US Edition
Humpback Whale Washes Up On Newport Beach Shoreline
Officials await an incoming storm to naturally remove the 27-foot, 10-ton humpback whale before conducting a necropsy to determine its unknown cause of death.
- On Wednesday, February 18, 2026, a dead sub-adult humpback about 27 feet long and weighing roughly 20,000 pounds washed ashore on the Balboa Peninsula in Newport Beach.
- After the whale washed ashore, Pacific Marine Mammal Center staff will perform a preliminary assessment, and NOAA spokesman Michael Milstein said a necropsy is planned.
- High winds and rough seas on Wednesday made it too dangerous for a tow vessel to approach, and officials warned the salvage boat cannot operate in extreme outer-water weather, delaying removal until Friday.
- Beach officials warned the carcass could roll and injure beachgoers, urging the public to stay at least 200 feet away while they work on a salvage disposal plan.
- Marine mammal experts hope a storm expected Thursday will pull the carcass back out to sea, but if tides don't carry it, authorities may haul pieces offsite as done at Lower Trestles.
16 Articles
16 Articles
Dead humpback whale washes ashore at Newport Beach
A dead humpback whale washed ashore along a popular stretch of Newport Beach on Wednesday afternoon, drawing crowds of onlookers and prompting safety warnings as authorities work to determine how the massive marine mammal died. The whale was first spotted offshore around 1:45 p.m. near 28th Street before drifting onto the sand about an hour [...]
Dead whale washes ashore in Newport Beach
A necropsy is expected to be performed on Thursday after a dead whale washed ashore in Newport Beach on Wednesday. According to Sophia Felger of the Pacific Marine Mammal Center, the large whale was seen around 3 p.m. on Wednesday. It washed ashore near 13th Street, between the Newport and Balboa piers close to Newport Elementary School. The juvenile humpback whale was already dead when it washed ashore and it was reported to have been floatin…
Daily Bulletin
Dead whale washed up in Newport Beach near 11th Street
A dead whale washed up on the sand in Newport Beach on Wednesday, with authorities assessing how the mammal died — and how to get it off of the popular beach. The 27-foot whale was first spotted offshore at about 1:45 p.m. near 28th Street and came onto shore at about 3 p.m. near 11th Street, between the Newport and Balboa piers and near Newport Elementary school, Lifeguard Chief Brian O’Rourke said. The mammal is believed to be a humpback and a…
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 74% of the sources are Center
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
