What are the chances of a tsunami in California? How big could waves be in Crescent City, San Francisco, and LA?

Answering some questions you may have, including whether a tsunami will hit California, and how big the waves could be in Crescent City, San Francisco, and LA.

Published on: Jul 30, 2025, 12:22:41 IST

By Sumanti Sen

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A strong earthquake that hit near Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula on Wednesday, June 30, triggered tsunami warnings and evacuation orders for Japan, parts of Russia, Alaska and the Pacific. Earlier in the day, the NWS shared a list of places the tsunami warning is in effect for, including various parts of the US.

Amid the tsunami threat, here are the answers to some questions you may have:

What are the chances of a tsunami in California?

A tsunami advisory was issued for the entire West Coast on Tuesday afternoon, July 29. There is no guarantee that a tsunami will hit California, but in case it happens, here is when and where a possible tsunami could hit:

Crescent City, California, 11:55 p.m. PDT. July 29.
Monterey, California, 12:15 a.m. PDT. July 30.
Port San Luis, California, 12:35 a.m. PDT. July 30.
San Francisco, California, 12:40 a.m. PDT. July 30.
Port Townsend, California, 12:45 a.m. PDT. July 30.
Santa Barbara, California, 12:50 a.m. PDT. July 30.
Los Angeles Harbor, California, 1:05 a.m. PDT. July 30.
Newport Beach, California, 1:10 a.m. PDT. July 30.
Oceanside, California, 1:15 a.m. PDT. July 30.
La Jolla, California, 1:15 a.m. PDT. July 30.

How big the waves could be in Crescent City, San Francisco, Los Angeles and more

Maximum height of potential tsunami waves in California:

Fort Bragg: Between 0.8 to 1.4 feet
Crescent City: Between 2.9 to 5.4 feet
Monterey: Less than 1 foot
Port San Luis: Between 2.0 to 3.8 feet
San Francisco: Less than 1 foot
Santa Barbara: Between 0.7 to 1.3 ft
Los Angeles Harbor: Less than 1 foot
Newport Beach: Less than 1 foot
La Jolla: Less than 1 foot
Oceanside: Less than 1 foot

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sumanti Sen
Sumanti Sen covers everything that’s happening in the US, from politics to entertainment, but her expertise lies in covering crime news. She has comprehensively chronicled the Idaho student murders, the Laken Riley and Iryna Zarutska cases, and the killing of Charlie Kirk, among other incidents. Over the years, she has interviewed several victims/families of victims of crimes seeking justice. She digs up stories that might otherwise remain unheard, and does her bit to ensure that victims and survivors’ voices are heard. Sumanti’s many years of experience also include interviews with Hamas attack survivors and mental health experts, among others. Her coverage of the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel and interviews with survivors of the tragedy, coupled with her other works including the Titan submersible coverage, earned her the Digi Journo of the Quarter award during her first year at Hindustan Times. Sumanti actively tracks missing person cases in the United States, and peruses Reddit and other social media platforms to bring to light cases that frequently elude public attention. She has extensively covered the disappearances of Nancy Guthrie, Thomas Medlin, Beau Mann, and Sudiksha Konanki, among others. When not at work, you will either find her with her novels, or with her beloved rescue pooches.Read More

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