Haze blankets the region. Langkawi has been spared, so far

Smoke from Sumatra and Kalimantan fires has pushed 37 of Malaysia's 68 air quality stations into the unhealthy range. Langkawi read a moderate 73 on Friday evening, while Alor Setar, about 70 km away, read 152.

By Langkawi NewsFriday, 9 October 2026

A cloudy sky over the Kuah waterfront and harbour in Langkawi — Langkawi News — Langkawi's skies on Friday: cloud over the harbour, with the island's air still in the moderate range.

As of Friday afternoon, 9 October, 37 of Malaysia's 68 air quality stations were in the unhealthy range, with nine above an API of 180. Seremban was the worst at 189, followed by Pasir Gudang (188) and Bukit Rambai (187). Schools are closed in Johor, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and the Rompin district of Pahang. On Thursday night, IQAir ranked Kuala Lumpur the most polluted major city in the world.

The source is the same as in past years: fires in Sumatra and Kalimantan. Indonesia is reportedly having its most intense fire season in over a decade, driven by prolonged dry weather and El Niño. At the end of September, the Environment Department counted 327 hotspots in Kalimantan and 191 in Sumatra in a single day. The maps below have been circulating on social media. Langkawi News has not verified their source or date, so they are shown as illustration only.

Map of fire hotspots glowing orange across Sumatra, with Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore to the north — Via social media (Rednote), source unverified — Fire hotspots across Sumatra, as circulated on social media. Source and date unverified.

Map of fire hotspots across Borneo, densest across the Kalimantan provinces, with smoke drifting over Sarawak and Sabah — Via social media (Rednote), source unverified — Fire hotspots across Borneo, as circulated on social media. Source and date unverified.

An air quality map from a phone shows the same picture: readings of roughly 150 to 200 over southern Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra and western Borneo, with the smoke sitting over the Sunda Shelf.

Air quality map showing red and orange readings of 150 to 200 over Kuala Lumpur, Johor, Sumatra and western Borneo — Apple Maps screenshot — Regional air quality map, screenshot from Apple Maps.

Langkawi, so far, is on the right side of this. At 5pm on Friday, AQICN showed Langkawi at an AQI of 73 (Moderate), and it has stayed between 48 and 76 over the past two days. There were short PM2.5 spikes around midday on both days, up to 118 on the PM2.5 sub-index, so the air has not been perfectly clean, but the overall reading has stayed moderate.

AQICN reading for Langkawi showing an AQI of 73, Moderate, at 5pm Friday, with a map showing Langkawi at 73 and Kangar at 81 — AQICN.org — Langkawi at 5pm on Friday: AQI 73, Moderate.

Just across the water, Alor Setar was at 152 (Unhealthy) at the same hour, and Sungai Petani at 156. Kangar in Perlis was at 81. Alor Setar is about 70 km from Langkawi, yet the difference is large. These are AQICN readings, which use the US AQI scale. The Department of Environment reports Malaysia's own API, which showed Alor Setar at 153 and Sungai Petani at 156 on Friday afternoon.

AQICN reading for Alor Setar showing an AQI of 152, Unhealthy, at 5pm Friday, with a map showing Sungai Petani at 156 — AQICN.org — Alor Setar at 5pm on Friday: AQI 152, Unhealthy. Sungai Petani, shown on the map, was at 156.

Why? Two things appear to be helping the island. First, the wind. Windy's forecast shows Langkawi getting northwesterly winds of about 3 to 5 m/s, so the air arriving here has crossed the Andaman Sea first, not the smoke-laden land to the southeast. Second, we are still at the tail end of our rainy season, with light showers forecast each day through at least Monday, which helps wash the air.

Windy forecast for Langkawi showing northwest winds and light daily showers through Monday 12 October — Windy.app — Windy.app forecast for Langkawi (GFS model), showing northwest winds and light showers through Monday.

This is a forecast, not a guarantee. The wind turns more westerly at times over the weekend, and the Met Department expects the inter-monsoon period from 9 October to bring weaker winds, thunderstorms and heavy rain, which could help clear the haze over the mainland. Weaker winds can also let smoke linger, so conditions can still change.

If you are travelling to or from Kuala Lumpur, check the API before you go, and keep a mask handy for the mainland leg. How is the air where you are? Share what you are seeing in the comments.

Sources: Department of Environment readings via Malay Mail and Malay Mail, 8 Oct; IQAir; The Star; Business Today; AQICN.org; Windy.app.

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