Powerful Earthquake Prompts Tsunami Warnings in California and Hawaii

A powerful undersea earthquake struck off the coast of eastern Russia on Tuesday afternoon, prompting widespread tsunami advisories across the West Coast, Alaska, and parts of the Pacific.

Measuring among the largest seismic events of the century, the quake’s aftershocks rippled across the Pacific Ocean, setting off a wave of precautionary alerts in the U.S. and beyond.

Advisories stretched from Washington and Oregon to parts of British Columbia and Alaska. California and Hawaii were among the most closely watched regions, according to the U.S. Tsunami Warning Center,

“A tsunami is not just one wave. It’s a series of powerful waves over a long period of time,” Dave Snider, tsunami warning coordinator with the National Tsunami Warning Center in Alaska, told the Associated Press.

Snider emphasized that tsunami waves can race across deep ocean water as fast as a jet airplane. But once they reach the coast, they slow down and rise in height, posing risks of flooding and property damage.

“In this case, because of the Earth basically sending out these huge ripples of water across the ocean, they’re going to be moving back and forth for quite a while,” Snider explained.

Wave activity affects West Coast and Hawaii

By early Wednesday morning, the highest tsunami waves on California’s shores were measured at 4 feet in Crescent City, while Hawaii’s Kahului recorded waves topped 5.7 feet. Though initial fears sparked evacuation orders in some areas, both California and Hawaii have so far reported minimal damage.

Hawaii has begun lifting evacuation advisories, while several alerts in California were downgraded overnight. Officials, however, continue to warn that wave activity may persist throughout the day.

In California, Humboldt and Del Norte counties were under the most serious advisories. The Los Angeles Times reported that in other areas, such as San Francisco and Southern California, waves remained under 2.5 feet.

While tsunamis in California are relatively rare, the entire Pacific coastline is vulnerable. A significant earthquake—especially one involving vertical displacement of the sea floor—can trigger major waves.

“If we had a subduction zone event—that’s where you would have the sea floor being pushed upwards and as a result the water would also be pushed upwards and then flow away from that spot — that’s when you get a tsunami generated,” explained Elizabeth Cochran, a U.S. Geological Survey seismologist, in an interview with LAist.

Experts advise that if strong shaking makes it hard to stand, evacuate coastal zones immediately after the tremors stop. Residents should also stay clear of marinas, rivers, and tidal flats for several hours following an advisory.

Oprah Opens Private Road in Maui Amid Viral Backlash

The tsunami warnings also caused a stir in celebrity circles. Oprah Winfrey, who owns a ranch in Kula, Hawaii, faced social media backlash after users claimed her private road remained closed while others were stuck in traffic fleeing coastal zones.

Winfrey’s spokesperson said, “As soon as we heard the tsunami warnings, we contacted local law enforcement and FEMA to ensure the road was opened. Any reports otherwise are false. The road will remain open as long as necessary,” in a statement shared with CNN and Newsweek.

Winfrey’s Hawaii estate spans hundreds of acres on the island of Maui and includes the private road in question, which she previously opened to the public during wildfires in 2023, according to Hawaii News Now.

This comes after a growing number of celebrities are coping with severe wildfire destruction as California faces natural threats from both land and sea.

Several stars—including Paris Hilton, Anthony Hopkins, Jeff Bridges, Mel Gibson, and Miles Teller—reportedly lost homes in the latest round of wildfires. Others, such as Mandy Moore, Adam Brody, Leighton Meester, and Billy Crystal, are dealing with partial damage and evacuation orders.

Though the tsunami threat has so far spared California from major damage, the events of the past week underscore the growing strain on homes and properties in high-risk zones—whether near forests or coastlines. For homeowners and buyers alike, natural disasters are becoming an increasingly important consideration in real estate decisions up and down the Pacific.