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  • 1 week ago
The combined effects of the Indian Ocean Dipole and El Nino are bringing about hotter, drier conditions, possibly worsening peatland and forest fires in parts of Indonesia. This means Singapore might see a bad haze situation in the coming months.

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00:00This year's haze could be a bad one.
00:02A higher risk of severe haze in the coming months.
00:04So why is this year different?
00:06Two major weather events are happening at the same time
00:09that are pushing rain away from Southeast Asia.
00:12First, the Indian Ocean Dipo,
00:14driven by shifting sea surface temperatures across the Indian Ocean.
00:17In its positive phase, warm water moves to the Western Indian Ocean near Africa,
00:22away from Indonesia.
00:24The second is a very strong El Nino,
00:26a similar weather pattern happening in the Pacific
00:28that's moving rain towards South America.
00:31The combined effects of the Indian Ocean Dipo and El Nino
00:34are bringing hotter, drier conditions here,
00:37possibly worsening teatland and forest fires in parts of Indonesia.
00:41And when southeasterly winds blow,
00:43smoke from these fires travels to bring transboundary haze to Singapore.
00:48In fact, we're already seeing deteriorating air quality in Central Singapore
00:51with the 24-hour PSI pushing into the 90s.
00:54NEA says the haze is unlikely to be as bad as 2015,
00:57one of the worst episodes with the PSI way above 300.
01:01That's because the number of hotspots in Sumatra and Kalimantan now
01:04is lower than 11 years ago.
01:05But a terrible haze situation may still be possible
01:08with the Indian Ocean Dipo and the El Nino coming together,
01:12especially as El Nino conditions are expected to grow into a very strong one
01:15only during November to January.
01:17So what should you do if the haze gets worse?
01:20Well, the authorities have said our national stockpile of NID5 masks are sufficient,
01:24so don't panic buy!
01:25I'm one of you, okay?
01:27You probably don't need it just for a short commute.
01:29These masks are only recommended in more serious situations,
01:33like when you're healthy but must spend several hours outdoors
01:35with the air quality in the hazardous range.
01:38For now, the best thing you can do is keep an eye on those air quality readings.
01:42In the end, it's been раза in the last two weeks.
01:42By the time you are in the last few weeks,
01:42you can give up the small battles
01:42with the high-range lanes.
01:42but instead, you can reflect the way above the center.
01:43You can feel the outside forces.
01:43You can feel it.
01:43You can feel it.
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