The warmer-than-average temperatures could lead to increased energy demand for cooling across much of the U.S., particularly in the Pacific Northwest and northern Rockies. Wetter conditions in the Southwest and Southeast may result in localized flooding, while drier-than-normal conditions in the Pacific Northwest and Great Lakes regions could exacerbate drought conditions. The strengthening El Niño may also influence weather patterns globally, potentially leading to extreme weather events such as flooding, droughts, and heatwaves.