Another large great white shark has shut down part of Huntington Beach.
A 10-to-12-foot great white was spotted near Lifeguard Tower 16 shortly before 5 p.m. Tuesday, prompting officials to order swimmers and surfers out of the water along a significant stretch of coastline.
According to the Huntington Beach Fire Department, the shark was “exhibiting aggressive behavior” near shore. Officials closed the ocean from Seapoint Street south to the Huntington Beach Pier, with the restriction scheduled to remain in place until 3 p.m. Wednesday. See footage from the scene below.
“Please obey posted signs and lifeguard instructions,” the department warned.
Officials have not publicly detailed exactly what behavior led lifeguards to classify the shark as aggressive, and it remains unclear whether the animal had previously been observed in the area. No injuries were reported.
But the sighting fits a remarkable pattern in Southern California this year.
Back in March, Dr. Chris Lowe, director of Cal State Long Beach’s Shark Lab, predicted exactly that.
“It is gearing up to be a sharky summer,” Lowe said, pointing to unusually warm water and the developing El Niño. “The water is unusually warm for this time of year, and it’s formed what we call a marine heat wave.”
SHARK SIGHTING – BEACH CLOSURE
A reported 10–12 ft. great white shark exhibiting aggressive behavior near Tower 16 has prompted a water closure from Seapoint to the HB Pier through 3 PM Wednesday, Oct. 14.
Please obey posted signs and lifeguard instructions.#HBFD pic.twitter.com/wVZu4twe6B
— Huntington Beach Fire Department (@HBFD_PIO) October 14, 2026
Those conditions can push juvenile white sharks north from Mexico and keep them near Southern California beaches longer than usual. CSULB researchers said this summer that El Niño was bringing juvenile great whites into California waters earlier than normal.
Huntington Beach has already experienced that firsthand.
Related: Kayaker Hospitalized After Shocking Shark Attack Off Paradise Cove in Malibu
In April, a 10-foot shark exhibiting aggressive behavior forced a closure near the pier and temporarily halted a surf contest. Days later, a 9-to-10-foot great white was spotted actively feeding on a sea lion carcass at Sunset Beach, triggering another 48-hour closure.
Still, Lowe stresses that more sharks don’t necessarily mean more attacks.
“What we think is going on is these sharks are around people all the time,” he said. “We don’t pose a threat to them, and we don’t smell or sound like food, so they ignore us.”
Usually.
Tuesday’s shark apparently behaved differently enough for lifeguards to clear the lineup.
Stay vigilant.
Related: Watch: Woman Swimming 900 Miles Down California Coast Encounters Great White Shark
Original Post from this site