Quick Take
Residents and visitors are still advised to be cautious near the water and remain aware of changing conditions.
A tsunami advisory in effect since Tuesday evening was lifted late Wednesday morning. Beaches, coastal areas, waterways, and the Santa Cruz Harbor all reopened, but residents and visitors are still advised to be cautious near the water and remain aware of changing conditions.
A major 8.8-magnitude earthquake off the coast of Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula triggered a tsunami advisory for the California coast from Santa Barbara to Humboldt counties Tuesday evening.
The tsunami action was forecast to arrive off the coast of Santa Cruz County at around 12:40 a.m. Wednesday, with waves estimated to be less than one foot tall, according to a message from CruzAware, the community emergency alert system.
At the Santa Cruz Small Craft Harbor, which was heavily damaged by storms and strong waves last winter, the waters were calm shortly before 1 a.m. on Wednesday. California State Parks closed coastal parking lots, and Junior Lifeguard programs were suspended as a precautionary measure, the county said.
The earthquake brought rising waves to parts of the coast, with the National Weather Service (NWS) reporting water levels up 1-2 feet around the Monterey Bay.
However, the weather service warned shortly after 7 a.m. that even though communities under the advisory should not “expect widespread inundation,” the earthquake could continue to generate dangerous waves and currents at local beaches for many hours. “The first wave may not be the largest.”
A tsunami advisory means that a tsunami with the possibility of strong currents or waves is expected, and that ocean conditions can be dangerous for swimmers, boaters, and those near the water, but major damage or flooding is not expected. Local officials did not issue any evacuation orders or warnings but advised residents to avoid coastal areas, beaches and waterways.
Visit tsunami.gov for more information.