Niño is back, and ocean temperatures are already near record highs - that can spell disaster for fish and corals

El Niño is back, and ocean temperatures are already near record highs, portending broad ecological and climatic disruption. Forecast models project a two-in-three chance of a strong to very strong El Niño by late 2026, reshaping weather, climate, and ocean conditions worldwide. El Niño raises warm water east of Ecuador by about 2 to 4 degrees Fahrenheit (1 to 2 Celsius) for months, reorganizing wind, rainfall, and temperature patterns across continents. A climate scientist notes that while land impacts are consequential, ocean warming drives marine conditions that ripple through fisheries, coral reefs, and seagrass meadows. Global ocean temperatures remain near record highs, heightening concern that marine heat waves could push sensitive fisheries toward critical thresholds. Marine heat waves can span large areas, and during major episodes, regions far larger than Texas have seen temperatures 4 to 6 F (2 to 3 C) above normal.