BajaNomad

TSUNAMI WARNING FOR THE WEST COAST

woody with a view - 9-29-2009 at 05:33 PM

Tsunami Warning
Date: Tuesday September 29, 2009
Time: 4:45 PM

An 8.3-magnitude quake struck at 17:48 GMT (10:48 PDT), generating 5.1ft waves in Apia and Pago Pago, American Samoa. This has, according to the BBC, resulted in at least 20 deaths there.

The National Weather Service has issued a Tsunami Advisory for all coastal areas of California and Oregon.

According to the NWS warnings, a possible Tsunami could hit the SoCal coast around 9:30 this evening. This wave event is not a surfable event, but instead, should be viewed with caution. Although wave size has not been great, the surge could penetrate inland, so coastal flooding is of concern. Please note also that the Tsunami may only generate a few inches of height for the California coast, but caution is still warranted, and the NWS and Tsunami warning center are continuing their advisories at this time.

For more information, please visit the NOAA Tsunami Warning Center at wcatwc.arh.noaa.gov.

DanO - 9-29-2009 at 05:50 PM

The estimate is between 20 and 65 centimeters (roughly 8 to 26 inches) of surge, but Hawaii only got 6 inches.

A Tsunami Advisory is in effect

Paulclark - 9-29-2009 at 05:52 PM

A Tsunami Advisory is in effect which includes the coastal areas of California and Oregon from the California-Mexico border to the Oregon-Washington border.

For details go to: http://wcatwc.arh.noaa.gov/2009/09/29/424649/03/message42464...

Should hit the west coast it about 2100 PST -

landyacht318 - 9-29-2009 at 07:33 PM

Apparently, If the waves from the tsunami were/are actually traveling in this direction, the first ones would Hit La Jolla at 9:20 tonight with the biggest ones hitting around 1:20 later.

So if it indeed is coming, it should hit Baja a little before, and no doubt be larger being closer to the source with deeper water just offshore.

shari - 9-29-2009 at 07:39 PM

Just read on the news that a tidal wave of about 30' wiped out villages near Samoa after a 8.0 earthquake....what a disaster....here is a map about travel time to reach our neck of the desert....wonder how it will affect the tuna fishing tomorrow??

tidal wave-1.jpg - 45kB

landyacht318 - 9-29-2009 at 07:53 PM

I cannot post a pic here, but Surfline:

http://www.surfline.com/surf-news/samoa-earthquake-generates-pacific-ocean-wide-tsunami_30881/

Has a real neat map showing that significant energy from the earthquake was radiating this way. They say Hawaii had a 1 foot sea level rise, but the map shows that not much energy was directed that way, compared to the Californias.

shari - 9-29-2009 at 08:11 PM

interesting picture...even it it is only a few feet high, this may wash some pangas off the beaches...they leave them just a bit higher than the high tide marks...as well as some low lying beach camps...not sure what the tide is doing at midnight.
My heart goes out to all those harmed by this disaster...entire villages were wiped out....many of you from Mulege can relate I'm sure....it was so sudden...the wave came shortly after the earthquake in Samoa....not much warning.

samoa-1.jpg - 30kB

landyacht318 - 9-29-2009 at 08:17 PM

How were you able to copy that image?

shari - 9-29-2009 at 08:34 PM

right click on image and save it...then I reduced the size to under 50k. I took the image from another surf site.
Juan says we are going to sleep in our life jackets just in case (we sleep at the edge of the cliff in our tent these days).

bajadock - 9-29-2009 at 08:37 PM

Thanks Pauclark, landyacht318 and Shari. Just joking about the disaster a tsunami would have in my Punta Band area while kayaking with friend this afternoon just before sunset. Hope for quick recovery for those suffering.

landyacht318 - 9-29-2009 at 08:39 PM

"I took the image from another surf site."

Didn't consider that. I know surfline allows no right click/ copy

Can't you just copy the URL of that other site and paste it without reducing it?
Thanks

shari - 9-29-2009 at 08:51 PM

i dunno...try it!

I am finding all this tsunami stuff fascinating....the maps and info. I've had that tsunami warning site send me emails and it's the first one that may affect us...kind of frightening information on how they are not really sure just how big or small the wave might be....it depends on the location like harbour mouths, inlets etc.

I am glad to be reading up though to be more or less informed for when it may happen. The earth is undergoing changes and just seems like there are more storms, earthquakes etc. and it's good to be somewhat educated...particularly because we live on the edge.

I found it very interesting that the sites recorded a 5' wave whereas witnesses said the wave was 15-20' when it came ashore. So this gives me cause to ponder when I see a report that says ...maybe a 2-3' wave predicted...one should take into consideration where one is.

[Edited on 9-30-2009 by shari]

jls - 9-30-2009 at 07:14 AM

I wonder if there are any ship-to-shore reports?

mulegemichael - 9-30-2009 at 07:39 AM

so...did the tsunami show up?...worried about our amigos in asuncion

Taco de Baja - 9-30-2009 at 07:47 AM

Can't copy or link to images on turfline, but since they took it from NOAA, and at least sourced that fact....:rolleyes: I went to NOAA, found the original image. The one from NOAA can be linked to and pasted here. A little bit large, but a cool image none the less.

DENNIS - 9-30-2009 at 07:48 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Taco de Baja
Can't copy or link to images on turfline, but since they took it from NOAA, and at least sourced that fact....:rolleyes: I went to NOAA, found the original image. The one from NOAA can be linked to and pasted here. A little bit large, but a cool image none the less.



WOW....It looks like a Georgia O'Keefe painting.

shari - 9-30-2009 at 08:01 AM

well...the only big waves were in my dreams...or I think they were dreams. We did wake up several times with some exceptionally noisy waves hitting the cliff....at low tide!!! which was weird and certainly enough to get our attention. When I saw the map last night i didnt much like the little orange band around the shore...nor the information that mentioned uncertainty.

The good thing is we are now more aware, learned something...and will be better prepared for the next warning...ya just never know.

I just received info that the small wave managed to go 700' up an inlet in Alaska. I wonder why the Gulf isnt affected at all...it's like a big inlet?

David K - 9-30-2009 at 08:04 AM

It probably has to do with the direction the opening faces...?

Taco de Baja - 9-30-2009 at 08:13 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by shari


I just received info that the small wave managed to go 700' up an inlet in Alaska. I wonder why the Gulf isnt affected at all...it's like a big inlet?


Not pointed the "right" direction. If the Gulf pointed south west....the wave sure would have headed up there....

Or, if there was an 8.0 earthquake around Puerto Vallarta, Mexico...or further southeast, say around the Galapagos Islands a wave would likely go into the Gulf.

The inlet in Alaska had to have had a clear view all the way to Samoa.

woody with a view - 9-30-2009 at 12:25 PM

what i don't get (among other stuff!) is if it is a "wave" why it doesn't radiate out from the source and, as it starts to encounter a land mass in say central america, people will notice its effects. then an alarm can be raised up the coast to alert people that, yes there is a tsunami and it is traveling at X mph.

:?:

shari - 9-30-2009 at 12:32 PM

last night when I read about the probability of strong currents...I pondered the possible effects on fishing. Juan called in mid morning perplexed...where yesterday was thick will yellowtail, tuna and dorado...today there was ne'er a seagull or sardine...NADA...so I'm guessing this thing did affect the fish...dang.

Taco de Baja - 9-30-2009 at 01:06 PM

Amazing shots coming in from Samoa. :O








Link to more

David K - 9-30-2009 at 02:02 PM

Thanks Brooks...

comitan - 9-30-2009 at 05:52 PM

Firsthand report.

http://www.noonsite.com/Members/sue/R2009-09-30-1

Mexicorn - 9-30-2009 at 09:13 PM

Wow that was a terrible wave! What can we Nomads do to help?