Update: SLO County still under tsunami advisory after earthquake

Update, 10:30 a.m.:

Despite having little impact on local beaches overnight, the tsunami advisory remained in effect for San Luis Obispo County into Wednesday morning.

According to meteorologist John Lindsey, the tsunami “peaked at about 2 feet above the predicted water level” at 1:18 a.m. in Port San Luis.

The National Weather Service additionally said around 2 a.m. that the Port San Luis gauge “shows a rapid and damaging surge, going from low to high tide in just a few minutes.”

People were reminded to avoid the beaches and low-lying coastal roads, as strong waves and surging water could last well into early tomorrow morning.

Update, 12 a.m.:

San Luis Obispo County Fire has issued an evacuation warning for several areas of Los Osos ahead of expected tsunami conditions along the coast.

According to an alert sent just before midnight, the agency has issued an evacuation warning for zones SLC-178, SLC-179 and SLC-180, and homes north of Butte Drive at Nevada Court.

To check if your home is in the evacuation warning zones, visit emergencyslo.org/en/evacuations.

Evacuation warnings are different from evacuation orders. According to ReadySLO.org, an evacuation warning “alerts community members in a defined area of a potential threat to life and property from an emergency incident.”

They are urged to “be prepared to evacuate.”

The National Weather Service previously said the tsunami was expected to arrive on SLO County shores around 12:35 a.m.

Update, 10:45 p.m.:

The National Weather Service said it is expecting “very isolated low-end warning level tsunami conditions” at Port San Luis and Avila Beach early Wednesday morning.

According to a post on X, tsunami waves in those areas could range between 2 and 3.7 feet around 12:35 a.m. Impacts would be most felt on beaches, harbors and low coastal roads, the Weather Service said.

The agency additionally said there is a possibility of low-to-moderate levels of coastal inundation and surging of seawater in and out of harbors during that time.

The event could last up to 24 hours, the Weather Service added.

People were advised to stay away from beaches, harbors and coastal roads throughout the event.

Update, 7:20 p.m.:

The tsunami watch has been upgraded to a tsunami advisory as of Tuesday evening.

According to the National Weather Service’s Los Angeles office, a possible tsunami was expected to arrive in SLO County around 12:35 a.m. Wednesday.

“If you are located in the coastal area, move off the beach & out of harbors & marinas,” the agency wrote in a post on X. “Do not go to the coast to watch. Be alert to instructions from local EM officials.”

An advisory is the next level up from a watch. According to the Weather Service, it means strong currents and waves dangerous to those in or near water are possible.

In the updated advisory, the Weather Service said a tsunami “capable of producing strong currents that may be hazardous to swimmers, boats and coastal structures is expected.”

Widespread inundation is not expected, the agency said, but damage at harbors is possible.

“Port San Luis and Morro Bay will be of particular concern for these impacts, however other locations anywhere in the advisory area will be susceptible to impacts including coastal flooding,” the advisory said.

Original story:

A tsunami watch was issued for much of the West Coast, including San Luis Obispo County beaches, following a massive undersea earthquake off the coast of Russia on Tuesday evening.

The National Weather Service issued the watch was for coastal areas in California, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia and Alaska from the California and Mexico border to Chignik Bay in Alaska.

The tsunami was estimated to hit Alaska at 8:20 p.m. and eventually could reach Port San Luis by 12:35 a.m., the alert said.

The alert comes after an 8.7-magnitude earthquake was recorded west of the Aleutian Islands, 315 miles southwest of Bering Island, Komandoski, and 80 miles southeast of Petropavlovsk, on the Kamchatka Peninsula, both in Russia, the alert said. It’s the lowest level of alert issued by the U.S. Tsunami Warning Center.

The tsunami was predicted to reach Tofino, British Columbia, at 11:30 p.m., Port Orford, Oregon, at 11:40 p.m., Crescent City, California, at 11:55 p.m., Monterey at 12:15 a.m., San Francisco at 12:40 a.m., Santa Barbara at 12:50 a.m., Los Angeles at 1:05 a.m. and Oceanside at 1:15 a.m.

The Weather Service recommended those in tsunami watch areas to prepare to take action and stay alert for further information from national and local officials.

If San Luis Obispo County is upgraded to a warning, the agency said residents in warning areas should evacuate inland or to higher ground above and beyond designated tsunami hazard zones or to move to an upper floor of a multi-story building.

Those in tsunami warning or advisory areas should also move out of the water, off the beach and away from harbors, marinas, breakwaters, bays and inlets, the agency said.

“Be alert and follow instructions from your local emergency officials because they may have more detailed or specific information for your location,” the agency said.

If a strong earthquake or extended ground rolling is felt, people should take immediate protective actions such as moving inland and/or uphill on foot. Boat operators should try to move their boats to sea of at least 180 feet of depth and avoid shallow waters, marinas, bays and inlets to avoid debris.

Those in warning areas should not go to shore to observe the tsunami or return to the coast until local emergency officials say it is safe to do so.

The last time a tsunami hit San Luis Obispo County was in 2011, when the Morro Bay Harbor experienced the largest impact from the event, which caused $455,000 in damages to piers and infrastructure.

This story was originally published July 29, 2025 at 6:01 PM.

Chloe Jones

The Tribune

Chloe Jones is a former journalist for The Tribune