Huge Waves Head Toward Hawaii and California

SAN FRANCISCO — A tsunami emanating from the massive earthquake that hit Japan was roaring toward the United States on Friday morning, with huge waves expected to hit Hawaii and California.
Coastal evacuations were ordered in Hawaii, and tsunami warnings were issued along the West Coast, from central California to Alaska. A tsunami warning directs residents of low-lying regions to move inland and to higher ground.
Officials in Southern California closed beaches as a precaution, prohibiting swimming, surfing and fishing off the coast. Experts said that they did not expect flooding and did not call for mandatory evacuations. But they warned that there could be large waves and unusual changes in the currents for several hours. Several schools in the beach areas also planned to
close Friday.
Waves were projected to arrive at the Northern California coast at about 7:15 a.m. local time, and hit the San Francisco Bay Area at about 8 a.m., the National Weather Service said.
Surges could reach three to seven feet along the California, Oregon and Washington coasts. Southern California is expected to be hit by three-foot waves, the authorities said.
“A tsunami was generated and is expected to cause damage to the Northern California coast,” the National Weather Service said in an advisory. “Persons at the coast should be alert to instructions from local emergency officials.”
A lower-level tsunami advisory has been issued for the coast of Southern California.
Waves started hitting the Hawaiian islands early Friday, but were small. Because there is a tsunami risk for many hours after a large earthquake, residents there remained on alert.
In a White House statement, President Obama, who was born in Hawaii, said: “We are asking all our citizens in the affected region to listen to their state and local officials.”