An earthquake with a magnitude of 8.8 in Eastern Russia prompted a tsunami warning for the entire west coast, including Los Angeles, Orange, Ventura, and Santa Barbara counties.
According to the United States Geological Survey, the quake struck at 4:25 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time at a depth of approximately 11 miles, 80 miles southeast of Petropavlovsk Kamchatka, Russia.
“Tsunami watches are an advance notice to areas that could be impacted by a tsunami at a later time,” according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. “Watch areas may be upgraded to a warning or advisory status, or canceled, based on new information.”
Residents in coastal areas under the tsunami advisory were asked to be informed of additional updates and be cautious of predicted tsunami start times, which include the following:
- L.A. Harbor, July 30 at 1:05 a.m.
- Santa Barbara, July 30 at 12:50 a.m.
- Newport Beach, July 30 at 1:10 a.m.
- La Jolla, July 30 at 1:15 a.m.
- San Francisco, July 30 at 12:50 a.m.
“We are carefully monitoring the situation for ports and harbors north of Point Conception as tsunami waves will likely be larger in that area,” NWS said in a post to X. “Go away from the coast, or if in a boat, go out to deep water!
Just after 7 p.m., weather officials update the notice to an advisory, stating that strong currents and waves could be harmful for individuals in or near the ocean and advising locals to keep out of the water and away from beaches and waterways.
Huntington Beach, Seal Beach, and Laguna Beach have all shuttered their beaches and piers in reaction to the advice, but L.A. County Beaches and Harbors has so far just advised residents to avoid the beaches and waterways.
However, L.A. Mayor Karen Bass said in a statement that port police and the city’s emergency officials are “actively responding to tonight’s tsunami advisory,” before encouraging workers and people in the area to avoid the waterline and heed any directions issued by officials.
So far, no evacuation orders have been issued in Southern California cities. The tsunami advisory will be in force until further notice.
