El Niño is here, threatening to bring warmer global temperatures as it strengthens over the Pacific Ocean. 

“This El Niño could be a record setting event,” says Erin Coughlan de Perez, associate professor of climate science at Tufts University. 

Forecasts are anticipating it might be the strongest in living memory—but the impact will likely vary depending on where you’re located. Here’s what to expect, and how you can prepare. 

Read more: How El Niño May Test the Limits of Our Climate Knowledge

What weather can we expect El Niño to bring?

El Niño began forming in the early summer and is expected to last into 2027, reaching its peak strength in the last two months of 2026. 

The impact it has will vary. Forecasts predict that the system will bring drought conditions to southern Africa, southeast Asia, and the northern parts of South America, while parts of East Africa and the southern U.S. might see stormier weather and flooding.

An El Niño event increases global temperatures, which, coupled with rising temperatures fueled by climate change, means 2027 could shape up to be the warmest year on record, if predictions hold true. 

The impact will be felt around the world. “El Nino impacts millions of people's lives in terms of increasing the likelihood of above or below normal rainfall in some areas, which has impacts on agriculture production, crop yields, logistics, and transportation,” says Andrew Kruczkiewicz, senior researcher at the International Research Institute for Climate and Society at Columbia University. 

How will El Niño impact the U.S.?

In the U.S., El Niño often brings a warmer than usual winter to the northern U.S., and a wetter, cooler winter in the south, with a higher likelihood for rain and snow.  

“Much of the South, particularly the Southeast U.S. can expect to see wetter and likely cooler weather during those cool months into the late fall through the early spring,” says Emily Powell, Florida state climatologist at Florida State University, who notes that El Niño also brings increased risk for severe weather, including tornadoes to the area. 

However, it doesn’t mean these conditions are a given. “Right now we are in a moderate to strong El Niño, and it's forecast to strengthen,” says Kruczkiewicz. “Now, that doesn't necessarily mean the impacts around the world will be moderate or strong or weak or will manifest at all.” That’s because there are a number of other modes of climate variability, including the Indian Ocean Dipole (which impacts sea surface temperatures in the Indian Ocean) and the Madden-Julian Oscillation (a tropical atmospheric phenomenon that influences rainfall), both of which can also impact weather patterns alongside El Niño. 

How can I prepare for El Niño?

If you live in an area that’s likely to see stormy weather this winter, preparing for El Niño doesn’t have to be complicated. “People should just think about this as preparing as they would for any kind of system that would bring more rain and increase risk for flooding,” says Powell. 

Make sure the area around your home has good drainage, clear your gutters, and patch up any leaks. 

Sign up for emergency alerts and pay attention to local forecasts. “These are good for providing general awareness of what's expected in terms of whether your area will be wetter than average in the coming weeks to months,” says Powell. 

Some of the weather impacts that El Niño may bring—like snowstorms or flash floods—can come during a normal winter. It presents an opportunity for governments to make sure they’re prepared to tackle extreme weather events that are only becoming more common due to climate change. Cities can prepare in advance: setting up cooling centers and creating action plans to help those most vulnerable to extreme heat or helping residents understand flood risk and purchase flood insurance.

“El Niño years should [in theory] be the years with the fewest disasters because we have the warning. If we actually do take this seriously, and we prepare, this could be a year where we don't have big impacts,” says Coughlan de Perez. “We shouldn't be surprised. We shouldn't be caught unaware.”

Funding cuts to federal agencies, including NOAA and the National Weather Service, however, is leading to some concerns about U.S. preparedness levels when it comes to facing extreme weather. According to the Center for American Progress, the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s funding has been drained to “emergency” levels. 

“We need the weather service to give us the heads up, as you know, as early as possible,” says Coughlan de Perez. “They need really good staffing. They need a lot of investment. And I would hope that we are making that investment, for the American people, in our government to provide these warnings.” 

For many Americans, accessing fresh, clean water is as simple as turning a tap. 

But amid a growing water crisis in the West, and periodic droughts in other parts of the country, constant water access is not a given. 

“it's a resource that, in this case, can quite literally run dry,” says John Atkinson, an associate professor of environmental engineering at the University of Buffalo. 

Earlier this month, federal officials announced sharp cuts in how much water Arizona, California and Nevada would be allowed to take from the Colorado River over the next two years as the water levels for the nation's two largest reservoirs reach record lows. Under the Bureau of Reclamation’s new plan, the three states will have to collectively reduce water use by 1.25 million acre-feet annually over the next two years—or potentially face larger cuts. 

The average American uses roughly 82 gallons of water a day at home, according to the EPA. Much of that water use is the result of habits that most people rarely give a second thought— like leaving the sink running while washing dishes or setting up an automatic sprinkler system to maintain a green yard. 

Experts in water sustainability say that there are small steps they take at home to help them save water. 

Qizhong George Guo, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at Rutgers University, notes that there are plenty of small habits that can add up to significant drops in water usage. Only run the dishwasher or washing machine when you have full ones. If you’re washing dishes by hand, be mindful to not leave the tap running when it's not in use. Soak pans before cleaning them, and turn off the faucet when scrubbing. 

Many older appliances use more water. Switching to newer models, which tend to be more energy and water-efficient, could yield savings in the long run. “The fixtures have become much more efficient in the last 20 years or so—from dishwashers to showerheads, to faucets,” says Guo. 

Switching to low-flow faucets, which use less water than older models, are “a low-hanging fruit,” says Helen Dahlke, professor of integrated hydrologic sciences at the University of California, Davis. “You can save several hundreds of gallons of water per year, and that will also show up on your water bill as a benefit.” When looking for a newer model, keep an eye out for products which have a WaterSense label, which meet EPA standards and can save up to 700 gallons per year.

Another tip: Check around your home for leaks, which can add up to a lot of wasted water over time. 

“People would be surprised by how much water gets wasted due to leaks,” says Atkinson.  

According to the EPA, household leaks waste more than 1 trillion gallons annually nationwide. That's equal to the annual household water use of more than 11 million homes.

Where households use the most water

One of the biggest ways to save water is outside the home. The average homeowner uses 30% to 70% of their water outdoors—watering lawns, flowers and vegetables, the EPA estimates. 

“It’s the staple picture of the American home—a nice house and a green lawn in front of it,” says Dahlke. “But in regions where water is scarce, you should really think, is it worth it spending several hundreds of dollars a year and several hundreds of gallons a year just keeping green grass that has no use?” 

Nationwide, landscape irrigation is estimated to account for nearly one-third of all residential water use, totaling nearly 9 billion gallons per day. Dahlke bucked that trend by embracing xeriscaping, or drought-tolerant landscaping. Instead of a traditional green yard, she's planted native plants and flowers that attract local pollinators. She’s noticed bees and hummingbirds have begun stopping by. 

Another added bonus? “I get a lot of compliments from the neighbors when they walk by,” she says.