Latest news with #NOAA-20
New Straits Times
21-07-2025
- Climate
- New Straits Times
DoE: Balok Baru, Kemaman air quality worsens due to landfill fire
KUALA LUMPUR: A fire at the Jerangau–Jabor landfill in Mukim Sungai Karang, Kuantan, Pahang, has contributed to unhealthy air quality levels in Balok Baru, Kuantan and Kemaman, Terengganu, said the Department of Environment (DoE). Its director-general, Datuk Wan Abdul Latiff Wan Jaffar, said as of 3pm today, nine areas nationwide recorded unhealthy Air Pollutant Index (API) readings, with the highest in Seremban (API 155), followed by Alor Gajah (157), Nilai (138), and Banting (135). Other locations with unhealthy readings were Cheras (132), Temerloh (152), Balok Baru Kuantan (152), Kemaman (153), and Johan Setia (152). "Apart from the landfill fire, the deterioration in air quality across most affected areas continues to be influenced by transboundary haze," he said in a statement. Satellite data released by the Asean Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC) on July 20, based on NOAA-20 satellite imagery, detected 40 hotspots in Sumatra, 64 in Kalimantan, and 19 within Malaysia, including 12 in Sabah, three each in Pahang and Sarawak, and one in Selangor. The ASMC's Regional Haze Map issued on July 21 showed smoke plumes and wind movement heading southwest. Dry conditions were reported across southern Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, Java, the Lesser Sunda Islands, and southern Kalimantan, with isolated hotspots detected in Vietnam and Thailand as well. Wan Abdul Latiff said his department has intensified enforcement operations and daily patrols in areas at risk of open burning. An API reading between 0 and 50 is good, 51 to 100 is moderate, while 101 to 200 is classified as unhealthy, 201 to 300 as very unhealthy and more than 300 is hazardous.
New Straits Times
20-07-2025
- Climate
- New Straits Times
Haze from Sumatra drifts into Malaysia, alert raised as API hits unhealthy levels
KUALA LUMPUR: The Asean Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC) has activated a Level 2 transboundary haze alert for the southern Asean region. Level 2 is the second-highest alert, indicating an increased risk of transboundary haze. In an alert issued yesterday, ASMC said the prevailing dry weather conditions over the southern Asean region in recent days have led to an escalation in hotspot and smoke haze activities. Based on satellite surveillance, it said moderate smoke haze was observed to emanate from clusters of hotspots detected in the central parts of Sumatra. Some transboundary haze was observed to drift into western peninsular Malaysia. A total of 79 and 65 hotspots were detected in Sumatra on Friday and Saturday, respectively, from the NOAA-20 satellite. A few hotspots were also detected elsewhere in the southern Asean region. ASMC said the dry weather is expected to persist over the southern Asean region in the coming days, with prevailing winds likely to blow from the southeast or southwest. Under these conditions, the hotspot and smoke haze situation could worsen with an increased risk of transboundary smoke haze occurrence. On weather and haze outlook, ASMC said over the next few days, dry weather conditions are expected over many parts of the southern Asean region except for the eastern parts of Kalimantan where showers are forecast. Hotspots and smoke haze activities may intensify in fire-prone regions that experience prolonged dry conditions, with possibility of transboundary haze occurrence. The prevailing winds over the southern Asean region are forecast to blow mainly from the southeast to southwest. Wet weather is forecast to continue over the northern Asean region and hotspot activities are likely to remain low there. The prevailing winds over the Asean region are forecast to blow mainly from the south to southwest. Meanwhile, in Malaysia, according to hourly readings from the Environment Department's Air Pollutant Index Management System (APIMS), Nilai recorded an unhealthy Air Pollutant Index (API) reading of 162 as of 3.30pm, while Banting recorded 154, Putrajaya 139 and Alor Gajah 110. Other parts of the country recorded API readings at moderate and good levels.
New Straits Times
19-07-2025
- Climate
- New Straits Times
Haze alert: Several states in Peninsular Malaysia affected, says MetMalaysia
KUALA LUMPUR: Several states in the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia have been affected by cross-border haze, the Malaysian Meteorological Department (METMalaysia) said. Its director-general, Dr Mohd Hisham Mohd Anip, said there were 79 hotspots in Sumatera, possibly contributing to the haze carried by south-westerly winds. This followed an analysis of NOAA-20 satellite imagery on Friday, as reported by the Asean Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC), she said.
![[UPDATED] Haze alert: Several states in Peninsular Malaysia affected, says MetMalaysia](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.nst.com.my%2Fimages%2Farticles%2Frasdrd_1752910379.jpg&w=3840&q=100)
New Straits Times
19-07-2025
- Climate
- New Straits Times
[UPDATED] Haze alert: Several states in Peninsular Malaysia affected, says MetMalaysia
KUALA LUMPUR: Several states in Peninsular Malaysia have been affected by cross-border haze, the Malaysian Meteorological Department (METMalaysia) said. Its director-general Dr Mohd Hisham Mohd Anip said there were 79 hotspots in Sumatera, possibly contributing to the haze carried by south-westerly winds. This followed an analysis of NOAA-20 satellite imagery on Friday, as reported by the Asean Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC), she said. "MetMalaysia is not forecasting any rain or change in wind direction over the next few days, (that could help) reduce the haze impact. "The public is advised against conducting open burnings as it could worsen the haze situation," he said in a statement. Port Dickson recorded an unhealthy Air Pollutant Index (API) reading of 109 as of 2.30pm today. This was followed by concerning API readings in J ohan Setia, Selangor, and Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, which were nearing the unhealthy threshold, with readings of 98 and 90, respectively.
