Wednesday June 24, 2026
SF Gate —
A satellite that measures ocean levels across the globe seemed to pick up a massive glitch in June. Along the equator, the Pacific Ocean appeared taller than normal. The phenomenon is a sign of El Niño, the seasonal climate pattern that the National Weather Service reported had emerged earlier this month.
Daniel Swain, a climate scientist for the University of California’s Agriculture and Natural Resources, expects an average 6 inches to 2 feet of temporary sea-level rise to hit California’s shores this year. King tides, which inundated parts of the Bay Area last winter, and storm surges could bring it higher.
“We kind of get to the point where 2 to 3-plus feet of temporary sea-level elevation is possible near California later this year during a major storm event,” Swain said during an online briefing. He added: “We could see major coastal flooding this year. In fact, we may see all-time, record-high water levels during storm events or king tides this year.”
El Niño is the warm phase of a pattern that develops along the equator in the Pacific Ocean called the El Niño-Southern Oscillation, or ENSO. During El Niño events, weak trade winds are associated with above-average surface temperatures in those waters. The other phase, La Niña, brings stronger winds that promote cooler ocean conditions. The pattern alternates irregularly, with neutral phases in between.