Calm Conditions in PV as Residents Wait for Waves

Camera in tow, Don Nordell leaned against a fence at the top of cliffs near Point Vicente Interpretive Center early Friday morning. The water below was relatively calm, a few waves, but not quite like the tsunamis in movies he would see as a kid.

"I'm wondering if that's what we're going to see today," he said.

Nordell, of Turlock, is in Palos Verdes visiting family and joined other residents Friday morning to catch a glimpse of the impact Japan's tsunami might have on the California coast.

A massive 8.9-magnitude earthquake hit Japan on Friday and as a result, the National Weather Service issued a tsunami advisory for the coast of Los Angeles County early Friday.

Wave heights are expected to reach between two and three feet along the Southern California coast from Santa Barbara to Long Beach, according to the National Weather Service. Most beaches were not closed early Friday morning.

The larger waves could continue for several hours after initial wave arrival, which was predicted to be about 8:30 a.m. Friday.

"I don't think much is going to happen to tell you the truth," Joe Lindorfer, of Palos Verdes, said as he watched the waves.

Lindorfer said he came to the cliffs to get a good view of what was happening on the water down below.

"It's a good view if something happened here but without being in danger," he said.

The threat of the up to three-foot surge doesn't have Shubham Mandloi, of Palos Verdes, worried.

Mandloi watched small waves crash onto the beach and said he thinks PV has an advantage when it comes to these types of warnings.

"I don't think (there's) too much of a threat to PV because of our height," he said.

Los Angeles County coastal residents are encouraged to stay away from currents, Manhattan Beach police Sgt. Ron Walker told news services.

Currents could be hazardous to swimmers, surfers, and boats.