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UPDATE: Tsunami Warning Issued For California Coast; Residents Warned to Stay Away From Beach This Morning

Tsunami warning issued for the West Coast and coastal California after 8.9-magnitude earthquake hits Japan.

Update 1:03 a.m. PST: The tsunami watch has now been upgraded to a warning: http://wcatwc.arh.noaa.gov/

The National Weather Service defines a tsunami warning as a "tsunami with significant widespread inundation is imminent or expected. Warnings indicate that widespread dangerous coastal flooding accompanied by powerful currents is possible and may continue to several hours after the initial wave arrival." 

A tsunami watch is in effect for coastal areas of California after a reported 8.9-magnitude earthquake struck off the northeast coast of Japan Thursday night, a National Weather Service official said.

Find out what's happening in Pacificawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The watch, issued shortly after midnight, is in effect through the morning, forecaster Steve Anderson said.

A tsunami watch is an alert issued for areas outside the zones where tsunami warnings have been issued.

Find out what's happening in Pacificawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The alert is based on the magnitude of the earthquake. For earthquakes with a magnitude of 7.5 or above, a watch is put into effect for areas within three hours tsunami-travel time outside the zone where warnings have been issued, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

A watch is either upgraded to a warning or canceled depending on the severity of the tsunami.

Sea levels are expected to rise off the coast of California by less than a foot by 7:30 a.m. in response to the earthquake, Anderson said.

He advised coastal California residents to stay away from the ocean this morning.

-- Bay City News


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