Oregon Public Broadcasting

An earthquake in the South Pacific has created a tsunami that will reach the west coast of the U-S.

The National Weather Service has issued a “tsunami advisory” for the north and central Oregon coast.

Officials are warning of possibly dangerous surges or currents in coastal waterways.

Jennifer Bailey is with the Oregon Department of Emergency Management. She’s advising people to stay away from the beach, though the incoming wave shouldn’t cause damage.

Jennifer Bailey: “We’re just expecting, you know the tide comes in – the first one isn’t the strongest, then it sucks it’s way back out to the ocean and is kind of strange looking, and the second one is usually a little bigger wave. But it isn’t going to cause any coastal damage or any flooding.”

Bailey says her department is predicting an ocean rise of between one and two and a half feet.

The tsunami is arriving right around high tide – between nine and ten o’clock tonight.