ActiveSG Outdoor Facilities Reopen; Slight Shift in Wind Direction Expected to Reduce Haze on Sunday

ActiveSG’s outdoor and non-air-conditioned facilities reopened on Saturday, 17 October, after being closed for three days because of poor air quality. Affected users will automatically receive refunds for facility bookings and admission fees.

The haze led to a 30 per cent decline in swimming-pool attendance and a 16 per cent fall in bookings at selected outdoor sports facilities. Meanwhile, gym attendance increased by about 8 per cent as more people moved their exercise indoors. Two major outdoor events were also affected: an inclusive challenge organised by YMCA was postponed, while the Great Eastern Women’s Run was cancelled.

The National Environment Agency forecast the 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index to remain between 150 and 220 on Sunday, within the unhealthy to very unhealthy range. A slight change in wind direction was expected to reduce haze from Kalimantan, although smoke from Sumatra could continue to affect Singapore.

Dr Wang Jingyu, a climate change researcher at the National Institute of Education, explained that prolonged dry conditions were a key factor behind the elevated PSI. Dry weather allows forest fires to spread, reduces rainfall that could remove airborne particles and makes fires harder to extinguish.

While showers may bring temporary relief, Dr Wang cautioned that local rainfall addresses only the symptoms. Haze conditions could worsen again once the rain stops.

Read the original article from Lianhe Zaobao here.