This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
A tsunami advisory has been issued for the California coast this morning following the overnight magnitude-8.8 earthquake that struck off the coast of Chile, according to the LA Times. "An advisory means there may be strong currents, but that widespread inundation is not expected to occur."
Coastal cities are being cautioned to "prepare for possible tsunami waves." The West Coast and Alaska Tsunami Warning Center is monitoring the wave activity in the Pacific, and predict that it will begin to affect our shores midday, however, they caution:
Since tsunami speed is directly related to water depth, tsunami ETAs can be computed independent of tsunami amplitude. THE LISTING OF A TSUNAMI ARRIVAL TIME BELOW DOES NOT INDICATE A WAVE IS IMMINENT. The listed arrival time is the initial wave arrival. Tsunamis can be dangerous for many hours after arrival, and the initial wave is not necessarily the largest.
They are forecasting tsunami wave initial arrival at these locations/times today:
La Jolla, California 12:02; the California-Mexico border 12:04; Newport Beach, California 12:12; San Pedro, California 12:15; Point Concepcion, California 12:17; Santa Monica, California 12:25; Santa Barbara, California 12:31
The National Weather Service explains that an advisory is different than either a watch or warning, and that what we might see are: "dangerous currents and surges in harbors and bays." They advise that people should "stay away from the beaches and marinas" today in general, as "wave heights and currents are amplified by irregular shorelines and are difficult to predict."
