Blue skies, nothing but blue skies, in southern Thailand

PHOTOS: Matichon Online

Breath easy southerners. Residents and tourists in at least seven southern Thai provinces have been greeted with clear blue sky and fresh air, well, certainly a vast improvement anyway although there is still some slight lingering smog.

For the first time in two weeks Matichon Online reports that much of the Indonesian smoke from plantation burn-offs has cleared, at least momentarily. The Environmental Office in Songkhla Province said the volume of tiny particles measured during the past 24 hours was well under the upper safe level of 50 (2.5 micron particles per cubic metre).

Tourists enjoying the sunny conditions on Samila beach in Songkhla were clearly able to see Koh Noo and Koh Maew for the first time in a fortnight.

Further north in the holiday zones of Phuket, Phang Nga and Krabi the situation had also vastly improved but this morning’s reading was still in the ‘unhealthy’ zone at a reading of 86, and the presence of haze can still be seen around the regionals hills.

The cause for the big improvement has been the wind shining around to the East over the past few days, blowing the smoke and smog away from the Thai coastline. Some rains expected on Friday and Saturday are also expected to improve the air pollution situation.

Phuket’s forecast for the next five days – weather.com