Tonga Tsunami Pays a Small Visit to Washington Coast

The tsunamis generated by the underwater earthquake near Tonga sparked a coastal warning along the Pacific Northwest's shorelines over the weekend, with some higher waves even reaching Washington State.

A tsunami advisory was issued by the National Weather Service, on Saturday just after noon.

Tsunamis cause concern and alarm because as the swift water recedes from the shoreline, the current picks up debris and hazardous chemicals. Persons, especially the very young and the very old, are more at risk of injury and drowning because they are less mobile and lack the strength and stamina necessary to navigate the receding waters.

The waves at Westport, Washington reached about a half a foot and they were over a foot at La Push, Washington.

Washington Shake Out notes that, "Just 6 inches of water can knock you off your feet, not to mention that tsunamis start carrying all kinds of debris and nasty chemicals in them once they've hit the shore. Stay away and head for higher ground!"

The tsunami warning was cancelled just after midnight Sunday.

There were no reported injuries or deaths in the Pacific Northwest.