A rare red alert has been issued over the risk of severe haze in Southeast Asia, with experts warning that the region could face one of its hottest and driest periods on record in the months ahead.

The concern is that a strengthening El Niño, possibly coupled with another climate phenomenon known as the Indian Ocean Dipole, could create the conditions for widespread fires and transboundary haze, drawing comparisons to some of the region's worst haze episodes in recent memory.

At the same time, economic pressures, rising biofuel demand and questions over fire prevention efforts are adding to the risk.

To help us understand what lies ahead and how concerned Singaporeans should be, Steve Yim, Director at Centre for Climate Change and Environmental Health (CCEH), Professor at the Asian School of the Environment and Professor at the Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, joins Hongbin Jeong on The Big Story.