What Does a Tsunami Advisory Mean for Manhattan Beach?
Jul 29, 2025 10:19PM ● By Jeanne Fratello
(Tsunami graphic courtesy of NOAA, by way of L.A. County.)
Update, morning of July 30: The tsunami update has been lifted for Manhattan Beach. The Manhattan Beach Pier was briefly closed overnight but has now reopened, and beaches are now open. Swimmers and surfers may swim at their own risk but are urged to check with lifeguards before entering the water due to strong currents and potentially dangerous waves.
A tsunami advisory was in effect for coastal California, including Manhattan Beach, as of Tuesday evening, July 29. Since the peak surge is expected to begin at 1:00 a.m., it's a good time to ask: What does a tsunami advisory mean for Manhattan Beach?
By definition, a tsunami advisory is a warning to stay out of the water and away from the shore, and that strong currents and dangerous waves are expected.
Tuesday's notification followed a massively powerful 8.8 magnitude earthquake off the eastern coast of Russia on Tuesday, prompting tsunami alerts in Japan, Hawaii, Alaska, and up and down the Pacific Coast.
The specific direction for the South Bay was to "Leave NOW from beaches, marinas, and harbors. People should STAY OUT of the water and away from beaches and waterways. Do not go to the beach or coastal areas to try to observe the potential tsunami... [It] can cause strong currents that can be dangerous for swimmers and cause boats to detach from docks."
Importantly, the alert noted: "The tsunami height in Los Angeles is expected to be less than one foot. There are no evacuations for any coastal areas, and no widespread flooding is expected on land."
The latest information is available at https://tsunami.gov/
Manhattan Beach Tsunami Plan
Did you know that Manhattan Beach has a tsunami plan? Although historically and geologically Manhattan Beach has not been under great threat by tsunamis, the city and its residents should be prepared.
According to the city, Southern California has several faults near the coastline as well as several off-shore canyons that could experience an underwater landslide triggered by a local earthquake. The rupture of any of these coastline faults could result in a local tsunami that would be ashore in 10 minutes or less, providing almost no time for a warning to evacuate to higher ground. The tsunami threat for Manhattan Beach would apply to immediate coastline structures west of Highland Ave.
Critical facilities in the inundation zone would include the Manhattan Beach Pier, the 27th Street Sewage Pump Station, and the beach parking lots.
The city has identified a number of major thoroughfares as evacuation
routes in the event of a major disaster. Citizens or visitors who cannot
evacuate may be ordered to a collection point or emergency shelter. In the case of emergency, a citywide notification would be distributed to advise the public of those routes or shelters.
Potential shelter sites for the public include elementary schools, Manhattan Beach Middle School, and Mira Costa High School.
