Warnings and Watches for tsunami have been issued by the National Weather Service National Tsunami Warning Center, in Palmer Alaska for Alaska and Hawaii and more tsunami advisories may become necessary for the U.S. and Canadian west coast in the coming hours. A powerful 8.2 earthquake struck moments ago near 55.5 North, 157.9 West which is 60 miles southeast of Chignik, Alaska and 495 miles southwest of Anchorage, Alaska.
Due to the threat of a potentially large and destructive tsunami, a Tsunami Warning is in effect for South Alaska and the Alaska Peninsula and the Aleutian Islands, including the Pacific coasts from Hinchinbrook Entrance, Alaska (90 miles east of Seward) to Unimak Pass (80 miles northeast of Unalaska.) The Unimak Pakk, which is 80 miles northeast of Unalaska to Samalga Pass, which is 30 miles southwest of Nikolski is also under the Tsunami Warning.
A Tsunami Advisory is in effect for southeast Alaska, including the area from the inner/outer coast from Cape Decision (85 miles southeast of Sitka) to Cape Fairweather, which is 80 miles southeast of Yakutat. A Tsunami Advisory is also up for the Aleutian Islands from Samalga Pass to Amchitka Pass, including the Pribilof Islands.
A Tsunami Watch is in effect for all of Hawaii, including the islands of Oahu, Kauai, Maui, Lanai, Molokai, and the Big Island of Hawaii.
The Tsunami Warning Center cautions, “For other U.S. and Canadian Pacific coasts in North America, the level of tsunami danger is being evaluated. Further information will be provided in supplementary messages.”
In Alaska, the tsunami is forecast to impact well-known cities including Kodiak, Cold Bay, Seward, Sitka, Valdez, Cordova, and Homer.
The Tsunami Warning Center urges those in a Tsunami Warning area to evacuate evacuate inland or to higher ground above and beyond designated tsunami hazard zones or move to an upper floor of a multi-story building depending on your situation.
The Tsunami Warning Center says if you are in a tsunami warning or advisory area, immediately move out of the water, off the beach, and away from harbors, marinas, breakwaters, bays and inlets.
“Be alert to and follow instructions from your local emergency officials because they may have more detailed or specific information for your location,” the Tsunami Warning Center said in a bulletin.
The Tsunami Watch could be upgraded to a Warning in Hawaii. According to the National Weather Service’s Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Ewa Beach, Hawaii, initial tsunami could impact Hawaii as soon as 12:53am local time (6:53 am ET.)
