Tsunami advisory issued for Washington's coast

In the wake of the magnitude 8.9 earthquake in Japan, a tsunami advisory was issued for coastal areas of Washington, according to the National Weather Service forecast office.

A tsunami advisory "means a tsunami capable of producing strong currents or waves dangerous to persons in or very near the water is expected. Significant widespread inundation is not expected for areas under an advisory.

"Currents may be hazardous to swimmers, boats and coastal structures, and may continue for several hours after the initial wave arrival," according to the weather service.

People in areas under a tsunami advisory should "move out of the water, off the beach and out of harbors and marinas."

If a tsunami does reach our coast, it should not be higher than a few feet, according to John Vidale, director of the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network, which operates from The University of Washington.

A tsunami of a few feet poses little danger, he said, and, "there certainly wouldn't be any danger in Seattle." The swell would not travel much up the Strait of Juan de Fuca, he said.

Vidale said the Japan quake was too distant from the Cascadia Subduction Zone under the Washington coast to trigger a quake here.