Category Archives: Alert 3

Activation of Alert Level 3 for the Mekong sub-region

The hotspot and smoke haze situation over the Mekong sub-region has further deteriorated in recent days under prolonged dry weather. Based on NOAA-20 satellite surveillance, a total of 2177 and 1941 hotspots were detected in the Mekong sub-region on 15 and 16 March 2025 respectively. Widespread moderate to dense transboundary smoke haze was observed to stretch across many parts of Myanmar, as well as northern parts of Thailand, Lao PDR and Viet Nam. Slight to moderate smoke plumes were also observed to emanate from isolated hotspots elsewhere in the Mekong sub-region.

In the next few days, the prevailing winds over the Mekong sub-region are expected to blow mainly from the south or northwest over northern and western parts of the sub-region, while the winds are forecast to blow from the northeast or east over the rest of the sub-region. Continued dry weather conditions are forecast, except for some isolated showers in the southeastern parts of the sub-region. Hotspot and smoke haze activity is likely to intensify under such conditions, with an elevated likelihood of transboundary haze occurrence.

Activation of Alert Level 3 for the Mekong sub-region

The hotspot and smoke haze situation over the Mekong sub-region has further deteriorated in recent days under prolonged dry weather. Based on satellite surveillance, a total of 1625 and 2004 hotspots were detected in the Mekong sub-region, mainly in Myanmar and Lao PDR, on 4 and 5 March 2024 respectively from the NOAA-20 satellite. Widespread moderate to dense transboundary smoke haze was observed across eastern Myanmar, northern Thailand, and parts of Lao PDR and Viet Nam. Localised smoke plumes were also observed to emanate from isolated hotspots elsewhere in the Mekong sub-region.

In the next few days, the prevailing winds over the Mekong sub-region are expected to blow mainly from the southwest or northwest. The current dry weather conditions are forecast to continue, except for some showers in the southern and eastern parts of the sub-region. Hotspot and smoke haze activities are likely to intensify under such conditions, with increased occurrences of transboundary haze.

Activation of Alert Level 3 for the Mekong Sub-region

In the past few days, persistent dry weather over the Mekong sub-region has led to an escalation in the hotspot and haze situation there. Based on NOAA-20 satellite surveillance, a total of 1180 and 1636 hotspots were detected in the Mekong sub-region on 28 Feb 2023 and 1 Mar 2023 respectively.

The current dry conditions are expected to persist in the coming days, with the prevailing winds forecast to blow from the northeast. Under these conditions, the elevated hotspot activity and widespread hazy conditions in the Mekong sub-region are likely to continue, with a high risk of transboundary haze occurrence in the sub-region.

ASMC Media Release – Deteriorating haze conditions in the Mekong sub-region

Activation of Alert Level 3 for the Mekong Sub-Region

In the past few days, persistent dry conditions over the Mekong sub-region have led to an escalation of the hotspot and smoke haze situation, with widespread moderate to dense smoke haze observed over many parts of the sub-region. Based on the surveillance by NOAA-20 satellite, a total of 3,457 and 2,031 hotspots were detected in the Mekong sub-region on 9 and 10 Apr 2022 respectively.

The current dry conditions are expected to persist, with the prevailing winds forecast to be generally light and variable in direction in the coming days. Under these conditions, the overall hotspot activity and hazy conditions in the Mekong sub-region are likely to remain elevated, and there remains a high risk of transboundary haze in the sub-region.

ASMC Media Release – Deteriorating haze situation in the Mekong sub-region

Activation of Alert Level 3 for the Mekong sub-region

In recent days, there has been an escalation in hotspot activities and a deterioration in the haze situation in the Mekong sub-region, particularly in Lao PDR, Myanmar and Thailand. Based on surveillance by the NOAA-20 satellite, a total of 3002 and 2685 hotspots were detected in the Mekong sub-region on 9 Mar and 10 Mar respectively. Dense haze was observed in northern parts of Thailand and Lao PDR, and there have been occurrences of transboundary smoke haze over Myanmar and the northern parts of Thailand and Lao PDR during this period.

With the prevailing dry weather over the Mekong sub-region forecast to persist, a further deterioration in the hotspot and smoke haze situation can be expected.

Activation of Alert Level 3 for Sumatra

Over the past few days, there has been a further escalation of hotspot activities and deterioration in haze situation in Sumatra. Persistent hotspots in Riau and Jambi have led to a build-up of moderate to dense smoke haze there. The smoke haze has been blown across the Strait of Malacca to western parts of Peninsular Malaysia by the prevailing winds. Hotspots with smoke haze were also detected in the southern provinces of South Sumatra and Lampung.

Based on surveillance by the NOAA-20 satellite, there has been an increase in the number of hotspots detected in Sumatra. 52 and 206 hotspots were detected in Sumatra on 7 and 8 September 2019 respectively.

The prevailing dry weather in the region is expected to persist in the coming weeks and a further escalation of hotspot activities in Sumatra is possible. With the prevailing winds expected to continue blowing from the southeast or southwest, the transboundary haze situation could worsen.

Activation of Alert Level 3 for Kalimantan

Over the past few days, there has been a further deterioration in haze situation in Kalimantan. Persistent hotspot clusters detected in the provinces of South, West and Central Kalimantan have contributed to a significant build-up of smoke haze over many areas in Kalimantan. Smoke haze from hotspots in West Kalimantan has been observed to be blown by the prevailing winds to western Sarawak, Malaysia.

Based on surveillance by the NOAA-19 satellite, there has been an increase in hotspot activities. 114 and 459 hotspots were detected in Kalimantan on 3rd and 4th September 2019 respectively.

In view that the current dry weather is expected to persist over the region in the coming weeks, a further escalation of hotspot activities in Kalimantan is possible. With the prevailing winds forecast to continue blowing from the southeast or southwest, ASMC assessed that the risk of transboundary haze occurrence is high.

Activation of Alert Level 3 for the Mekong sub-region

In recent days, there has been a deterioration in the hotspot and haze situation in the Mekong Sub-region. Moderate to dense smoke from persistent hotspots was observed in Cambodia and Thailand, and the smoke haze was being blown by the prevailing winds to neighbouring areas in Lao PDR and Viet Nam. Hotspot activities with smoke plumes have also been observed in Lao PDR, Myanmar, and Viet Nam. Based on the NOAA-19 satellite, a total of 272 and 108 hotspots were detected in the Mekong Sub-region on 6 and 7 Feb 2019 respectively.

With the prevailing dry weather over the Mekong Sub-region forecast to persist, a further deterioration of the hotspot and haze situation in the Mekong Sub-region can be expected.

Upgrade of Alert Level 2 to Alert Level 3 for Kalimantan

The prevailing dry weather in Kalimantan has led to a further escalation of hotspot activities there in recent weeks. Persistent hotspot clusters with widespread moderate to dense haze have been detected mainly in the western, southern and central parts of Kalimantan. Based on surveillance by the NOAA-18 satellite, 401 and 333 hotspots were detected in Kalimantan on 4 September and 5 September respectively. Although the hotspot counts have since decreased, widespread haze continue to persist in large parts of Kalimantan. Some haze from Kalimantan has spread to the western parts of Sarawak and affected the air quality there.

In the coming days, the current dry weather conditions over Kalimantan are expected to persist. Under the prevailing wind conditions, transboundary smoke haze could continue to spread to Sarawak and other parts of the region.

Upgrade of Alert Level 2 to Alert Level 3 for Sumatra

In the past week, the prevailing dry weather has led to a further escalation of hotspot activities over Sumatra. Increasing hotspot clusters and widespread moderate to dense smoke haze have been detected in southern and central Sumatra. Based on surveillance by the NOAA-18 satellite, 222 and 380 hotspots were detected in Sumatra on 31 August and 1 September respectively. In recent days, the smoke haze from Sumatra has spread to some parts of the region including western Peninsular Malaysia and affected the air quality there.

In the coming days, the current dry weather conditions over southern and central Sumatra are expected to persist. Under the prevailing southeasterly to southerly wind conditions, transboundary smoke haze could continue to spread to some parts of the region.