If you didn’t know, we are in the middle of an El Niño. Scientists say it has the potential to be one of the strongest in recent years. 

This is the weather pattern in the Pacific Ocean that periodically pushes warm water toward the West Coast. 

El Niños cause all kinds of problems, including worsening Washington droughts.

And they can be a real pain for the region’s fishing industry.   

Guests
Bob Alverson, general manager of the Fishing Vessel Owners' Association
Anthony Rogers, a fisheries economist at Ocean Conservancy 

Related links: 
The 2026 El Niño Is on Track to Be the Strongest on Record | WIRED
Record-breaking El Niño could gut California’s crab and salmon fleets | Los Angeles Times
What a ‘very strong’ El Niño could mean for WA | The Seattle Times

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to donate.kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

If you didn&rsquo;t know, we are in the middle of an El Ni&ntilde;o. Scientists say it has the potential to be one of the strongest in recent years.&nbsp;
This is the weather pattern in the Pacific Ocean that periodically pushes warm water toward the West Coast.&nbsp;
El Ni&ntilde;os cause all kinds of problems, including worsening Washington droughts. And they can be a real pain for the region&rsquo;s fishing industry.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
Guests
<ul>
<li>Bob Alverson, general manager of the Fishing Vessel Owners' Association</li>
<li>Anthony Rogers, a fisheries economist at Ocean Conservancy&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
Related links: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/climate-lab/what-a-very-strong-el-nino-could-mean-for-wa/"></a><a href="https://www.wired.com/story/2026-el-nino-the-strongest-in-150-years/">The 2026 El Ni&ntilde;o Is on Track to Be the Strongest on Record | WIRED</a><a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/climate-lab/what-a-very-strong-el-nino-could-mean-for-wa/"></a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.latimes.com/science/story/2026-07-29/record-breaking-el-nino-could-gut-californias-crab-salmon-fleets">Record-breaking El Ni&ntilde;o could gut California&rsquo;s crab and salmon fleets | Los Angeles Times</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/climate-lab/what-a-very-strong-el-nino-could-mean-for-wa/">What a &lsquo;very strong&rsquo; El Ni&ntilde;o could mean for WA | The Seattle Times</a></li>
</ul>
Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to <a href="http://donate.kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes">donate.kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes</a>
Soundside&nbsp;is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Soundside

Fisheries once again have to - weather - this weather event.  And scientists say it could be a strong one. 