• US West Coast (California, Oregon, Washington): Under tsunami advisories.

Understanding the Alerts

There’s a crucial difference between tsunami warnings and advisories:

• Tsunami Warning: Indicates possible coastal flooding and strong currents. Residents are urged to evacuate to higher • ground.

• Tsunami Advisory: Alerts the public to potentially dangerous waves or currents; people should stay out of the water and off beaches.

West Coast Prepares for Long Night

Officials on the US West Coast are bracing for a long night as they monitor the tsunami’s approach. While California, Oregon, and Washington are expected to experience strong waves and currents, the event is not currently expected to be catastrophic.

“People should take urgent action to protect life and property,” said an official from Hawaii, where the most severe warning level has been issued.

Tsunamis can unfold over several hours, so the full impact may not be known until the early hours of Wednesday, local time.

No Catastrophic Damage Expected in Americas

Seismologist Dr. Lucy Jones offered a measured outlook, saying that although the tsunami may cause damage to harbors and coastal infrastructure, widespread loss of life in the Americas is not expected.

In Hawaii, waves between 3 and 10 feet are predicted, while Santa Barbara in California may see waves up to 2 feet high. Crescent City in Northern California could see 6-foot waves within its harbor.

“It’s not a wave,” Dr. Jones explained. “That’s how much the sea level rises temporarily.”

She added that Santa Barbara’s predicted wave height is greater than in Washington or parts of Canada because of how the wave pattern is forming in the Pacific.

Dr. Jones also mentioned she had spoken to a camp counselor on Catalina Island, near Los Angeles. Waves are expected to reach the area around 1 a.m. local time.

“They’re not evacuating,” she said, but noted campers might be moved from cabins closest to the water out of caution.