San Francisco and coastal parts of the Bay Area remained under a tsunami advisory Wednesday morning but had not seen major impacts from waves unleashed by a powerful earthquake Tuesday off the coast of Russia.
Mayor Daniel Lurie said the city experienced "limited impacts" overnight, though it remained under an advisory. "We’re not anticipating morning commutes to be significantly affected at this time."
The National Weather Service warned of big waves and strong currents following the 8.8-magnitude earthquake that struck off the coast of Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula.
The Monterey County sheriff issued an evacuation warning for people living in boats near Moss Landing.
NWS officials emphasized that tsunami events consist of multiple wave packets that can persist for several hours, not just a single large wave. Point Reyes recorded the highest tidal deviation in the Bay Area at 1.99 feet at 4 a.m., more than three hours after the initial tsunami waves reached the coast, according to the weather service.
The most significant water-level changes occurred along the North Coast, where Crescent City measured waves up to 3.6 feet high and Arena Cove recorded 3-foot surges. Humboldt Bay saw 1.2-foot fluctuations. In Central California, Monterey Bay experienced rapid water level swings of 1-2 feet, while San Francisco recorded tidal variations of 2 to 2.5 feet occurring within 15-minute periods.
Weather service officials documented particularly dramatic surging at Port San Luis, where water levels shifted rapidly from low to high tide within minutes. Time-lapse footage from Pillar Point Harbor in Half Moon Bay showed boats moving abruptly up and down as the waves passed through the harbor.
Despite the relatively mild impacts, emergency officials were urging residents to avoid beaches and harbors Wednesday morning. The California Governor's Office of Emergency Services advised residents to remain vigilant and follow guidance from local authorities, noting that tsunami advisories and warnings remained active statewide.
The entire West Coast, including Alaska and Hawaii, had been alerted to the potential dangers of the tsunami. Officials in Hawaii said the state had escaped major damage.