Very muggy and hazy yesterday and by the looks of it worse to come today. I can only just make out the sea from my condo. Not typical for the time of year at all.

Where's it all coming from?

China and northern Thailand are major contributors of smog seen today. The coal fired power plants are running at full capacity due to cold temperatures in China and night time northern Thailand. It was 14c last night in Chiang Mai, far too cold for Thais.

Edited December 15, 201510 yr by cigar7

Check below for Shanghai air quality, very unhealthy today, 274 AQI Very Unhealthy at 11am. and in the early morning hours, it was above 300, the coldest point in the day.

http://www.stateair.net/web/post/1/4.html

Here is the guide for air quality index (AQI)

Air Quality Index (AQI) PM2.5 Health Effects Statement PM2.5 Cautionary Statement Good
(0-50) PM2.5 air pollution poses little or no risk. None Moderate
(51-100) Unusually sensitive individuals may experience respiratory symptoms. Unusually sensitive people should consider limiting prolonged outdoor exertion. Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups
(101-150) Increasing likelihood of respiratory symptoms in sensitive individuals, aggravation of heart or lung disease and premature mortality in persons with cardiopulmonary disease and the elderly. Active children and adults, and people with respiratory disease, such as asthma, should limit prolonged outdoor exertion. Unhealthy
(151-200) Increased aggravation of heart or lung disease and premature mortality in persons with cardiopulmonary disease and the elderly; increased respiratory effects in general population. Active children and adults, and people with respiratory disease, such as asthma, should avoid prolonged outdoor exertion; everyone else, especially children, should limit prolonged outdoor exertion. Very Unhealthy
(201-300) Significant aggravation of heart or lung disease and premature mortality in persons with cardiopulmonary disease and the elderly; significant increase in respiratory effects in general population. Active children and adults, and people with respiratory disease, such as asthma, should avoid all outdoor exertion; everyone else, especially children, should limit outdoor exertion. Hazardous
(301-500) Serious aggravation of heart or lung disease and premature mortality in persons with cardiopulmonary disease and the elderly; serious risk of respiratory effects in general population. Everyone should avoid all outdoor exertion.

Edited December 15, 201510 yr by cigar7

Indeed surprising to read the weather report.

27 C minimum temperature predicted for tonight, in December?!

I am quite happy with clear skies and cool temperatures in the night here in upcountry.

What a difference 400 km / 250 mi can make.

No smog here in the Northeast except smoke from burning cane fields

And the heat can hardly come from the north, its even cooler there (low of 17 C in Chiang Mai).

Edited December 15, 201510 yr by KhunBENQ