Tsunami advisory in effect on Washington coast. Public advised to stay off beaches

A tsunami advisory is in effect Saturday morning along the Washington coast following a volcanic eruption in the Pacific Ocean near Tonga.

Evacuations are not advised, according to Pacific County Emergency Management. The advisory goes into effect at 8:15 a.m.

The U.S. National Tsunami Warning Center issued the tsunami advisory for the entire west coast.

The eruption could create initial waves of less than 3 feet as well as minor tidal overflow, Washington Emergency Management Division said in a text alert. People are advised to stay off beaches.

Waves between one and three feet have already started arriving on the Washington coast, the emergency agency said in a tweet.

“First wave may not be the highest so later waves may be larger,” a National Weather Service tweet said. “Do not get complacent after seeing the first wave come ashore. Hawaii experienced advisory level wave heights for 3+ hours.”

Estimated times of first waves are: La Push at 8:45 a.m., Neah Bay at 8:50 am, Westport at 8:50 am, Moclips at 8:55 am, Port Angeles at 9:30 a.m., and Port Townsend at 9:55 a.m.

In Washington, the advisory covers the entire Pacific Ocean coast, the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the San Juan Islands, according to the agency. It also covers Grays Harbor, Willapa Bay and the Columbia River as far as Cathlamet.

Pacific County’s Emergency Management Agency said many people are doing the opposite of official direction.

“Droves of people are driving out onto the beach. This is not a spectator event. Please say off the beach,” the emergency agency’s Facebook post said.

The University of Washington’s director of the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network Harold Tobin told The News Tribune the tsunami waves are unlikely to create any significant surge into the Puget Sound based on what we’ve seen so far, but recommends the public to check official updates often.

Pierce County Emergency Management is not expecting tsunami waves to county coastlines, but boaters and beach goers should expect strong currents along with the high tide at 2:30 p.m.

“As a precaution stay out of the water and move away from shore even if the tide is low through this afternoon,” a county alert said.

The state emergency agency also advised the public to stay off beaches during the duration of the event.

“A tsunami advisory is issued when a tsunami with potential to generate strong currents/waves dangerous to those in/very near the water is imminent, expected, or occurring,” state emergency management tweeted Saturday morning. “The threat may continue for several hours but significant inundation is not expected.”

The U.S. National Tsunami Warning Center has reported initial tsunami observations on the Alaska and Canada coastline. The highest wave reported has been 1.2 feet in Nikolski, Alaska.

Tsunami waves are expected to continue for at least three hours after the first wave, the National Weather Service said.

Waves have already hit South Pacific countries.

An underwater volcano in the South Pacific near the Tonga Islands triggered tsunami waves at 8:27 p.m. Pacific Standard Time on Friday. There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage assessment, because the internet connectivity with the island was lost, the Associated Press reports.

The tsunami reached Hawaii, where the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center reported waves reaching the shore at heights up to 2.7 feet in Hanalei, according to the Associated Press. The center reported no damage and only minor flooding throughout the islands.