Home
California Under Tsunami AdvisoryLOS ANGELES (AP) ― Click to enlarge1 of 1
A meteorologist monitors the tsunami situation after a 8.8-magnitude quake struck Chile on Feb. 27, 2010.
Patrick Lin/AFP/Getty Images
Related LinksNational Weather Service
People were advised to stay away from California beaches as a precaution Saturday after a deadly magnitude-8.8 earthquake struck off the coast of Chile.
California was under a tsunami advisory, indicating one was possible.
Forecasters said there may be strong currents, but did not expect widespread inundation or damage to occur.
Jordan Scott, a spokesman for the California Office of Emergency Management, said the state was monitoring the situation and that it's up to local communities to prepare.
If a tsunami hits the West Coast, the first waves would reach La Jolla near San Diego, according to the West Coast and Alaska Tsunami Warning Center.
The San Diego County Sheriff's Department was taking a wait-and-see approach.
If the tsunami advisory is upgraded to a watch, the sheriff's department would alert residents.
Devastating tsunamis are rare in California. Since 1812, 14 tsunamis with waves higher than 3 feet have been observed along the California coast, but only six caused destruction.
The deadliest occurred in 1964 when a magnitude-9.2 quake in Alaska spawned tsunami waves that killed 12 people in Northern California.
For updated information on the tsunami advisory, visit National Weather Service.
A meteorologist monitors the tsunami situation after a 8.8-magnitude quake struck Chile on Feb. 27, 2010.
Patrick Lin/AFP/Getty Images
Related LinksNational Weather Service
People were advised to stay away from California beaches as a precaution Saturday after a deadly magnitude-8.8 earthquake struck off the coast of Chile.
California was under a tsunami advisory, indicating one was possible.
Forecasters said there may be strong currents, but did not expect widespread inundation or damage to occur.
Jordan Scott, a spokesman for the California Office of Emergency Management, said the state was monitoring the situation and that it's up to local communities to prepare.
If a tsunami hits the West Coast, the first waves would reach La Jolla near San Diego, according to the West Coast and Alaska Tsunami Warning Center.
The San Diego County Sheriff's Department was taking a wait-and-see approach.
If the tsunami advisory is upgraded to a watch, the sheriff's department would alert residents.
Devastating tsunamis are rare in California. Since 1812, 14 tsunamis with waves higher than 3 feet have been observed along the California coast, but only six caused destruction.
The deadliest occurred in 1964 when a magnitude-9.2 quake in Alaska spawned tsunami waves that killed 12 people in Northern California.
For updated information on the tsunami advisory, visit National Weather Service.