No clear indication of smoke plumes drifting here from Mekong sub-region: NEA

Hazy conditions in Singapore on the morning of March 26 were likely due to the accumulation of particulate matter under light wind conditions over Singapore, said the weatherman.

- Elaine Lee

The situation was expected to improve in the afternoon as winds strengthened, added a spokesman from the National Environment Agency (NEA) in response to queries from The Straits Times.

Singapore is currently in its north-east monsoon season, with winds blowing mainly from the north-west or north-east.

While there has been an escalation in the hot spot and smoke haze situation in the Mekong sub-region, NEA said satellite observations showed no clear indication of smoke plumes drifting from countries there to Singapore.

The Mekong sub-region includes a number of countries located to the north of Singapore, including Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam and Laos.

NEA said it is closely monitoring the situation and will issue updates if required.

This comes amid an earlier warning, issued by the Asean Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC) on March 17, about a high risk of severe transboundary haze in the region, due to prolonged dry weather and "significant and persistent hot spot activities".

"The hot spot and smoke haze situation over the Mekong sub-region has further deteriorated in recent days under prolonged dry weather," the centre noted.