Updated at 10:25 a.m. Wednesday
A Tsunami Advisory that had been in effect since Tuesday evening was canceled at 10:20 Wednesday morning. It followed an 8.8 magnitude earthquake that struck off Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula on Tuesday afternoon.
Preliminary reports showed waves reaching heights of less than 1.5 feet above tide level in Oregon early Wednesday morning. According to the National Weather Service, the following observations were recorded at locations on the Oregon coast:
Newport: 4:23 a.m.
Height: 0.6 ft
Astoria: 5:25 a.m.
Height: 0.5 ft
Port Orford: 1:27 a.m.
Height: 1.4 ft
Charleston: 4:43 a.m.
Height: 0.9 ft
Wauna (on the Columbia River): 5:41 a.m.
Height: 0.4ft
Those reports matched up fairly closely with what had been predicted for those areas. While officials continue to warn coastal residents and visitors to steer clear of beaches and waterways on Tuesday night, evacuations were not ordered in most areas.
Officials on the Oregon coast are urging people to continue to stay alert for changing and unexpected conditions on Wednesday. Tsunami waves, even those that aren't large, can be persistent and drive further up the shore than a typical wave. Tsunamis have the potential to produce residual waves long after the initial event.
"Our team continued to monitor the situation through the night and continues to do so this morning," the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office said in a press release Wednesday.
A "Tsunami Advisory" means that "a tsunami with potential for strong currents or waves dangerous to those in or very near the water is expected or occurring. There may be flooding of beach and harbor areas."
Updates to tsunami messages can be found at tsunami.gov.