` Nor’easter Pushes 1,000-Pound Great Whites Towards Coastline—What You Need to Know - Ruckus Factory

Nor’easter Pushes 1,000-Pound Great Whites Towards Coastline—What You Need to Know

blaine kenny – instagram

According to the Irish Star, a powerful nor’easter struck the U.S. East Coast on October 13, 2025, unleashing high winds, flooding, and a rare surge in great white shark sightings near New Jersey.

The event is more than just a weather event; it signals complex interactions between climate, marine life, and coastal communities.

What Caused the Surge?

waves sea nature ocean beach blue water clear water
Photo by dimitrisvetsikas1969 on Pixabay

The nor’easter’s gale-force winds and turbulent seas appear to have created the perfect conditions for the deadliest sharks, as marine life, including a 1,000-pound great white shark, was spotted close to shore.

Meteorologists attribute the movement to shifting currents and pressure gradients, while officials have cited the storm’s intensity as a key driver.

Immediate Impact on Coastal Residents

Turbulent seas near Worthing West Sussex
Photo by Roger Kidd on Wikimedia

The fierce winds and torrential rain left a trail of damage along the shoreline. Trees had toppled over, power outages spread, and major flight delays affected airports.

Emergency alerts and evacuation protocols were activated, disrupting daily life and holiday travel for millions of Americans.

The Five Sharks

shark on sea
Photo by Alex Steyn on Unsplash

While the storm wreaked havoc, several dangerous predators were spotted seemingly enjoying the massive waves caused by the storm.

According to OCEARCH’s global shark tracker app, on Monday morning, four great white sharks had been pinged off the New Jersey coast along with one dusky shark. The five sharks were Brass Bed, weighing 443 pounds, Cross, weighing 377 pounds, Nori, weighing 423 pounds, Webster, weighing 1008 pounds, and Mira, the dusky shark, weighing 327 pounds.

17 Feet Waves

Great white shark at Isla Guadalupe Mexico August 2006 Shot with Nikon D70s in Ikelite housing in natural light Animal estimated at 11-12 feet 3 3 to 3 6 m in length age unknown
Photo by Pterantula Terry Goss at en wikipedia on Wikimedia

These sharks were pinged around midnight and the early morning. They were spotted on the edge of the continental shelf. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s offshore forecast, waves had reached heights of 17 feet during the storm.

It’s likely that the great white sharks are following their migration route toward the southeastern coast of the United States. Over the past two decades, many great white sharks tagged by OCEARCH have appeared to have taken the same migratory path.

The Emergency

emergency room hospital ambulance rescue houston texas paramedic siren parked police fire disease control service human services emergency services emt ems emergency medical technician swat pain accident recovery triage car transportation system vehicle ethics transport system transportation security electronic safety technology equipment alarm white trust urgent care health care healthy trauma saved danger emergency dangerous heart failure chronic medicine medical treatment symbol houston fire department protection help 911 fast first responders homeland security love people human insurance badge protect volunteer alert car wallpapers hero shield tragedy tragic professional occupation trial intensive care life threatening dead shooting shot killed murder assaulted broken diabetes cancer blunt trauma fracture fractured uniform profession department firemen united states consistent america gray car gray health gray hospital gray fire gray medical gray police gray help gray life gray room gray pain gray healthy gray security gray death gray medicine gray emergency gray human gray cancer gray safety gray care gray hero gray service
Photo by ArtisticOperations on Pixabay

Before the storm, Tahesha Way, New Jersey’s Acting Governor, declared a State of Emergency for all 21 counties in New Jersey. The emergency went into effect on Saturday night.

“Parts of the state are forecasted to experience moderate to major coastal flooding, instances of inland flash flooding, sustained winds of up to 60 mph, localized precipitation of up to five inches, and very high surf potentially causing significant beach erosion and dune breaching,” the announcement stated.

Extreme Weather Conditions

Photo by changen chan on Pexels

Acting Governor Way said, “Starting on Sunday, a dangerous coastal storm will begin to move past our state with extreme weather conditions for several counties, especially those on the Shore.”

“In preparation for this storm, I am issuing a State of Emergency for all 21 counties out of an abundance of caution, authorizing our state’s emergency services personnel to activate as necessary. I urge all New Jerseyans to exercise caution, monitor local weather forecasts and warnings, stay informed on evacuation protocols, and remain off the roads unless absolutely necessary.”

Royal Caribbean’s Symphony of the Seas

sea cliffs storm liguria genoa nature ocean water rocks town
Photo by oreundici on Pixabay

The powerful storm also forced Royal Caribbean’s Symphony of the Seas to dock at a New Jersey port, as dangerous winds and heavy rain continued to pound the coast.

The cruise was set to depart on October 12 for a seven-night trip to the Bahamas, with planned stops in Port Canaveral, Nassau, and Royal Caribbean’s private island, CocoCay.

Passengers Were Notified

ship cruise ship cruise boat nature port water vacations msc sea view caribbean world travel map of the world globe whimsical captain pirates drone bird s eye view aerial view drone photography travel island
Photo by Hornet Pictures on Pixabay

Passengers were notified they’d remain onboard for several days until conditions improved, as the storm made travel unsafe and disrupted the ship’s original departure schedule.

“Along with our Chief Meteorologist, Craig Setzer, we have been closely monitoring a developing coastal low-pressure system forecast to impact the port of Cape Liberty beginning on Sunday,” an email to passengers said. “Due to the deteriorating weather conditions, we will continue to monitor the ocean storm system and only depart once we deem it is safe to do so,” officials added.

State of Emergency

A life preserver on a boat in the water
Photo by Gustavo S nchez on Unsplash

According to an Upper Township, New Jersey, administrator, Strathmere’s beach is “essentially gone” after the terrible storm, and on Tuesday night, officials in Strathmere declared a state of emergency.

“We lost a lot of beach,” the assistant public works superintendent of Upper Township, Mike Jones, revealed. “This storm has taken away all of the beach replenishment we had, plus probably 25-30 feet more of dune.”

No Injuries

buoy ocean sea port water beach swimming boat lifebuoy fishing help rescue safe safety fisherman travel lake swim nature lifesaver blue help blue safety buoy buoy buoy buoy buoy lifesaver
Photo by rdlncl on Pixabay

According to CBS News, no injuries were reported and there was minimal damage to nearby homes. However, some local leaders are afraid that future storm systems could lead to severe flooding.

“We just hope and pray we don’t have another one,” Jones said. “If we do, we will have to deal with the aftermath of what happens.”

North Wildwood Residents

Scenic view of T rshavn harbor and cityscape with ships on a clear day
Photo by Elke Mock on Pexels

There was some bayside flooding in North Wildwood, according to CBS News, but luckily, Mayor Patrick Rosenello said it didn’t get into any houses. But the real damage was done to a long stretch where waves tore off protective dunes at 15th Avenue.

“It makes my stomach turn a little bit, breaks my heart,” Marlo Kulb, of North Wildwood, said.

The Damage

A lively beach scene with people enjoying a sunny day by the sea
Photo by joao Guerreiro on Pexels

Kulb was among several onlookers who gathered on Tuesday at North Wildwood’s 15th Avenue beach to check out the destruction left by the nor’easter. Powerful waves had sliced through sections of the dunes, carving deep gaps along the shoreline and leaving residents uneasy about what’s next.

“I wonder if they’re going to be able to rebuild,” Kulb said. “Because I know in the past, it was a hard time.”

The Impact

grayscale photo of water waves
Photo by Adam Hornyak on Unsplash

During this massive storm, beaches were eroded, dunes collapsed, and debris littered coastal roads, marking one of the season’s most powerful storms.

For residents, scientists, and officials, the event was more than a test of endurance; it was a warning. The convergence of severe weather and shifting marine patterns, from surging tides to shark movements, shows the fragile balance between people and the changing sea.

What’s Next?

Dramatic ocean waves crashing with a splash showcasing the power and beauty of the sea
Photo by Ray Bilcliff on Pexels

Experts warn that as climate patterns shift, such events may become more frequent.

Officials are urging investment in resilient infrastructure, improved emergency planning, and public education to mitigate future risks along the coast.