If you were hoping to surf some tsunami-sized waves, well, first of all: What’s the matter with you? Don’t you know you’re not supposed to surf tsunamis?
Secondly, well, go ahead and do it.
After a night of advisories, so far we haven’t noticed any giant waves caused by that earthquake near Samoa. Checking Surfline this morning, it looks like we’re getting waves in the 2-4 foot range. And guys in the lineup don’t appear to be getting swept away.
The tsunami could cause dangerous currents, though, so keep that in mind.
A little history on tsunamis of the Central Coast: According to the Tribune files, an ancient tsunami here prompted fears among the Chumash that the gods were angry and trying to cleanse the earth. Two tsunamis were reported in Morro Bay between 1868 and 1878, one bringing waves that crashed over the sandspit.
At least four tsunamis have hit the county in the past century. A 6-foot tsunami hit Pismo Beach in 1927, and a 5-footer was recorded in San Luis Bay in 1946.
On the Central Coast, the biggest tsunami in recorded history occured in 1812, when an undersea event in the Santa Barbara Channel created waves up to 50 feet in Gaviota.
Local emergency response teams have put on tsunami drills in the past.
Photo: msnbc
Posted on September 30th, 2009 by Pat
Filed under: Surf stuff
Interesting tsunami photos. When were those taken?
I find it interesting that tsunami warnings have become rather common place in California since the 2004 tsunami in Indonesia. I’m not sure if it’s a good or bad thing (sort of a boy called wolf scenario, but it is informative). Samoa, American Samoa, and Tonga have been devastated by the series of tsunamis that struck their coastlines due to the earthquake you mentioned. It seems like tsunami warnings helped a lot of people flee for high ground and survive.