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Massive Earthquake in Japan Triggers Tsunami Warnings Across Pacific Including Alaska
Published: 03/11/2011 00:10:26
Updated: 03/11/2011 12:34:24

Tsunami Alert Map 3-11-2011 01:09AM (AST) (NWS)

Tsunami Travel Map 3-10-11 (WCATWC)

Tsunami Energy Map 3-11-11 (NWS)

Shemya Tide Gauge Data 3-11-2011 (NWS)

Sand Point Tide Gauge Data 3-11-2011 (NWS)

A massive Earthquake with a magnitude of 8.9 (USGS) hit off the coast of Japan late Thursday Alaska time, resulting a tsunami over 10 feet high in some areas to hit the Japanese coastline.

Tsunami Warnings were issued across the Pacific ocean, including Hawaii, The US West cost, and Alaska and Canada.

Waves first hit the Aleutians in the late hours of the evening. A sea level gauge at Shemya near Attu showed a sudden increasing change in water depth starting at 12:30am. A gauge at Sand point showed the initial tsunami just after 3:30am.

The West Coast and Alaska Tsunami Warning Center reported various tsunami waves at the following locations and times:
1.5 feet was measured at Adak at 2:12am.
5.1 feet was measured at Shemya at 2:30am.
1.6 feet was measured at Dutch Harbour at 2:34am
1.4 feet was measured at Nikolski at 2:56am
1.7 feet was measured at Winter Harbour, BC at 5:50am.
0.5 feet was measured at Elfin Cove at 6:35am.
0.5 feet was measured at Kodiak at 6:50am.
0.8 feet was measured at Craig at 7:13am.
1.0 feet was measured at Sitka at 8:11am.
3.4 feet was measured at Adak at 8:47am.
6.1 feet was measured at Port Orford, OR at 9:24am.
1.0 feet was measured at Los Angeles, CA at 10:05am.
2.0 feet was measured at Westport, WA at 10:20am.

The tsunami diminished as it made it's way across the Alaska coastline during the night and early morning hours.

Little damage was reported from Hawaii. The west coast of the continental US was hit by waves and heavy surf causing damage in harbors and leaving one missing in California.

Warnings remained in effect for the Southern Pacific, Easter Island and Chile with notable tsunami arrival times forecast for Friday evening in accordance with Tsunami Energy prediction models.

Estimated times for potential initial tsunami arrivals were forecast as follows late Thursday evening:
Attu 12:20 am
Adak 1:18 am
Akutan 2:24 am
Dutch Harbor 2:28 am
Kodiak 3:58 am
Seward 4:23 am
Yakutat 4:33 am
Sitka 4:33 am
Valdez 4:43 am
Cordova 4:52 am
Homer 5:16 am
Ketchikan 5:40 am
Juneau 5:43 am
Gambell 6:06 am

These time reflect the potential time of arrival of a first wave. Tsunamis can cause multiple waves and the first wave may not be the largest. Peak waves can occur hours after the initial forecast time.

http://wcatwc.arh.noaa.gov/

By: KATH-TV - news@kath.tv

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