NASA Satellites Track Record‑Breaking 2026 El Niño

NASA’s satellite network has documented the strongest El Niño since 1950, with an 83% probability per NOAA. Sentinel‑6 altimetry shows sea‑surface heights rising 1–1. 3 ft in the eastern Pacific, while PACE’s ocean‑color instrument records a shift to bluer hues as phytoplankton decline. Kelvin waves first spotted near Micronesia in January 2026 triggered a chain reaction that weakened trade winds, redistributed heat, and raised sea levels. The warming waters are about 3 °F above long‑term averages and are expected to rise further. These changes are already affecting global weather, agriculture, firefighting, and coastal communities.