# How do dolphins and whales cope with extreme storms in the ocean (read gigantic waves)?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-dolphins-and-whales-cope-with-extreme-storms-in-the-ocean-read-gigantic-waves/1032198>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [August 7, 2026, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-dolphins-and-whales-cope-with-extreme-storms-in-the-ocean-read-gigantic-waves/1032198 "2026-08-07T03:01:16Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\
**Post date:** [August 7, 2026, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-dolphins-and-whales-cope-with-extreme-storms-in-the-ocean-read-gigantic-waves/1032198/21 "2026-08-07T16:34:34Z")

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> [@Whack-a-Mole](#):
>
> Just tough it out? That’s my best guess.

Or swim away. The ocean is bigger than the storms within it.

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**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\
**Post date:** [August 7, 2026, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-dolphins-and-whales-cope-with-extreme-storms-in-the-ocean-read-gigantic-waves/1032198/22 "2026-08-07T17:03:59Z")

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[Moderating]  
Since the factual question seems to be factually answered, let’s move it to IMHO for… whatever this is that’s still going on here.

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**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\
**Post date:** [August 7, 2026, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-dolphins-and-whales-cope-with-extreme-storms-in-the-ocean-read-gigantic-waves/1032198/23 "2026-08-07T21:37:53Z")

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To those who may know more - does the sound of the turbulence interfere with echolocation and ever get them inadvertently in shallower more dangerous waters? Result in stranding more frequently?

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**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\
**Post date:** [August 7, 2026, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-dolphins-and-whales-cope-with-extreme-storms-in-the-ocean-read-gigantic-waves/1032198/24 "2026-08-07T21:45:56Z")

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The [Wikipedia article on cetacean stranding](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cetacean_stranding) shows that there are a number of hypotheses on what factors cause stranding, and rough weather is one (though the article doesn’t specify if it’s believed that the weather hampers their echolocation).

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**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\
**Post date:** [August 7, 2026, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-dolphins-and-whales-cope-with-extreme-storms-in-the-ocean-read-gigantic-waves/1032198/25 "2026-08-07T21:46:09Z")

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I’m no dolphin expert (although I encounter them frequently while surfing) I think most people fail to understand just how little effect activity on the surface has beneath the water.

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