8.9 Magnitude Earthquake Just hit Japan. Tsunami Watch in effect

North Japan has just been hit with what could be the fourth or fifth biggest recorded earthquake in modern history.
Potential tsunami's throughout the Pacific according to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center:

http://www.weather.gov/ptwc/

AN INVESTIGATION IS UNDERWAY TO DETERMINE
IF THERE IS A TSUNAMI THREAT TO HAWAII.
IF TSUNAMI WAVES IMPACT HAWAII THE ESTIMATED EARLIEST ARRIVAL OF
THE FIRST TSUNAMI WAVE IS
0259 AM HST FRI 11 MAR 2011

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Sending positive thoughts out.... Just hope they get quick relief.

Doug

Scary thought about when that tsunami hits Hawaii. That's roughly 5 AM my time.

National Weather Service - Honolulu, Hawaii: National Weather Service Forecast Office - Honolulu, Hawai`i

COASTAL WATERS FORECAST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HONOLULU HI
928 PM HST THU MAR 10 2011

HAWAIIAN COASTAL WATERS WITHIN 40 NAUTICAL MILES INCLUDING THE
HAWAIIAN ISLANDS HUMPBACK WHALE NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY.

PHZ118-112015-
MAUI COUNTY LEEWARD WATERS-
928 PM HST THU MAR 10 2011

...TSUNAMI WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 AM HST FRIDAY...

.TODAY...NORTHEAST WINDS 20 KT. WIND WAVES 7 FT. SCATTERED
SHOWERS IN THE MORNING...THEN ISOLATED SHOWERS IN THE AFTERNOON.
.TONIGHT...EAST WINDS 20 KT. WIND WAVES 7 FT. SCATTERED SHOWERS
IN THE EVENING...THEN ISOLATED SHOWERS AFTER MIDNIGHT.
.FRIDAY...NORTHEAST WINDS 15 KT. WIND WAVES 6 FT. ISOLATED
SHOWERS IN THE MORNING.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...NORTHEAST WINDS 15 KT. WIND WAVES 6 FT. ISOLATED
SHOWERS IN THE EVENING.
.SATURDAY...NORTHEAST WINDS 15 KT. WIND WAVES 6 FT. ISOLATED
SHOWERS IN THE MORNING.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...EAST WINDS 15 KT. WIND WAVES 4 FT. ISOLATED
SHOWERS IN THE EVENING.
.SUNDAY...NORTHEAST WINDS 15 KT. WIND WAVES 4 FT.
.MONDAY...NORTHEAST WINDS 10 KT. WIND WAVES 4 FT.

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Great my girl friend is freaking out about this now. <_<"

Japanese quake forces Sony shutdown, may hit Nikon, more
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Hope everyone stays safe, nature at it's worst, but nothing you can do.
One thing though, have you seen the whirlpool - astounding! Like someone pulled the plug out of the ocean floor.

Here in the states, they're preparing for possible impacts to parts of Washington, Oregon, and Northern California. I heard on the radio this morning that they evacuated one town in Washington already.
That's some scary stuff. I feel for those in Japan being in the dark and on an island with limited escape routes. That's gotta be tough. Our thoughts and prayers go out to everyone impacted by this disaster.

Sitting (delayed) in the airport in Boston and the news stations are looping footage from Japan. It's just incredible to watch.

Evacuating a town in Washington? Really? I didn't think it would be that bad once it comes to N.A., but I would say all the luck to everyone in Japan, but it seems kind of weird knowing so many people have lost their lives, and hundreds are still missing.

Shouldn't have been prepared a little? I've been reading the news, and everything suggests that they neglected the power of the recent oceanic earthquake. The fact that it was the largest recored would be enough to worry me, especially if I was living in Japan, or other close Asian countries.

MYmacROX said:

Here in the states, they're preparing for possible impacts to parts of Washington, Oregon, and Northern California. I heard on the radio this morning that they evacuated one town in Washington already.
That's some scary stuff. I feel for those in Japan being in the dark and on an island with limited escape routes. That's gotta be tough. Our thoughts and prayers go out to everyone impacted by this disaster.

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As far as I'm aware, all schools along the Oregon coast are closed. It sounds like the impact wave will only be about 2-3 feet high, so nothing too incredibly bad hits hopefully. I'm in Portland, OR, just a couple hours away from the coast. It's scary to have woken up to news of this, but they are saying it shouldn't be too bad. It was estimated to have hit about 50 minutes ago, but hasn't yet. It hit Hawaii at about 5 feet if I'm correct. I'm just concerned for areas that have, are, or will be hit harder than here.

idrinorbarsaku said:

Evacuating a town in Washington? Really?

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They've evacuated quite a few in Oregon as well.

All the beaches in SoCal are closed, that goes for harbors and anything near the water. Tsunami advisory are in effect. I think there is only one school closing and that's in New Port Beach. 2 feet high waves is not really that dangerous but the currents are erratic and that is dangerous.

I live 5 minutes walking distance to the beach. >_<"

CrimsonRequiem said:

2 feet high waves is not really that dangerous but the currents are erratic and that is dangerous.

I live 5 minutes walking distance to the beach. >_<"

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True. I was in Huntington Beach (couple miles N. of Newport) Aug of last yr and waves were like 3 or 4 feet tall one morning. Insane! But it's not the kind of stuff that will make its way to the streets or houses.

It's still good that these cities/states are exercising precaution. Better safe than sorry.

MYmacROX said:

True. I was in Huntington Beach (couple miles N. of Newport) Aug of last yr and waves were like 3 or 4 feet tall one morning. Insane! But it's not the kind of stuff that will make its way to the streets or houses.

It's still good that these cities/states are exercising precaution. Better safe than sorry.

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Exactly. In the event of a big tsunami hitting, these folks are better prepared and practiced for evacuation.

I watched that initial Tsunami wave coming in on shore in Northern Japan last night on late night TV. It was absolutely devastating. Learned this morning that the wave was 23' high.

I lived in Japan for awhile (during my military days) and know that there are some very old wood structures that are still being used. I imagine most of those were destroyed. The Japanese are lucky in one respect though as the quake could have been centered around Tokyo where 18 million people reside.

chscag said:

The Japanese are lucky in one respect though as the quake could have been centered around Tokyo where 18 million people reside.

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If it did hit the capital things might have been a little better. As all their buildings in the capital are flexible and very earthquake resilient. They even have annual earthquake drills over there.

US West Coast under Tsunami Warning:

TSUNAMI MESSAGE NUMBER 17
NWS WEST COAST/ALASKA TSUNAMI WARNING CENTER PALMER AK
155 PM PST FRI MAR 11 2011

THE TSUNAMI WARNING AND ADVISORY REGION REMAIN THE SAME.
TSUNAMI OBSERVATIONS ARE UPDATED BELOW.

...THE TSUNAMI WARNING CONTINUES IN EFFECT FOR THE COASTAL
AREAS OF CALIFORNIA AND OREGON FROM POINT CONCEPCION
CALIFORNIA TO THE OREGON-WASHINGTON BORDER...

...THE TSUNAMI ADVISORY CONTINUES IN EFFECT FOR THE COASTAL
AREAS OF CALIFORNIA FROM THE CALIFORNIA-MEXICO BORDER TO
POINT CONCEPCION CALIFORNIA...

...THE TSUNAMI ADVISORY CONTINUES IN EFFECT FOR THE COASTAL
AREAS OF WASHINGTON - BRITISH COLUMBIA AND ALASKA FROM THE
OREGON-WASHINGTON BORDER TO ATTU ALASKA...

RECOMMENDED ACTIONS
A TSUNAMI HAS BEEN GENERATED WHICH IS EXPECTED TO CAUSE DAMAGE
TO THE WARNING AND/OR ADVISORY REGIONS LISTED IN THE HEADLINE.
PERSONS IN LOW-LYING COASTAL AREAS SHOULD BE ALERT TO
INSTRUCTIONS FROM THEIR LOCAL EMERGENCY OFFICIALS. EVACUATIONS
ARE ONLY ORDERED BY EMERGENCY RESPONSE AGENCIES.
- PERSONS IN TSUNAMI WARNING COASTAL AREAS SHOULD MOVE INLAND TO
HIGHER GROUND.

- PERSONS IN TSUNAMI ADVISORY COASTAL AREAS SHOULD MOVE OUT OF
THE WATER... OFF THE BEACH AND OUT OF HARBORS AND MARINAS.

MEASUREMENTS OR REPORTS OF TSUNAMI ACTIVITY

LOCATION LAT LON TIME AMPL
------------------------ ----- ------ ------- -----------
SANTA MONICA CA 34.0N 118.5W 1845UTC 02.4FT/00.74M
SANTA BARBARA CA 34.4N 119.7W 1959UTC 02.3FT/00.71M
SAND POINT AK 55.3N 160.5W 2108UTC 01.8FT/00.55M
NIKOLSKI AK 52.9N 168.9W 2133UTC 01.6FT/00.49M
KING COVE AK 55.1N 162.3W 2103UTC 01.9FT/00.59M
CRAIG AK 55.5N 133.1W 1613UTC 00.8FT/00.24M
ELFIN COVE AK 58.2N 136.3W 1535UTC 00.5FT/00.16M
SITKA AK 57.1N 135.3W 1711UTC 01.0FT/00.32M
POINT REYES CA 38.0N 123.0W 1803UTC 04.4FT/01.35M
PORT ORFORD OR 42.7N 124.5W 1724UTC 06.1FT/01.85M
ADAK AK 51.9N 176.6W 1747UTC 03.4FT/01.05M
KODIAK AK 57.7N 152.5W 2044UTC 00.6FT/00.17M
LOS ANGELES CA 33.7N 118.3W 1905UTC 01.0FT/00.32M
SAN DIEGO CA 32.7N 117.2W 1901UTC 01.7FT/00.52M
LA JOLLA CA 32.9N 117.3W 1952UTC 01.3FT/00.40M
WESTPORT WA 46.9N 124.1W 1920UTC 02.0FT/00.62M
ST PAUL IS. AK 57.1N 170.3W 2011UTC 01.4FT/00.41M
OLD HARBOR AK 57.2N 153.3W 2109UTC 01.0FT/00.29M
DUTCH HARBOR AK 53.9N 166.5W 2108UTC 00.8FT/00.25M

TIME - TIME OF MEASUREMENT
AMPL - TSUNAMI AMPLITUDES ARE MEASURED RELATIVE TO NORMAL SEA LEVEL.
IT IS ...NOT... CREST-TO-TROUGH WAVE HEIGHT.
VALUES ARE GIVEN IN BOTH METERS(M) AND FEET(FT).

SEVERAL SITES IN OREGON AND CALIFORNIA CONTINUE TO RECORD
TSUNAMIS IN EXCESS OF 1 METER. THE SITUATION REMAINS DANGEROUS -
PLEASE STAY TUNED TO INSTRUCTION FROM YOUR LOCAL EMERGENCY
OFFICIALS BEFORE RETURNING TO ENDANGERED AREAS.
FURTHER WAVE OBSERVATIONS ARE POSTED ON THE WCATWC WEB SITE
WCATWC.ARH.NOAA.GOV.

PRELIMINARY EARTHQUAKE PARAMETERS
MAGNITUDE - 8.9
TIME - 2046 AKST MAR 10 2011
2146 PST MAR 10 2011
0546 UTC MAR 11 2011
LOCATION - 38.3 NORTH 142.4 EAST
- NEAR EAST COAST OF HONSHU JAPAN
DEPTH - 12 MILES/20 KM

TSUNAMI WARNINGS MEAN THAT 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 FOR SEVERAL HOURS AFTER THE
INITIAL WAVE ARRIVAL.

TSUNAMI ADVISORIES MEAN THAT A TSUNAMI CAPABLE OF PRODUCING
STRONG CURRENTS OR WAVES DANGEROUS TO PERSONS IN OR VERY NEAR THE
WATER IS EXPECTED. SIGNIFICANT WIDESPREAD INUNDATION
IS NOT EXPECTED FOR AREAS UNDER AN ADVISORY. CURRENTS MAY BE
HAZARDOUS TO SWIMMERS... BOATS... AND COASTAL STRUCTURES AND MAY
CONTINUE FOR SEVERAL HOURS AFTER THE INITIAL WAVE ARRIVAL.

PACIFIC COASTAL REGIONS OUTSIDE CALIFORNIA/ OREGON/ WASHINGTON/
BRITISH COLUMBIA AND ALASKA SHOULD REFER TO THE PACIFIC TSUNAMI
WARNING CENTER MESSAGES FOR INFORMATION ON THIS EVENT AT
WWW.WEATHER.GOV/PTWC.

THIS MESSAGE WILL BE UPDATED IN 60 MINUTES OR SOONER IF
THE SITUATION WARRANTS. THE TSUNAMI MESSAGE WILL REMAIN IN EFFECT
UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. REFER TO THE INTERNET SITE
WCATWC.ARH.NOAA.GOV FOR MORE INFORMATION.

PZZ530-CAZ034-035-529-530-006-505>509-002-001-ORZ021-022-002-
001-112325-
/O.CON.PAAQ.TS.W.0006.000000T0000Z-000000T0000Z/
COASTAL AREAS BETWEEN AND INCLUDING POINT CONCEPCION
CALIFORNIA TO THE OREGON-WASHINGTON BORDER
155 PM PST FRI MAR 11 2011

...THE TSUNAMI WARNING CONTINUES IN EFFECT FOR THE COASTAL
AREAS OF CALIFORNIA AND OREGON FROM POINT CONCEPCION
CALIFORNIA TO THE OREGON-WASHINGTON BORDER...

PERSONS IN TSUNAMI WARNING COASTAL AREAS SHOULD MOVE INLAND TO
HIGHER GROUND.

TSUNAMI WARNINGS MEAN THAT A TSUNAMI WITH SIGNIFICANT WIDESPREAD
INUNDATION IS IMMINENT OR EXPECTED. TSUNAMIS ARE A SERIES OF
WAVES POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SEVERAL HOURS AFTER INITIAL ARRIVAL
TIME.

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I'm in Hawaii. They all freaked out...for nothing....

baggss said:

I'm in Hawaii. They all freaked out...for nothing....

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Better safe than sorry. Just don't cause a panic over nothing though. Cause people will be ******.

It appears the WC is still hanging on to the notion.

TSUNAMI MESSAGE NUMBER 23
NWS WEST COAST/ALASKA TSUNAMI WARNING CENTER PALMER AK
756 PM PST FRI MAR 11 2011

ADVISORY CANCELED FOR CAL-MEX BORDER TO ALAMITOS BAY CALIF.

...THE TSUNAMI ADVISORY CONTINUES IN EFFECT FOR THE COASTAL
AREAS OF CALIFORNIA AND OREGON FROM ALAMITOS BAY
CALIFORNIA/20 MILES SE OF L.A./ TO CASCADE HEAD OREGON/70
MILES SW OF PORTLAND/...

...THE TSUNAMI ADVISORY CONTINUES IN EFFECT FOR THE COASTAL
AREAS OF ALASKA FROM CHIGNIK BAY ALASKA TO ATTU ALASKA...

...THE TSUNAMI ADVISORY IS CANCELED FOR THE COASTAL AREAS
OF CALIFORNIA FROM THE CALIFORNIA-MEXICO BORDER TO ALAMITOS
BAY CALIFORNIA/20 MILES SE OF L.A./...

...THIS MESSAGE IS INFORMATION ONLY FOR COASTAL AREAS OF
OREGON - WASHINGTON - BRITISH COLUMBIA AND ALASKA FROM
CASCADE HEAD OREGON/70 MILES SW OF PORTLAND/ TO CHIGNIK BAY
ALASKA...

RECOMMENDED ACTIONS
A TSUNAMI HAS BEEN GENERATED WHICH IS EXPECTED TO IMPACT THE
ADVISORY REGIONS LISTED IN THE HEADLINE. PERSONS IN LOW-LYING
COASTAL AREAS SHOULD BE ALERT TO INSTRUCTIONS FROM THEIR LOCAL
EMERGENCY OFFICIALS. EVACUATIONS ARE ONLY ORDERED BY EMERGENCY
RESPONSE AGENCIES.
- PERSONS IN TSUNAMI ADVISORY COASTAL AREAS SHOULD MOVE OUT OF
THE WATER... OFF THE BEACH AND OUT OF HARBORS AND MARINAS.

MEASUREMENTS OR REPORTS OF TSUNAMI ACTIVITY

LOCATION LAT LON TIME AMPL
------------------------ ----- ------ ------- -----------
POINT REYES CA 38.0N 123.0W 1810UTC 04.5FT/01.38M
PORT ORFORD OR 42.7N 124.5W 1724UTC 06.1FT/01.85M
ADAK AK 51.9N 176.6W 1755UTC 03.6FT/01.09M
KODIAK AK 57.7N 152.5W 2211UTC 00.9FT/00.28M
LOS ANGELES CA 33.7N 118.3W 2115UTC 01.7FT/00.51M
SAN DIEGO CA 32.7N 117.2W 2131UTC 01.7FT/00.51M
LA JOLLA CA 32.9N 117.3W 2007UTC 01.4FT/00.43M
WESTPORT WA 46.9N 124.1W 1920UTC 02.0FT/00.62M
ST PAUL IS. AK 57.1N 170.3W 1228UTC 02.1FT/00.65M
OLD HARBOR AK 57.2N 153.3W 2154UTC 01.1FT/00.33M
DUTCH HARBOR AK 53.9N 166.5W 1204UTC 01.3FT/00.41M
SHEMYA AK 52.7N 174.1E 1136UTC 05.2FT/01.58M
CRESCENT CITY CA 41.7N 124.2W 1656UTC 08.2FT/02.49M
SAN FRANCISCO CA 37.8N 122.5W 1749UTC 02.1FT/00.64M
MONTEREY HARBOR CA 36.6N 121.9W 2013UTC 02.4FT/00.72M
NORTH SPIT CA 40.8N 124.2W 1639UTC 03.3FT/01.01M
SANTA BARBARA CA 34.4N 119.7W 2229UTC 03.2FT/00.97M
SANTA MONICA CA 34.0N 118.5W 2223UTC 02.8FT/00.84M

TIME - TIME OF MEASUREMENT
AMPL - TSUNAMI AMPLITUDES ARE MEASURED RELATIVE TO NORMAL SEA LEVEL.
IT IS ...NOT... CREST-TO-TROUGH WAVE HEIGHT.
VALUES ARE GIVEN IN BOTH METERS(M) AND FEET(FT).

TSUNAMI AMPLITUDES CONTINUE TO DECREASE ALONG THE U.S. WEST
COAST... BRITISH COLUMBIA AND ALASKA. HOWEVER... SOME
GAGES CONTINUE TO REPORT TSUNAMI AMPLITUDES OF DANGEROUS
LEVELS.

PRELIMINARY EARTHQUAKE PARAMETERS
MAGNITUDE - 8.9
TIME - 2046 AKST MAR 10 2011
2146 PST MAR 10 2011
0546 UTC MAR 11 2011
LOCATION - 38.3 NORTH 142.4 EAST
- NEAR EAST COAST OF HONSHU JAPAN
DEPTH - 12 MILES/20 KM

TSUNAMI ADVISORIES MEAN THAT A TSUNAMI CAPABLE OF PRODUCING
STRONG CURRENTS OR WAVES DANGEROUS TO PERSONS IN OR VERY NEAR THE
WATER IS EXPECTED. SIGNIFICANT WIDESPREAD INUNDATION
IS NOT EXPECTED FOR AREAS UNDER AN ADVISORY. CURRENTS MAY BE
HAZARDOUS TO SWIMMERS... BOATS... AND COASTAL STRUCTURES AND MAY
CONTINUE FOR SEVERAL HOURS AFTER THE INITIAL WAVE ARRIVAL.

PACIFIC COASTAL REGIONS OUTSIDE CALIFORNIA/ OREGON/ WASHINGTON/
BRITISH COLUMBIA AND ALASKA SHOULD REFER TO THE PACIFIC TSUNAMI
WARNING CENTER MESSAGES FOR INFORMATION ON THIS EVENT AT
WWW.WEATHER.GOV/PTWC.

THIS MESSAGE WILL BE UPDATED IN 60 MINUTES OR SOONER IF
THE SITUATION WARRANTS. THE TSUNAMI MESSAGE WILL REMAIN IN EFFECT
UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. REFER TO THE INTERNET SITE
WCATWC.ARH.NOAA.GOV FOR MORE INFORMATION.

PZZ530-CAZ040-041-087-039-034-035-529-530-006-505>509-002-
001-ORZ021-022-002-120526-
/O.CON.PAAQ.TS.Y.0006.000000T0000Z-000000T0000Z/
COASTAL AREAS BETWEEN AND INCLUDING ALAMITOS BAY
CALIFORNIA/20 MILES SE OF L.A./ TO CASCADE HEAD OREGON/70
MILES SW OF PORTLAND/
756 PM PST FRI MAR 11 2011

...THE TSUNAMI ADVISORY CONTINUES IN EFFECT FOR THE COASTAL
AREAS OF CALIFORNIA AND OREGON FROM ALAMITOS BAY
CALIFORNIA/20 MILES SE OF L.A./ TO CASCADE HEAD OREGON/70
MILES SW OF PORTLAND/...

PERSONS IN TSUNAMI ADVISORY COASTAL AREAS SHOULD MOVE OUT OF
THE WATER... OFF THE BEACH AND OUT OF HARBORS AND MARINAS.

TSUNAMI ADVISORIES MEAN THAT A TSUNAMI CAPABLE OF PRODUCING
STRONG CURRENTS OR WAVES DANGEROUS TO PERSONS IN OR VERY NEAR
WATER IS IMMINENT OR EXPECTED. SIGNIFICANT WIDESPREAD INUNDATION
IS NOT EXPECTED FOR AREAS IN AN ADVISORY. TSUNAMIS ARE A SERIES OF
WAVES POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SEVERAL HOURS AFTER INITIAL ARRIVAL
TIME.

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I have 2 old school friends living in the north of Japan .... Haven't heard anything from them for the last 2 days.... Hope they are alright.
There is no way you can prepare yourself for something like this...

Cheers ... McBie