Scientists say El Niño is very likely to form soon—there's an 82% chance it will emerge in the coming months—but it hasn't officially developed yet. If it does materialize, experts warn it could be one of the strongest on record, potentially bringing record heat, extreme weather, and drought across parts of the globe, though specific impacts will vary by region. This matters because strong El Niño years typically cause hundreds of billions in dollars in damage through floods, wildfires, and crop failures, while also temporarily suppressing Atlantic hurricane activity. If El Niño does emerge as expected and peaks through 2026-2027, these impacts could affect food prices and disaster response globally, though the exact effects depend on regional conditions and how the event develops.