A massive earthquake in Russia triggers tsunami warnings for the entire West Coast of the U.S.
HONOLULU – One of the strongest earthquakes ever measured struck off the eastern coast of Russia on Tuesday evening, triggering fears of a tsunami across much of the Pacific Ocean basin, including the shores of Hawaii, southern Alaska, the entire U.S. West Coast and British Columbia.
Tsunami Warnings are in effect for Hawaii and parts of Alaska, while the entire U.S. West Coast and British Columbia are under a Tsunami Advisory after a monster magnitude 8.8 earthquake struck just east of Petropavlovsk, Russia.
West Coast Tsunami Alerts
“A tsunami has been generated that could cause damage along coastlines of all islands in the state of Hawaii,” the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said. “Urgent action could be taken to protect lives and property.”
Initial data from the quake suggest tsunami waves reaching more than 9 feet above the tide level are possible along some coasts of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands and Russia, according to the PTWC. Waves of 3-9 feet (1-3 meters) are possible along some coasts of Hawaii, Japan, and Guam.
Traffic sits backed up on Hawaii after a tsunami warning was issued.
(Go akami/hdot / fox weather)
The first waves would reach Hawaii around 7:10 p.m. Hawaiian Time (1 a.m. ET), the PWTC says.
Tsunami Warning Explainer
Tsunami sirens wailed across parts of Hawaii as traffic jammed with people trying to get to higher ground. On Kauai, officials urged people to avoid Hanalei to allow people to evacuate. On Maui, officials are staging vehicles and equipment across state highways.
Hilo’s Airport operations have been suspended to facilitate evacuations from Keaukaha, according to the Hawaii DOT. The Coast Guard Captain of the Port has ordered all boaters to follow procedures to leave port and get to to safer waters offshore.
Hawaii emergency officials said they will sound sirens across all islands at 4:10 p.m. HST to signal 3 hours to estimated wave arrival.
“The roads are really crowded,” said Jenny Welch who was visiting Wailea, Hawaii from California with her family. “There’s one road out of that area. And so we were headed back to our hotel and actually decided to turn around and head back out of the area… traffic’s really bad.”
They had no idea what was happening until their friends in California texted and asked if they were OK.
“And at that point, we had not heard anything about it,” Welch said. “And then about five minutes after that, our phone, the phone alarm started going off, and then the sirens started going off once we were in closer to Wailea. So yeah, it was a surprise for sure.”
Smaller waves predicted along U.S. West Coast, British Columbia
The PWTC says any first waves wouldn’t reach the Washington and Oregon coasts until 11:40 p.m. PT (2:40 a.m. ET), around San Francisco around 12:40 a.m. PT Wednesday, and around the Los Angeles coast around 1:05 a.m. PT.
The Tsunami Advisory along the West Coast includes inland waters connected to the Pacific Ocean, including the San Francisco Bay in California, the Columbia River coast on the Washington and Oregon border, and the Strait of Juan de Fuca that separates Washington’s Olympic Peninsula with British Columbia’s Vancouver Island.
The PTWC estimates California’s Crescent City may see the largest tsunami waves, measuring as high as 3 to 5.7 feet. Point San Luis could see waves from 1.7 to 3.2 feet, while up to about 1.5 feet waves are possible around Fort Bragg and Santa Barbara. The rest of the California coast is expecting minimal waves of less than a foot, the PTWC said.
“The tsunami should arrive near 1AM tonight,” the NWS office in Los Angeles said. “If you are located in the coastal area, move off the beach & out of harbors & marinas. Do not go to the coast to watch.”
Similarly, waves will be under a foot along British Columbia and much of the Washington Coast, with the exception Moclips area, which may see waves up to 1.4 feet.
In Oregon, tsunami waves could reach up to 2 feet along Brookings and Port Orford but should stay under a foot elsewhere.
Waves are expected to reach Shemya at 4:46 p.m. Alaska Daylight time, and 5:46 p.m. AKDT in Adak.
Large tsunami waves reported in Japan
The danger extends to Japan, where Tsunami Warnings are also in effect.
“A #tsunami warning is currently in effect for the Eastern Pacific Coast of #Hokkaido and #Tohoku region, #Kanto region, Izu & Ogasawara Islands, Tokai region, and Wakayama Prefecture,” the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo posted on X. “Tsunami waves may arrive imminently—evacuate immediately to higher ground.”
Japan’s Meteorological Agency reports large swaths of the eastern shores have observed tsunamis of 0.3-0.4 meters (1-1.3 feet) with forecasts of tsunamis in some areas could be as high as 3 meters (9 feet).
According to the USGS, an 8.8 magnitude quake would tie for the 6th-strongest quake on record.
This is a breaking news situation. Check back often for updates.
