GEORGE TOWN: While much of Malaysia has spent recent weeks breathing in the hazy air, the far north of the peninsula has lately been enjoying precious blue skies.
Perlis, Kedah and Penang have enjoyed relatively clean air for about a week, with Air Pollutant Index (API) readings ranging mostly from the 20s to 50s on Friday (Sept 11) morning.
At 9am, readings in northern Kedah and Perlis included 21 in Kangar, 24 in Langkawi and 39 in Alor Setar.
Penang was similarly fortunate, with readings ranging from 36 in Balik Pulau to the mid-50s around George Town and Seberang Perai.
The blue and green numbers on the Environment Department's API map stood in sharp contrast to readings farther south.
Much of the Klang Valley recorded readings in the 70s to 90s, within the moderate range, after weeks in which residents in southern parts of the peninsula could smell smoke carried across the Straits of Malacca.
Northern Malaysia's good fortune owes much to the winds.
Wind maps from the Regional Haze Situation website of the Asean Specialised Meteorological Centre on Friday morning showed prevailing winds from the Andaman Sea in the west towards northern Peninsular Malaysia.
The relatively clean maritime air protects Perlis, Kedah and Penang from the smoke from forest and peat fires in Sumatra, which are currently still blowing into southern areas like the Klang Valley and Johor.
In areas around Kuching, API readings ranged from 157 to 197 at 9am on Friday, all within the unhealthy category.
Sarawak has borne the brunt of Malaysia's latest haze episode.
Days ago, conditions became so severe that Serian recorded an API reading above 500, prompting the declaration of an emergency, while Kuching reached hazardous levels above 300. The emergency in Serian was lifted on Sunday after air quality improved.
The smoke has been traced largely to extensive forest and peat fires across Indonesia, particularly in Kalimantan and Sumatra.
Indonesia is experiencing its worst fire season in more than a decade, with more than 200,000 hectares burnt between January and July and substantially more land affected since then. The resulting haze has spread beyond Indonesia into Malaysia and other parts of the region.
