UPDATE at 2:30 p.m., July 30
The Tsunami Advisory was cancelled as of 2:30 p.m. Wednesday. All Santa Barbara County beaches have reopened. Local authorities urge everyone to practice caution and continue to monitor the situation on tsunami.gov.
At 6:50 a.m. Wednesday, the National Weather Service cancelled the warning for Ventura and Los Angeles counties. The advisory remained in effect until 2:30 p.m. for Santa Barbara County due to possible lingering currents.
A massive earthquake off the coast of Russia has prompted urgent tsunami warnings and advisories along the California coastline, including the Central Coast.
An 8.7 magnitude earthquake struck approximately 80 miles off the coast near the town of Petropavlovsk Kamchatka at 4:25 p.m. PST on Tuesday. The area is located off the most eastern part of Russia in the Sea of Ohkhotsk.
The earthquake prompted global and regional weather agencies to alert tsunami warnings to Russia, Japan, Hawaii and Pacific Islands, Alaska, and California.
“Tsunami watches are an advance notice to areas that could be impacted by a tsunami at a later time,” according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). “Watch areas may be upgraded to a warning or advisory status, or canceled, based on new information.”
Weather agencies initially issued a Tsunami Watch but as of 7:15 p.m. Tuesday, the alert was upgraded to a “Tsunami Advisory.” This means strong currents and waves would be dangerous to those in or very near water. Residents are urged to stay out of the water, away from beaches and waterways.
“A tsunami capable of producing strong currents that may be hazardous to swimmers, boats, and coastal structures is expected. Widespread inundation is NOT expected. However, damage at the harbors will be possible,” an alert by the National Weather Service states. “Surging water in and out of harbors can cause boats and docks to detach from structures. Port San Luis and Morro Bay will be of particular concern for these impacts, however other locations anywhere in the Advisory area will be susceptible to impacts including coastal flooding.”
Below are the forecasted tsunami start times for the Central Coast:
- Port San Luis California 1235 AM PDT on Jul 30
- Santa Barbara California 1250 AM PDT on Jul 30
- Los Angeles California 0105 AM PDT on Jul 30
NWS states that tsunamis often arrive as a series of waves or surges which could be dangerous for many hours after the first wave arrival. The first tsunami wave or surge may not be the highest in the series.
The forecasted tsunami duration is 20 hours for Port San Luis and 9 hours for Santa Barbara. The forecasted peak tsunami wave heights are 1.7 – 3.2 feet for Port San Luis, 0.9 to 1.7 feet for Santa Barbara, and less than one foot for Los Angeles.
NWS states it is recommended for those located in coastal areas to move off the beach and out of harbors and marinas, and do not go to the coast to watch the tsunami.
For more information visit tsunami.gov and weather.gov.
Also Read
- California Boy’s Request for Lego Store Sparks Surprise Gift from Shopping Mall
- Video Shows Heated Exchange Between ICE Agents and Community Members in Carpinteria
- Next Phase of Milpas Street Operational Improvements Begins in January 2026
- What’s Open and Closed in Santa Barbara on MLK Day 2026
- Community Members Rally for Return for Lobster Jo’s Beach Camps in Santa Barbara
Why have we built La Entrada in prime tsunami and sea level rise?
Sounds like lawyers rule the day for the city and county. Before sunrise today the event was over and it was known in Hawaii and all across the coast of California that the tsunami concern was a bust. Yet they shut beaches down all day today and even canceled paid events like Junior Lifeguards.
What’s wrong with avoiding some kids getting swept out in a possible tidal surge and then having the city/county get sued for millions if not more? My kid is lifeguard with them. Sounds like a good thing. They also stay out of the water when juvenile great whites are spotted, which happens more than you think.
That’s why we have lifeguards though isn’t it? < 1% chance of a tidal wave I’d guess, “anonymous” Sac. When was the last time a juvenile white shark bit a kid at east beach?
What a fool you are.
“Fool” is putting it nicely. Anything more and he’d be rushing off to tattle like he always does.
BASIC – “That’s why we have lifeguards though isn’t it? < 1% chance of a tidal wave I’d guess, “anonymous” Sac. When was the last time a juvenile white shark bit a kid at east beach?"
Weird, must've hit the Anon button. Yeah, that was me!
No, that's not why we have lifeguards, you blithering idiot. They're not there to protect hundreds of kids from being swept out in a tidal surge they could have avoided. Any idea how many little kids are in junior lifeguards? Of course you don't, you soft-brained fool.
As for sharks….. you can't seriously be so mind numbingly stupid to be suggesting we shouldn't get people out of the water when a juvie GW is in the area, just because a kid hasn't been bitten yet. Can you? Are you that stupid? Yes. Yes you absolutely are.
We have lifeguards to protect dunderheaded morons like you from themselves.
Sounds like you’re a self-centered sociopath
I received no warning from the Santa Barbara County Aware and Prepare service. Were they asleep at the switch again?
Do you live in a zone encompassed by the tsunami advisory?
They didn’t send the usual texts, for whatever reason, like they do for a lot of hot days, rainy days, and windy days.
You’re really fixated on that idiotic topic, aren’t you? Where’s your buddy rube in that hallucination?