Category Archives: Start of Dry Season

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

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

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

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

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