of Alert Level 2 to Alert Level 1 for the Mekong sub-region

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

There has been further improvement of the haze situation over the Mekong sub-region due to an increase of shower activities in the past 2 weeks. No significant smoke haze was observed over the sub-region, except for localised haze in parts of Myanmar. With rainy weather forecast to persist, the haze situation over the Mekong sub-region is expected to improve.

Based on surveillance by the NOAA-19 satellite, the total hotspot count in the Mekong sub-region has been on a declining trend, with 31 and 21 hotspots were detected on 11 and 12 May 2019 respectively.

December 7, 2018

Alert20181207 – Start of Dry Season for the Northern ASEAN Region

Start of Dry Season for the Northern ASEAN Region

With the onset of the dry season, isolated hotspots with localised smoke plumes have been detected in the Mekong sub-region in the past few days. Based on surveillance by the NOAA-19 satellite, there were 20 and 157 hotspots detected in Mekong sub-region on 5 and 6 December 2018 respectively.

The prevailing Northeast Monsoon is expected to persist until March 2019. Occasional extended periods of dry weather may lead to an increase in hotspot activities in the northern ASEAN region during this period.

September 2, 2018

Alert20180902 – Downgrade of Alert Level from 2 to 1 for the southern ASEAN region

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

In the past week, there has been an improvement in the hotspot and haze situation in Sumatra and Kalimantan due to increased shower activities. No significant smoke haze has been observed in the region in recent days. Visibility and air quality readings across the region have been good in general.

Based on surveillance by the NOAA-19 satellite, 11 and 1 hotspots were detected in Sumatra, and 22 and 3 hotspots were detected in Kalimantan on 31 Aug and 1 Sep respectively. This is a significant reduction from an earlier dry period in mid-August where the number of hotspots exceeded 100 in Kalimantan on several days.

Over the next one to two weeks, rainy weather is forecast over most parts of Sumatra and Kalimantan, with brief, interspersed periods of dry weather in the southern parts of Sumatra and Kalimantan. Hotspot activities in the southern ASEAN region are thus expected to be generally subdued during this period.

July 31, 2018

Alert20180731 – Downgrade of Alert Level 2 to Alert Level 1 for the southern ASEAN region

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

In recent days, increased shower activities have helped to subdue hotspot activities in Sumatra and Kalimantan. Based on surveillance by the NOAA-19 satellite, 6 and 0 hotspots were detected in Sumatra, and 9 and 10 hotspots were detected in Kalimantan on 29 and 30 July 2018 respectively. No significant smoke haze was observed in the region.

In the next two weeks, shower activities are forecast for most parts of the southern ASEAN region, and this will help subdue hotspot activities in the region

June 8, 2018

Alert20180608 – Start of Dry Season for the southern ASEAN region

Start of Dry Season for the southern ASEAN region

In the past week, dry conditions brought on by the Southwest Monsoon were observed over many parts of the southern ASEAN region. Isolated hotspots have been detected in Peninsular Malaysia and Sumatra in the last few days. Based on surveillance by the NOAA-19 satellite, 8 and 5 hotspots were detected in Sumatra, and 5 and 3 hotspots were detected in Peninsular Malaysia, on 6 and 7 June 2018 respectively.

The prevailing Southwest Monsoon is expected to last till October 2018. Extended periods of drier weather can be expected occasionally, and this can lead to an increase in hotspot activities in the fire-prone areas.

April 20, 2018

Alert 20180420 – Downgrading of Alert Level 2 to Alert Level 1 for the northern ASEAN region

Downgrading of Alert Level 2 to Alert Level 1 for the northern ASEAN region

With the onset of the inter-monsoon season in late-Mar/early-Apr, the northern ASEAN region has been experiencing a gradual increase in rainfall. Over the past few days, hotspots detected over the Mekong sub-region have decreased due to increased shower activities in the region. Based on surveillance by the NOAA-19 satellite, a total of 53 and 20 hotspots were detected in the Mekong sub-region including Cambodia, Myanmar, Lao PDR, Thailand and Vietnam on 18 and 19 Apr 2018 respectively.

More wet weather can be expected for the northern ASEAN region in the coming weeks. Hotspot activities in the Mekong sub-region are expected to be generally subdued. Occasional isolated hotspots may still be detected during brief periods of dry weather.