The dreaded El Niño weather phenomenon—a warming of the Pacific Ocean which impacts weather around the globe—should arrive this month or next. It could be a plus for East Coast families, farmers, and businesses, as it could reduce the chances of storms toward the end of the Atlantic hurricane season. It could also cause wicked winter weather, including above-average snowfall.

U.S. Climate Prediction Center weather forecasters recently reported El Niño will lead to weak-to-moderate weather conditions over the Northern Hemisphere’s fall and winter months. During El Niño, winters in the Southeast are typically cooler and wetter than average. El Niños are also credited with suppressing hurricanes.

Beyond weather and climate, global food supplies could be affected. El Niño likely will favorably impact crops in South America, but could wreak havoc in Asia and Africa. Topping the list of concerns is India, which is the world’s #2 sugar producer, and both Ivory Coast and Ghana, which are the world’s largest cocoa bean producers.

El Niños occur every 3 to 7 years, and can last up to a year. The most recent El Niño events occurred in 2006–07 and 2009. The El Niño in 1997–98 was the strongest ever recorded.