Possible haze in second half of March as
northeast monsoon winds weaken: NEA
Published on Mar 06, 2014
12:16 PM
A resident attempts to put out a fire spreading in a plantation area in Dumai district, Riau province located in Sumatra island
on March 3, 2014. -- FILE PHOTO: AFP
By David Ee
Northeast monsoon winds that have so far kept the haze in Sumatra, Indonesia, at arm's length from
Singapore may begin to weaken in the second half of March, posing "some risk" of the haze affecting
Singapore, the National Environment Agency (NEA) has warned. This may happen if winds begin to blow
from the west, it said in an advisory on Thursday.
The coming inter-monsoon period that typically lasts from late March to May brings light winds in more
variable directions.
An NEA spokesman noted that the prolonged dry weather in the region has caused an escalation of
hotspots in central and northern Sumatra since early February, with smoke plumes and dense haze visible
in Riau province. Hotspots were also detected in parts of Peninsular Malaysia, he added.
On Monday, Indonesia's Terra and Aqua satellite detected 337 hotspots of forest and plantation fires in
Riau province. The haze there has caused respiratory problems and forced some schools to temporarily
close. Low visibility has also caused flight delays.