Tsunami Advisory Canceled For Bay Area, But Conditions Remain Hazardous

A tsunami advisory was canceled Wednesday along most of California, after waves reaching four feet high hit the coast in the middle of the night.

The advisory was canceled along Southern California early Wednesday morning but remained in effect from the Central Coast to the Oregon border until it was canceled around 11:15 a.m., according to the National Weather Service. The advisory remained in place for Humboldt County and Del Norte County.

Beachgoers should still be on alert for powerful riptides, currents and larger than normal waves throughout the day Wednesday.

"Even though levels have fallen below advisory, the ocean will continue to be dynamic and dangerous, as the water levels will continue to fluctuate. Strong ocean currents will continue to be possible," the National Weather Service's Bay Area office announced. "While coastal areas, beaches and waterways are now open, please remain aware of your surroundings."

The California Governor's Office of Emergency Services deployed rescue teams to Del Norte and San Luis Obispo counties. State officials urged the public to stay off beaches and coastal areas until the advisory was lifted.

There have been no reports of damage so far.

The advisory was issued after a magnitude 8.8 earthquake struck off the eastern coast of Russia late Tuesday afternoon, triggering a tsunami across the Pacific Ocean. The entire West Coast of the United States was placed under a tsunami advisory and evacuations were ordered n Hawaii.

The decision to re-occupy hazard zones must be made by local authorities, according to the National Oceanic Advisory And Atmospheric Administration.

SEE ALSO: West Coast Upgraded To Tsunami Advisory After Massive Russian Earthquake

Waves were expected to continue to hit the coast throughout the day Wednesday. Some areas may continue to see small sea level changes.

Orange County lifeguards removed several people from a beach overnight in Newport Beach while a tsunami advisory was in effect, NBC 4 reported.

Although an advisory remained in effect Wednesday morning for parts of the coast, U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem said the threat of a major tsunami hitting the U.S. "has passed completely."

"We're in really good shape right now," Noem told reporters in Chile, where she was attending meetings with officials. "We were fully deployed and ready to respond if necessary, but grateful that we didn't have to deal with the situation that this could have been."

Tsunami sirens sound in remote California city

The small Northern California community of Crescent City turned on its tsunami sirens to warn residents about possible waves.

“You are hearing a Tsunami Siren. We are under a Tsunami Warning. Please stay away from beaches and waterways. A predicted wave may hit at 11:55 pm. We are waiting on additional information about any level of evacuation,” read a post from the City Hall Facebook account.

The National Weather Service's Eureka office reported tsunami waves with a maximum height of 3.6 feet in Crescent City — enough to create minor coastal flooding and inundation.

The measurements in Crescent City and Arena Cove were high enough to create minor coastal flooding and inundation, the weather service said on social media, adding that tsunami activity will persist and people should avoid beaches and harbors.

The city in rural Northern California has roughly 6,000 residents.

Officials warned people to stay away from beaches and waterways in Crescent City, California, which has observed dozens of tsunamis since the 1930s, including one that killed 11 people and destroyed hundreds of buildings in the city in 1964.

The 1964 tsunami, considered the worst tsunami disaster recorded in the United States, began with a 9.2 magnitude earthquake in Alaska, according to the Crescent City website. Three smaller waves caused little damage, but then a big wave — nearly 21 feet (more than 6 meters) — devastated 29 city blocks.

The city's downtown was mostly rebuilt and today a walking tour highlights high-water marks posted on surviving buildings, objects pushed by waves and memorials to those who died.

8.8-magnitude quake was among the strongest this century

The 8.8-magnitude quake was among the four strongest earthquakes this century, and among the eight strongest since 1900, according to the USGS.

The earthquake occurred along the Pacific Ring of Fire, the ring of seismic faults around the Pacific Ocean where most of the world's earthquakes occur.

The 2011 Japan quake and the 2004 earthquake off Indonesia were 9.1 magnitude, and a 2010 earthquake in Chile also was recorded at 8.8 magnitude.

The Associated Press and City News Service contributed to this report.