The 2026–2027 El Niño is forecast to be a severe "super El Niño" or "Godzilla El Niño" event, a term coined by NASA scientist Bill Patzert in 2015 referencing the historic 1997–1998 event. After a weak La Niña transitioned to ENSO-neutral in early 2026, the event rapidly developed, with Columbia University's Climate School and NOAA giving a 97–98% probability of El Niño forming, and the UN's World Meteorological Organization (WMO) officially confirming its development on June 2, 2026. Global sea surface temperatures hit record highs, including an all-time record in June 2026 and a daily average of 21.10°C (69.98°F) on August 22, 2026, per Copernicus data, while the WMO issued a dire September report forecasting it could be the largest El Niño in at least 1,000 years. In preparation, the UN's Food and Agricultural Organization and World Food Programme issued a joint appeal on June 4, 2026 to avert a global humanitarian crisis, and NOAA gave 97% odds that a strong El Niño would persist through spring 2027. Regional preparations vary, with Southern California anticipating severe rain, while the charity Americares described the expected scenario as "a global shuffling of risk" due to impacts on heat, wildfires, flooding, and hurricanes.