Tsunami alerts lifted after quake

[nadinbrzezinski]

TOKYO, Japan (CNN) -- Tsunami alerts issued after an 8.1-magnitude earthquake struck near Japan's northern coast have been lifted, according to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center.

However, Japan's Meteorological Agency, on its Web site, showed watches were still in effect for most of the eastern Pacific coast of Hokkaido.

Residents along Japan's Pacific coast had been told to flee the tsunami after the quake hit Wednesday at 8:14 p.m. (1114 GMT) deep under the Pacific Ocean about 1,700 kilometers (1,000 miles) northeast of Tokyo. (How earthquakes are measured)

A wave measuring about 40 centimenters (16 inches) did wash up on some eastern Pacific coastal areas of Japan, officials there said, but nothing like the wave of almost 2 meters (about 6 feet) that had been predicted as a possibility.

Across the Pacific, all tsunami warnings and watches were canceled for the islands of Hawaii, as well as where they had been issued for the coastline of part of Washington state, British Columbia and Alaska, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said.

http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/asiapcf/11/15/japan.tsunami/index.html

[nadinbrzezinski]

1. And from the Warnign center

To: Tsunami warning system participants in the U.S. West Coast States, Alaska, and British Columbia
From: NOAA/NWS/West Coast and Alaska Tsunami Warning Center (Experimental Web Product)
Subject: Final Tsunami Warning and Watch #6 issued 01/12/2007 at 11:30PM PST

The Tsunami Warning and Watch are canceled for British Columbia and Alaska.

A tsunami has been observed at the following sites:
Hanasaki Japan 0.1m/0.3ft
Kushiro Japan 0.1 m/0.3ft
Ofunato Japan 0.06m/0.2 ft
Kamaishi Japan 0.07m/0.2ft
Miyako Japan 0.08m/ 0.26ft
Shemya Alaska .32m/1.0 ft
Wave observations are the amplitude above sea level.

No destructive tsunami threat exists for Alaska, British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, and California. However, some areas may experience observable effects which could include strong currents in harbors and bays dangerous to those in or near the water. These effects are expected to begin at approximately 0440AM PST in the Pacific Northwest ranging to 0600AM PST in southern California and could continue for several hours after initial arrival. As local conditions can cause a wide variation in tsunami wave activity, the all clear determinations must be made by local authorities. At 8:24 PM Pacific Standard Time on January 12, an earthquake with preliminary magnitude 8.2 occurred east of the Kuril Islands, Russia.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Ewa Beach, Hawaii will issue a final tsunami message for Hawaii and other areas of the Pacific outside California, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia and Alaska. This will be the last West Coast/Alaska Tsunami Warning Center message issued for this event.

To repeat, NO tsunami watch or warning is in effect for the U.S. West coast states, Alaska, and British Columbia. See the WCATWC web site for basic tsunami information, safety rules, and a tsunami travel time map and table. (NOTE: Travel time maps and tables indicate predicted times only, not that a wave was generated.)

Link to Standard Warning Product
Link to Public Warning Product
Link to XML/CAP Product


Oh and it goes without saying, STAY OUT OF THE WATER.. yes that goes for you surfers

[uppityperson]

2. heights of tsunami

http://wcatwc.arh.noaa.gov/message529260-07.htm
A tsunami has been observed at the following sites:
Hanasaki, Japan 0.1m/0.3ft
Shemya, AlaskaShemya, Alaska 0.32m/1.0ft
Adak, AlaskaAdak, Alaska 0.04m/0.1ft
Dutch Harbor, AlaskaDutch Harbor, Alaska 0.06m/0.2ft
Midway I.Midway I. 0.18m/0.6ft
Hilo, HawaiiHilo, Hawaii 0.12m/0.4ft
Kahului, HawaiiKahului, Hawaii 0.17m/0.6ft
Nawiliwili ,HawaiiNawiliwili ,Hawaii 0.09m/0.3ft
Wake I.Wake I. 0.09m/0.3ft
Wave observations are the amplitude above sea level.

WA/OR/CA/Hawaii coasts have this warning: OTHER COASTAL AREAS IN THE PACIFIC MAY EXPERIENCE SMALL SEA LEVEL
CHANGES OR STRONG AND UNUSUAL CURRENTS. Locally I read that beware of currents being screwy today.