Tsunami Alerts Issued for Hawaii and West Coast After Massive 8.8 Magnitude Earthquake Off Russia

Tsunami Waves Reach US Shores

• 🌊 Powerful waves from a massive 8.8 magnitude earthquake off the coast of Russia have reached US shores, triggering tsunami alerts.
• 💡 The first waves arrived in Hawaii, with many residents going to sleep unaware of the potential impact.

Impact on Hawaii and Alaska

• ⚠️ Thousands in Hawaii were evacuated from coastal areas.
• 📊 Wave heights in Hawaii reached about six feet in parts of Maui and five feet on the Big Island.
• 🚢 The earthquake's epicenter was approximately 85 miles off the Russian coast, causing significant flooding and tearing boats from moorings in affected areas.

Pacific Crossing and Early Warning Systems

• ✈️ Tsunamis can travel at speeds up to 500 miles per hour, comparable to a jet.
• 🛰️ A Pacific buoy network measures wave height, providing an early warning system that prompted a tsunami watch and then a warning for Hawaii.

West Coast Impact and Dissipation

• 📉 The majority of the tsunami's power dissipated as it crossed the open ocean, resulting in minimal impact on the West Coast.
• ⚠️ California experienced three-foot waves in Northern California around 3 a.m., comparable to an average storm, and is now under a tsunami advisory with no reported damage.

Historical Tsunami Event

• ⛰️ The tallest tsunami on record was 1,700 feet in Alaska in 1958, caused by a massive rockslide into a bay.