A tsunami advisory is in effect for Hawaii following a magnitude-7.5 earthquake that struck Monday morning in waters south of Alaska.
A tsunami advisory is issued when an earthquake has generated a wave expected to be 3 feet or less in height when it reaches Hawaii.
The advisory was triggered after an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.5 occurred at approximately 10:55 a.m. Hawaii time in the vicinity of the Aleutian Islands in Alaska.
All beaches and low-lying coastal areas are at risk and will be closed for the remainder of today, according to Hawaii County Civil Defense.
“Based on all available data a major tsunami is not expected to strike the state of Hawaii. However … sea level changes have been recorded at Hilo and Kahului just above advisory level that could be a hazard to swimmers and boaters as well as to persons near the shore at beaches and in harbors and marinas,” according to the National Weather Service.
The NWS said “the threat may continue for several hours after the initial wave arrival. The estimated time of arrival of the initial wave was 3:27 p.m. (today).”