⚠️ Tsunami Advisory Update – July 29, 2025, 11:35 PM PDT
Update from Hawai‘i:
Officials in Hawai‘i have confirmed visible tsunami activity, with water receding from shorelines by dozens of feet in some areas, followed by surging back in minutes later. While no flooding, damage, or injuries have been reported, emergency services remain on alert for several more hours. An official “all clear” may be issued later tonight by the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center once wave activity stabilizes.
These wave movements confirm that the tsunami generated by the M8.8 earthquake off Russia is real and has energy capable of affecting coastlines far from the epicenter.
What This Means for California:
- The activity in Hawai‘i suggests that similar surging effects are possible along the U.S. West Coast, even if wave heights remain under 1 foot in Southern California.
- Areas such as Crescent City and Port San Luis are still forecast to see higher amplitudes (up to 4.8 ft).
- For San Diego County, the threat remains less about wave height and more about strong, unpredictable currents and surges—especially in bays, harbors, and coastal inlets.
- Dangerous conditions could persist for several hours after the initial arrival of waves around 1:00–1:15 AM in the San Diego area.
Stay away from the water, and do not go to the beach or coastal cliffs to watch.
Tsunami behavior can vary widely by location, and even small waves can surge inland or trap people on jetties and harbor walls.
Original Post:
San Diego, CA (July 29, 2025, 8:00 PM PDT) —
A Tsunami Advisory has been issued for the entire U.S. West Coast, including San Diego County, following a magnitude 8.8 earthquake that struck off the coast of Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula this evening. The quake occurred at 5:24 PM PDT, approximately 315 miles southwest of Bering Island, near the western Aleutian Islands, at a depth of 46 miles
The U.S. Tsunami Warning System and National Tsunami Warning Center say tsunami waves are expected to begin reaching California later tonight, with estimated arrival times starting around 11:50 PM PDT in Northern California and shortly after 1:00 AM in Southern California. These times are based on preliminary modeling and may be updated as more data becomes available.
Alert San Diego issued a statement at 6:48 PM:
“A tsunami with potential for strong currents or waves dangerous to people in or very near the water is expected or occurring. Stay out of the water and away from beaches and waterways.”
Predicted Wave Heights for California:
- Crescent City: 2.6–4.8 ft (arriving ~11:50 PM Jul 29)
- Port San Luis: 2.0–3.7 ft (arriving ~12:35 AM Jul 30)
- Fort Bragg: 0.7–1.3 ft
- Monterey, San Francisco, Santa Barbara, L.A. Harbor: less than 1 ft
- La Jolla: less than 1 ft (arriving ~1:09 AM Jul 30)
- Oceanside: less than 1 ft (arriving ~1:14 AM Jul 30)
Although wave heights for San Diego County are forecasted to be less than 1 foot, emergency officials stress that dangerous conditions are still expected. Even small tsunami waves can create powerful, fast-moving currents capable of damaging boats, overwhelming swimmers, and dragging people off rocks and jetties.
Want to see the tsunami hit San Diego? Don’t.
Watching from the coast may seem harmless, but tsunami waves can surge suddenly, without warning, and are often strongest in harbors, bays, and river mouths—places that might look calm until it’s too late.
Additional Threats and Monitoring:
- A Tsunami Warning remains in effect for parts of coastal Alaska closer to the quake.
- Hawai‘i, Midway Island, and Guam are being closely monitored as early indicators of tsunami behavior in deep water.
- Little wave data is currently available, and predictions are subject to change as new readings come in overnight.
What You Should Do:
- Avoid beaches, bays, piers, and coastal river mouths.
- Do not go to the water to observe the tsunami.
- Do not surf, boat, or swim until the advisory is lifted.
- Follow instructions from local officials and stay tuned to NOAA, NWS, and Alert San Diego updates.
This advisory will remain in effect until further notice, with additional guidance expected after the first wave arrivals are confirmed along the Pacific coastline.
