A tsunami advisory was issued for SLO County beaches. Safety tips to know
A tsunami advisory was issued for San Luis Obispo County coastal areas, as well as much of the California coast, Tuesday evening following a massive undersea earthquake off the coast of Russia.
According to the National Weather Service’s Los Angeles office, a possible tsunami could arrive in SLO County around 12:35 a.m. Wednesday.
In the advisory, the Weather Service said a tsunami “capable of producing strong currents that may be hazardous to swimmers, boats and coastal structures is expected.”
Soon after the advisory was issued, the Weather Service published safety tips for people in coastal areas, giving guidance on what to expect if a tsunami were to occur.
The first tip was for anyone located near the coast to move off the beach “well away from the water’s edge.” You should also stay out of harbors and marinas and not go to see the tsunami from the beach, the agency said.
Boaters may need to leave harbor and go to a depth of at least 50 to 1,000 fathoms, the Weather Service said.
The Weather Service also advised that tsunamis are not a single wave, but “a series of waves that can come onshore for a number of hours.”
The agency warned that “the first wave may not be the largest.”
People were reminded to listen to local authorities and obey recommended actions to protect life and property, including if they are told to evacuate from the coastline.
The Weather Service said tsunamis can sometimes be preceded by “a noticeable fall in sea level as the ocean retreats seaward.”
Finally, the agency warned that “harbors and marinas are susceptible to fast-moving tsunami surges” and “water flows may become dangerous if caught in the ocean.”
Further safety tips can be found at SLO County’s Tsunami Preparedness page.
This story was originally published July 29, 2025 at 7:52 PM.
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