Tsunami Waves Up to 1.6 Feet Hit Wash. Coast

Vigorous waves similar to any stormy day on the coast were the only sign that a tsunami had arrived in Washington on Friday morning.

 Authorities had reported no damage here in Washington State from the tsunami generated by the 8.9 magnitude earth quake that devastated areas in Japan.

The National Weather Service said the first wave of the tsunami to hit the Washington Coast just after 7 a.m. measured 1.7 feet at La Push, about half a foot at Neah Bay and Port Angeles, and 1.3 feet at Westport.

The tsunami advisory remained in effect for the Washington Coast and more waves were expected, said Kirby Cook, science and operations officer for the National Weather Service in Seattle. More waves were landing in California and that meant Washington and Oregon could expect more as well.

The advisory would remain in effect until the tsunami center in Alaska called it off, Cook said.

Some residents in Washington coastal counties have been evacuated as a precaution.