2026 Singapore Haze: 5 Official Ways to Check the Real-Time PSI and PM2.5 Readings

The sky over Singapore went milky again this week. On 3 October 2026, NEA reported a 24-hr PSI of 79 to 104 across the island, with the Central region crossing into Unhealthy. Smoke from fires in southern Sumatra and Kalimantan drifted in on the wind.

You do not need to guess from the colour of the sky or from a forwarded message in the group chat. The government publishes the readings every hour, for free, by region. This guide shows you where, how to read them in under a minute, and what to do at each level.

Quick facts (as of 4 October 2026)

• Official source: haze.gov.sg, run by the National Environment Agency (NEA)
• Two numbers to know: the 1-hr PM2.5 reading (for right now) and the 24-hr PSI (for planning)
• Readings by region: North, South, East, West and Central, updated every hour
• Unhealthy starts at: PSI 101
• Workers' hotline: MOM, 6438 5122, for haze concerns at work
• Cost: free, no sign-up

The two numbers, and which one to read

NEA gives two readings, and they answer different questions.

The 1-hr PM2.5 reading tells you how dirty the air is now. PM2.5 is the fine smoke particle that gets deep into the lungs. NEA tells the public to use this number for anything you plan to do in the next hour: a jog, a walk to the MRT, hanging laundry, bringing the kids to the playground.

The 24-hr PSI (Pollutant Standards Index) averages the air over a full day. NEA publishes a forecast of it, and tells the public to use that forecast to plan the next day's outdoor activities.

In NEA's own words on its haze page, refer to the 1-hr PM2.5 for immediate activities, and the 24-hr PSI forecast to plan ahead.

What the PSI numbers mean

What the PM2.5 bands mean

5 official places to get the real-time readings

1. haze.gov.sg (start here)

NEA's haze site is the one page to bookmark. The front page shows:

• the latest 1-hr PM2.5 reading for each of the five regions, with its band
• the 24-hr PSI for each region
• NEA's air quality forecast for the next day
• the health advisory for healthy adults, for the elderly, pregnant women and children, and for people with heart or lung conditions
• a hotspot map showing where the fires are in the region

Tap a region on the map to see its reading. If you live in Tampines, read East. If you work in Jurong, read West. The numbers can differ a lot: at 1pm on 4 October, the 24-hr PSI ranged from 72 in the South to 94 in the Central region.

2. The hour-by-hour readings table

For the full picture of the last day, open Readings over the last 24 hours under Resources on haze.gov.sg. It lists every region, every hour. Use it to see whether the haze is building or clearing before you decide on an outdoor plan.

NEA notes on that page that the data goes up as soon as its air monitoring stations produce it, and that it may be checked and corrected later. Treat the latest hour as a strong guide that can still be revised.

Under the same Resources menu you will also find the 1-hr PM2.5 Readings page, the Pollutant Concentrations page and Historical Readings.

3. The myENV app

NEA lists its myENV mobile app as one of its official channels for haze updates. Install it from the App Store or Google Play, and check that the developer is the National Environment Agency before you download. It is handy for kababayans who are out all day and want the reading on their phone.

4. weather.gov.sg and the ASEAN hotspot maps

The Meteorological Service Singapore (weather.gov.sg) publishes the weather and haze situation for the region, including the wind direction that decides whether smoke reaches us. For the fires themselves, NEA points to the ASEAN Specialised Meteorological Centre at asmc.asean.org, which maps the hotspots detected across the region over the past two weeks.

This is where you learn the "why". On 4 October, the Meteorological Service reported widespread hotspots in Kalimantan and Sumatra, with winds from the southeast to southwest. That wind pattern pushes the smoke toward Singapore.

5. NEA on Facebook

NEA posts haze updates on its Facebook page, facebook.com/NEASingapore. Follow the page itself rather than reposts, so you see the source and the time of each update.

Bonus for the data-minded: data.gov.sg, the government's open data site, publishes NEA's historical 24-hr PSI records going back to April 2014. Use it to compare this year's haze with 2015 or 2019.

What to do at each level

NEA's health advisory groups people into three. Its advice, side by side:

Source: NEA health advisory on haze.gov.sg, 3 October 2026. Check the site for the latest version, since NEA updates the advice as the situation changes.

For the family at home: if your lola, a buntis in the family or a little one has asthma, read the second and third rows, not the first. Talk to your doctor before buying masks for anyone pregnant, elderly or with a heart or lung condition. MOM gives that same advice for workers in these groups.

If you work outdoors or look after a household

Many kababayans work outside: construction, cleaning, deliveries, security, gardening. MOM's haze page sets out what employers must do.

• Employers must assess the risk. MOM tells employers to do a risk assessment of their work activities and first find ways to reduce or avoid prolonged or strenuous outdoor work as the air worsens.
• Practical steps MOM lists: trolleys and hoists instead of manual carrying, rotating jobs to shorten time outside, indoor rest breaks, enough water, watching workers for symptoms, and putting off non-essential work.
• Masks: if prolonged or strenuous outdoor work cannot be avoided, MOM urges employers to provide masks, fit-test the wearers and train them to use the masks. MOM notes that N95 masks make breathing harder, and some workers feel tired or get headaches.
• Leave: MOM encourages employers to be flexible with leave and work arrangements during the haze, above all for older and pregnant staff and those with long-term illness.
• If nothing changes: raise it with your supervisor, HR or union first. If no action follows, call MOM at 6438 5122 for advice, or send feedback online through mom.gov.sg. An illness from outdoor work during the haze can fall under the Work Injury Compensation Act.

Spot a fake

Haze season brings forwarded "PSI alerts" and fake links. Official Singapore government sites end in .gov.sg: haze.gov.sg, nea.gov.sg, weather.gov.sg, mom.gov.sg, data.gov.sg. NEA's haze site carries a reminder that government officials will never ask you to transfer money or disclose bank log-in details over a phone call. If you are unsure, call the ScamShield helpline at 1799.

Your 60-second haze check

1. Open haze.gov.sg.
2. Find your region on the map.
3. Read the 1-hr PM2.5 band for what you will do in the next hour.
4. Read the 24-hr PSI forecast for tomorrow's plans.
5. Match both to your row in the health table above.

Share this with the family group chat so everyone checks the real numbers, not the rumours.

For outdoor workers, read our earlier guide: The Haze Is Back Over Singapore, and Kabayan Who Work Outside Feel It First.

Updates log

• 4 October 2026: First published, with NEA readings from 3 and 4 October 2026.

Photo: Haze seen from Clemenceau Avenue, Singapore, 24 September 2015, by Jacklee, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.