A quiet Tuesday evening turned tense across the Pacific as a series of powerful earthquakes off the Russian coast triggered tsunami alerts stretching from Northern California to the Hawaiian Islands. In a matter of hours, the National Weather Service (NWS) ramped up its warnings, with projected arrival times leaving little room for calm.

As officials scrambled to get the word out, coastal communities braced for what could be a dangerous night.

From Watch to Advisory: California’s Alert Timeline Intensifies

The first signs of trouble emerged early Tuesday evening, when the NWS issued a tsunami watch for much of the California coast. But it didn’t take long for conditions to shift. By 6:40 p.m. PT, the watch was upgraded to a tsunami advisory, signaling a greater threat and calling for more caution, especially in low-lying coastal zones.

But things escalated further for communities in the far north. In Del Norte and Humboldt counties, the advisory was elevated to a full tsunami warning by 9:30 p.m., the highest level of alert. Officials didn’t mince words—this meant that inundation from potentially dangerous waves was either imminent or already occurring.

Wave Arrival Timeline for Northern California

As the sun set over the Pacific, the tsunami’s path began to take clearer shape. Based on seismic activity and ocean modeling, the NWS provided estimated wave arrival times—and for some towns, the countdown began almost immediately.

• Crescent City was expected to be the first California location hit, with wave arrival projected for 10:35 p.m.
• Fort Bragg, slightly farther south, braced for waves at approximately 11:50 p.m.

These small, coastal towns—often overlooked on a map—have lived through nature’s fury before. Crescent City, in particular, has a painful history with tsunamis. Memories of the deadly 1964 tsunami, which destroyed much of the harbor and claimed 11 lives, still haunt the community. For locals, Tuesday night wasn’t just a weather event—it was personal.

Bay Area on Edge: Midnight Impact Expected

While not under a full warning, the Bay Area remained on alert throughout the night. The NWS predicted waves would begin reaching the central coast and greater Bay Area shortly after midnight.

• Monterey was set to see the first wave at around 12:15 a.m.
• San Francisco’s coastline followed closely behind, with an estimated arrival of 12:40 a.m.

Though the expected wave height in the Bay Area was only about one foot, meteorologists cautioned that size isn’t everything. Tsunamis generate powerful and unpredictable currents that can sweep people off rocks, crash into boats, and create sudden flooding in harbors and marinas.

KTVU meteorologist Roberta Gonzalez stressed that beachgoers, surfers, and boaters should stay far from the water. “Even if you can’t see giant waves, don’t be fooled,” she warned during a live broadcast. “This is about current strength and speed, not necessarily size. Stay alert and stay off the coast.”

Hawaii Braces Earlier Than Mainland U.S.

Meanwhile, out in the Pacific, Hawaii prepared for the tsunami to arrive even earlier than the West Coast. The NWS in Honolulu announced that the first tsunami waves could strike the islands around 7:17 p.m. HST (10:17 p.m. PT).

This timing placed Hawaii ahead of California on the impact timeline, prompting swift precautionary action. Harbors across Oahu, Maui, and the Big Island were closely monitored, and many residents began clearing docks and tying down boats just in case.

Hawaii, too, has a long memory when it comes to tsunamis. The threat was taken seriously. Local emergency management teams activated communication networks to warn beach communities and coordinate possible evacuations.

As of late Tuesday night, all warnings and advisories remained active. Local emergency officials asked residents to stay away from beaches, docks, and marinas until the all-clear is given. Law enforcement and first responders stayed on standby in coastal communities from Hawaii to Humboldt, monitoring the water and preparing for potential evacuations if conditions worsened.

Officials said updates would continue as new data arrived from tide gauges and seismic monitoring stations. While some areas might be cleared by dawn, others—especially in Northern California—could face a longer period of caution.