Coastal Oregon, and the entire west coast is under a tsunami advisory after an undersea volcano near the Pacific nation of Tonga. The National Weather Service expects waves of 1 to 3 feet along the Oregon coast. As of late morning, the largest wave reported by the agency was a 1.2 foot swell observed at Port Orford. The weather service also reported 0.8-foot wave in Charleston, a 0.7-foot wave in Newport and a 0.2-foot wave in Astoria
The tsunami advisory — meaning “a dangers 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 north coast of British Columbia, and Haida Gwaii, the central coast and northeast Vancouver Island, the outer west coast of Vancouver Island, the Juan de Fuca Strait coast. The inner and outer coast of Southeast Alaska from the BC-Alaska border to Cape Fairweather, Alaska. South Alaska and the Alaska Peninsula: Pacific coasts from Cape Fairweather, Alaska, to Unimak Pass, Alaska. Aleutian Islands: Unimak Pass, Alaska, to Attu, Alaska including the Pribilof Islands.
Oregon has seen similarly sized waves, but still warned residents to stay away from beaches and to prepare for the possibility of higher waves. The National Weather Service said tsunami waves along the Oregon and southern Washington coast were expected imminently. “A Tsunami Advisory remains in effect for the Washington Coast and Strait of Juan de Fuca where 1-3 ft waves are likely,” the National Weather Service in Seattle tweeted.
