January 15, 2021 10:00 a.m.

The National Tsunami Warning Center has issued a tsunami advisory for the coast of Oregon, Washington and California, due to a large undersea volcanic eruption near Tonga.

A release from the Oregon Office of Emergency Management said residents in coastal areas are advised to move off beaches and out of harbors and marinas. Waves of 1 to 3 feet along the coast of Oregon and Washington are expected. OEM said the first waves arrived at the Oregon coast at 8:00 a.m. and could continue for up to 24 hours.

OEM Emergency Management Geologic Hazards Coordinator Althea Rizzo said, “Stay away from port harbors and low-lying beaches because strong currents can still cause a lot of damage, and you could be potentially risking your life”.

For information on tsunami hazards, go to: https://www.oregon.gov/oem/hazardsprep/Pages/Tsunami.aspx