Tsunami advisory in effect for U.S. West Coast after volcanic eruption: "Move away from the shore and head to high ground"
A tsunami advisory is in effect for the West Coast of the United States and Alaska after a volcano erupted in the Pacific. "A Tsunami is occurring," the National Weather Service's National Tsunami Warning Center said on Saturday.
"Move away from the shore and head to high ground," it said, warning that the first wave may not be the largest.
A tsunami advisory — meaning "a dangerous wave is on the way" — was issued for the following areas, stretching from southern California to Alaska's coastline, according to the warning center:
The California coast from the California-Mexico border to the Oregon-California border, including San Francisco Bay.
The Oregon coast from the Oregon-California border to the Oregon-Washington border, including the Columbia River estuary coast.
The outer coast of Washington state from the Oregon-Washington border to Slip Point, Columbia River estuary coast, and the Juan de Fuca Strait coast.
The outer west coast of Vancouver Island, the Juan de Fuca Strait coast.
South Alaska and the Alaska Peninsula: Pacific coasts from Chignik Bay, Alaska, to Unimak Pass, Alaska.
Aleutian Islands: Unimak Pass, Alaska, to Attu, Alaska including the Pribilof Islands.
On Saturday afternoon, the National Weather Service Anchorage canceled the tsunami advisory for "all coastal areas of the Gulf." The service added that the advisory was still in effect "for the Alaska Peninsula and the Aleutians until further notice."
An advisory was also issued for Hawaii, after an undersea volcano erupted Saturday near the nation of Tonga in the Pacific. It was later canceled after wave heights in the state started to diminish.
"Small sea level changes, strong or unusual currents may persist for several additional hours in some coastal areas and appropriate coastal areas and appropriate caution should be exercised by boaters and swimmers," the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center tweeted.
The California Governor's Office of Emergency Services said tsunami heights there were expected to be 1-2 feet, based on what was seen in Hawaii. Flooding was later reported near the Santa Cruz Harbor, and some residents were evacuated. CBS SF Bay Area reported that officials said over 100 people evacuated the Berkeley Marina, where an evacuation order was in effect for the marina boats, docks and shoreline.
San Francisco's Department of Emergency Management said strong currents were expected for hours, though residential flooding was not expected.
In Alaska, the biggest tsunami as of mid-morning was seen in King Cove — 3.3 feet, according to the National Weather Service.
Washington was seeing tsunami waves smaller than one foot, but forecasters warned that later waves could be bigger. Forecasters in Portland said Oregon has seen similarly sized waves, but still warned residents to stay away from beaches and to prepare for the possibility of hi
