Tsunami alert upgraded to 'advisory' for California coast after massive Russian earthquake
A tsunami watch was issued for all of the California coast after 8.7 magnitude earthquake struck off the western coast of Russia.
According to the U.S. Tsunami Warning Center, the watch was in effect for the entire West Coast, including Washington and Oregon.
A tsunami watch is the lowest level of the warning center’s three tier alert system. It means that the level of threat is not yet known and that residents should stay tuned and be prepared to take action.
A more severe tsunami warning was in effect for the western section of Alaska’s Aleutian Islands, where people are told toimmediately evacuated designated tsunami hazard zones.
The size of any waves that may strike California is currently unknown.
The National Tsunami Warning Center said the tsunami, if it materializes, would hit Fort Bragg in Mendocino County at 11:50 p.m. Tuesday, Crescent City in Del Norte County at 11:55 p.m. In the early hours of Wednesday morning, potential waves would reach Monterey at 12:15 a.m., San Francisco at 12:40 a.m. Wednesday, the Los Angeles harbor at 1:05 a.m., Newport Beach at 1:10 a.m., and Oceanside and La Jolla at 1:15 a.m.
The earthquake struck at a depth of 46 miles.
The size of any waves were not known. Here is the timing from the center:
- Fort Bragg 2350 PDT Jul 29
- Crescent City 2355 PDT Jul 29
- Monterey 0015 PDT Jul 30
- Port San Luis 0035 PDT Jul 30
- San Francisco 0040 PDT Jul 30
- Santa Barbara 0050 PDT Jul 30
- Los Angeles Harbor 0105 PDT Jul 30
- Newport Beach 0110 PDT Jul 30
- Oceanside 0115 PDT Jul 30
- La Jolla 0115 PDT Jul 30