Dead whale in Solana Beach removed and taken to landfill

SAN DIEGO (KUSI) – 3:33 p.m. – The whale that washed up on shore in Solana Beach was removed late Friday afternoon.

City crews waited for low tide, then used a heavy-lifting machine to load the whale onto a flatbed truck for transport to Miramar Landfill, lifeguard Sgt. Greg Uruburu said.

It was unclear what caused the death of the whale, which was believed to be 1 to 2 years old, though a National Marine Fisheries Service employee told lifeguards it appeared to have been undernourished, the sergeant said.

10:28 a.m. – The carcass, which was about 15 to 20 feet long, was spotted near the access point to Del Mar Shores about 7:30 a.m., Solana Beach lifeguard Sgt. Rob McPhee said.

It was not immediately clear how the whale died, but personnel from the National Marine Fisheries Service were performing tests. SeaWorld workers also were summoned, McPhee said.

McPhee said the carcass couldn’t be removed until low tide.

9:51 a.m. – Damaging surf and coastal flooding were predicted as part of a large northwest swell building in the Pacific Friday, but a beached whale was not.

Around 9 a.m. Friday Del Mar lifeguards closed a beach entry point near Solana Beach as a dead whale was spotted on the sand. The whale was believed to have washed ashore during the high swell period. 

The species, age and cause of death of the whale are under investigation and SeaWorld plans on assisting in the investigation. 

A coastal flood advisory will expire at noon Sunday, but a high surf warning will remain in effect until 4 p.m. that day.

The surf south of Carlsbad is expected to build to 8 to 10 feet today and sets may peak at 15 feet, forecasters said.

"Breezy west winds, morning high tides near 7 feet and high surf will combine to threaten coastal flooding and damage in the mornings today through Sunday,” according to the weather service.