Weakened Tsunami Hits Nearby Shores, Minor Damage Reported on the Peninsula

Hundreds of residents evacuated , and other coastal towns early this morning, jamming the roadside along Highway 35 in anticipation of a potentially dangerous tsunami’s predicted 8:08 a.m. landfall.

Ultimately, water levels rose slightly along the coast, but as of Friday afternoon nothing capable of much damage has hit the coastal communities of San Mateo County, although a Half Moon Bay harbormaster said there was still a .

Surges of water as high as 2 or 3 feet had been expected to arrive at the region's coastal areas earlier in the morning, and water levels did rise in Pillar Point Harbor in Half Moon Bay. But no significant waves have come in yet, said assistant harbormaster John Draper.

San Mateo County officials have advised residents in the low-lying areas west of Highway 1 to move to ground east of the highway, according to the county's emergency alert system. As of Friday afternoon a tsunami warning remains in effect.

The powerful 8.9-magnitude earthquake struck late Thursday night on the northeast coast of Japan – about 3:45 p.m. their time. Hundreds were killed, and the quake and subsequent tsunami there have caused widespread destruction there.

A tsunami wave, traveling at high speeds, takes several hours to cross the Pacific to reach these coasts, and experts had predicted that it would arrive here a little after 8 a.m. The tsunami watch was upgraded to a warning overnight.

That gave emergency officials several hours to alert coastal communities. A tsunami warning was issued for the California coast, , and officials ordered the full evacuation of low-lying coastal areas.

Six-foot swells remained a possibility as of 11 a.m., according to some reports, but so far only and some have been reported along the San Mateo County coastline.

Just to the south, however, the Santa Cruz Harbor has sustained an estimated $2 million in damage so far. The director of emergency services has issued a local emergency, county spokesman Enrique Sahagun said. Two docks and three vessels sustained major damage, and several others experienced minor damage, he said.

Several boats in the harbor had broken free of their moorings and were this morning, according to the general manager of a nearby restaurant.

About 10 boats were crashing into one another at 9:20 a.m. in the harbor near Aldo's Harbor Restaurant, said general manager Alfredo Servin. The diner is situated right on the water at 616 Atlantic Ave., and Alfredo said he could see a lot of debris in the water. Harbor officials have advised the public to evacuate the area there too.

"Do not come to the harbor to secure your vessel," read a warning on the harbor's website. "Harbor crews are working to secure the area."

The waves were reportedly much more violent in Crescent City Harbor, located farther to the north in Mendocino County. There, a city councilman told the Times-Standard that “The harbor has been destroyed. Thirty-five boats have been crushed and the harbor has major damage. Major damage.” It is reported that Gov. Jerry Brown will be asked to declare disaster areas in Humboldt, Santa Cruz and Del Norte counties.

Closer to home, the biggest disruption was probably due to the evacuation. Hundreds of vehicles reportedly have parked on Highway 35, also known as as Skyline Drive, in an attempt to avoid – and possibly get sight of – tsunami waves.

Hundreds more have , according to the CHP, and those drivers are being asked to move to nearby Cañada Road and elsewhere.

Another report claimed that similar crowds were stopped on the San Mateo Bridge, but a CHP officer told Patch this morning that there were "no unusual incidents" on the bridge this morning.

Highway 1 remains closed, however, between Capistrano and Coronado roads for the duration of the tsunami warning. Sheriff's deputies in the Redwood City region are helping to manage the coastal evacuation, according to the CHP.

All flights between SFO and Japan have been canceled until further notice, according to airport officials.

-- Staff Reports