The El Nino phenomenon is expected to occur in Southeast Asia sometime next month and the resulting hotter and drier weather is set to exacerbate the haze situation in the region.

In Malaysia, the air quality dropped to unhealthy levels in parts of Peninsular Malaysia last month. There were also reports of a transboundary haze by the Asean Specialised Meteorological Centre in various places in Myanmar, Thailand and Laos last month.

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Earth Sciences and Environment Department senior lecturer Mohd Shahrul Mohd Nadzir said during an El Nino event, changes in the speed of the westward moving winds along the equator cause the ocean surface temperatures to become warmer.

He said El Nino is...