October 6, 2026 — Something fishy could be happening off the Oregon coast.
A greater-than-90 % chance of a very strong El Niño is expected to develop, with warm surface water temperatures already arriving along the California coast.
Scientists are watching what warmer water could mean for local fisheries and marine life.
When we talk about El Niño or La Niña, we often focus on how it affects the weather. But underwater, the effects would mean life or death for some marine life – including salmon.
“When you go to the marine environment, it’s not always quite as rosy when there’s an El Niño event,” said Spencer Sawasake, a habitat division deputy administrator with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.