Tsunami Warnings Issued for Pacific Coast of Baja
An 8.9 magnatude earthquake off the northern Pacific coast of Japan triggers Tsunami Alerts across the Pacific.
A significant earthquake early this morning in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of northern Japan caused 2-6 meter waves to wash as much as 10 miles inland. Deathtoll from the quake, tsunami and now the rupture of a dam may be in the thousands. The US Department of State is asking all Americans to defer travel to Japan while the country deals with the devastation of the quake.
The strong quake also generated Tsunami warnings across the Pacific with Hawaii being the first state to be affected. Slight waves of about 50cm (19") were experienced on the north shores of Oahu this morning. It is unlikely that the Pacific coast of Baja will experience signficant affects.
It was difficult to find official information and news reports varied wildly as to the potential time of arrival of the wave. Land's End will be the last point in Baja to experience the wave, and according the all reports, that will occur before 11AM local time on 3/11/11.
Because of the orientation of the peninsula to the origin of the wave less effect is anticipated in Cabo than was experienced by another wave generated by a quake in Chile last year. Also because of the direction of the wave little or no effect will be felt up in the Sea of Cortez.