UPGRADE: Tsunami Advisory Issued for California’s North Coast Following Massive 8.8 Kamchatka Quake

A Tsunami Advisory is now in effect for coastal areas of California, including Humboldt, Del Norte, and Mendocino counties, after a powerful 8.8 magnitude earthquake struck off the east coast of Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula at 3:24 p.m. PDT today. [Note the earthquake has been reevaluated to be of higher magnitude than earlier stated.

According to the National Weather Service in Eureka, the first wave arrival is expected around 11:50 p.m. PDT, and multiple waves may continue for 10 to 36 hours. Residents are strongly urged to stay off beaches and out of harbors and marinas until the advisory is lifted.

“Mariners are advised to get to a depth of 30 fathoms (180 feet) before wave arrival,” the NWS warned. “For Humboldt Bay, that depth lies about 12 miles from the marina.” People should continue monitoring official updates throughout the evening.

The Redwood Coast Tsunami Work Group advises, “This is not a good night to go on a midnight fishing trip or sleep on the beach, but the impacts will be restricted to areas below the high tide level. ”

The National Weather Service in San Francisco also issued a public warning:

“Friends please be aware, a Tsunami is a series of waves carrying a large extra mass of water to our coast. This will NOT be a single wave. Do NOT try to go to the coast to take photos. You’re not just putting yourself at risk, you will also put the people that have to rescue you at risk.”

Earlier today, the Redwood Coast Tsunami Work Group confirmed the tsunami threat to California’s coastline and said the advisory status was based on the large magnitude of the Kamchatka quake, which displaced a significant section of seafloor.

The Kamchatka earthquake is unrelated to a separate 4.3 magnitude quake that struck just offshore of Ferndale at 4:18 p.m. PDT, six minutes earlier. While the local tremor was lightly felt from Ferndale to Arcata, the Kamchatka quake sent long-period waves across the Pacific that were recorded on Humboldt County seismographs but not felt due to their low frequency.

Emergency officials continue to assess the potential for wave impacts. While an advisory is less severe than a tsunami warning, dangerous currents, surges, and coastal flooding are possible—especially in harbors and low-lying areas.

Stay tuned to the National Weather Service, the National Tsunami Warning Center, the Redwood Coast Tsunami Work Group, your local emergency management agencies and Redheaded Blackbelt for further updates.

Earlier: [UPDATE 5:58 p.m.: Largest Quake Since 2011] Tsunami Watch for North Coast After Massive 8.7 Kamchatka Quake