Tsunami Advisory Issued for Orange County Coast After Japan Quake

A tsunami advisory has been issued for coastal areas of Southern California after an 8.9 magnitude earthquake hit Japan at 9:46 p.m. PST Thursday, according to the National Weather Service and the U.S. Geological Survey.

The advisory means a Tsunami capable of producing strong currents or waves that can be dangerous to people in or very near the water is expected, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

The tsunami advisory is in effect for California from the California-Mexico border to Point Concepcion, CA. In Newport Beach, beaches are closed until further notice, according to police, but evacuation of low-lying areas was not necessary. Newport Elementary School was also closed Friday, due to the alert. 

A more serious tsunami watch had been issued for San Diego before the alert level was downgraded to "advisory." An advisory means that people in or near water may be in danger due to strong currents, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

The NWS estimated the tsunami's California arrival time at 8:41 a.m. Friday in La Jolla, 8:32 a.m. in San Pedro and 8:17 a.m. in Santa Barbara. For more estimated arrival times, click here and look for the "ETA" link under the map.

A tsunami warning has been issued for coastal areas of California and Oregon from Point Concepcion, CA to the Oregon-Washington border. A tsunami watch has been issued for the coastal areas of Washington, British Columbia and Alaska from the Oregon-Washington border to Amchitka Pass, AK.

The West Coast and Alaska Tsunami Information Center is issuing all warnings for California.