SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — An 8.7 magnitude earthquake that struck off Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula Tuesday prompted a tsunami watch along the West Coast, including areas in San Diego County.
NWS around 6:30 p.m. Tuesday changed the tsunami watch for the San Diego coastline to a tsunami advisory.
“Tsunami advisories mean that a tsunami capable of producing strong currents or waves dangerous to persons in or very near the water is expected or is already occurring,” NWS said. “Areas in the advisory should not expect widespread inundation. Tsunamis are a series of waves dangerous many hours after initial arrival time. The first wave may not be the largest.”
The earthquake occurred around 4:25 p.m. 80 miles southeast of Petropavlovsk Kamchatka, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).
The earliest potential tsunami wave for the San Diego County coastline could arrive at 1:15 a.m. Wednesday, per NWS.
As of 7:25 p.m., the National Tsunami Warning Center predicts the highest expected water level above the tide, or maximum tsunami height, to be less than one-foot waves. However, the first wave may not be the largest so later waves may be larger.
Each wave may last 5 to 45 minutes as a wave encroaches and recedes, according to NWS.
Those in the tsunami watch zone include coastal areas of California, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia and Alaska and from the California/Mexico border to Chignik Bay in Alaska.
The Hawaiian islands are under a tsunami warning.
The County of San Diego alerted residents that coastal areas could experience strong currents that may be hazardous to swimmers, boats and coastal structures.
County officials advise to:
- Stay out of the water and away from beaches and waterways.
- A tsunami with potential for strong currents or waves dangerous to people in or very near the water is expected or occurring.
- Avoid the coastline.
- Do not go to the coast to watch the tsunami.
- Follow instructions from local officials.
If you are located in these coastal areas, stay alert for further updates.
For more information, visit tsunami.gov.
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