To: U.S. West Coast, Alaska, and British Columbia coastal regions
From: NOAA/NWS/West Coast and Alaska Tsunami Warning Center
Subject: Tsunami Information Statement #1 issued 03/10/2011 at 9:58PM PST
This is a Tsunami Information Statement for California, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, and Alaska. NO tsunami warning, watch or advisory is in effect for these areas.
Earthquakes of this size are known to generate tsunamis potentially dangerouse to coasts outside the source region. The West Coast/Alaska Tsunami Warning Center is investigating the event to determine the level of danger. More information will be issued as it becomes available.
At 9:46 PM Pacific Standard Time on March 10, an earthquake with preliminary magnitude 7.9 occurred near the east coast of Honshu, Japan . (Refer to the United States Geological Survey for official earthquake parameters.)
Pacific coastal regions outside California, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, and Alaska should refer to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center messages for information on the event.
Messages will be issued hourly by the WCATWC until the event status is upgraded to a warning or advisory, or until the center has determined that the event poses no threat to the California, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, and Alaska coasts. 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 forecasted times only, not that a wave dangerous to the U.S. and Canadian coasts was generated.)
Per Twitter:
18ft tall tsunami is hitting Kamashi(sp?), Japan.