This satellite image taken by Himawari-8, a Japanese weather satellite, and released by the Japan Meteorology Agency, shows an undersea volcano eruption at the Pacific nation of Tonga Saturday, Jan. 15, 2022. An undersea volcano erupted in spectacular fashion near the Pacific nation of Tonga on Saturday, sending large waves crashing across the shore and people rushing to higher ground.
A tsunami advisory is in effect for the California West Coast Saturday morning after an undersea volcano erupted near the island nation of Tonga in the South Pacific, according to the National Weather Service.
The NWS expects peak tsunami wave heights of 1 to 2 feet, saying that the main impacts are expected to be strong rip currents, coastal flooding, and possible inundation of low lying areas. The agency advises people to move to higher ground but says widespread inundation is not expected.
The waves were expected to hit the Monterey area at 7:35, corresponding with its high tide at 8:05, and San Francisco around 8:10, corresponding with high tide at 9:09.
