7.8 Magnitude Earthquake Hits Russia

A tsunami threat was issued Thursday afternoon following a 7.8-magnitude earthquake off the east coast of Russia.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the potential tsunami threat was reported off the east coast of Kamchatka, Russia, at 12:05 p.m. PT. At around 2:40 p.m., NOAA announced no Tsunami Warning, Advisory, Watch or Threat,

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) reports that the earthquake struck at 11:58 a.m. PT, about 90 miles (145 kilometers) east of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, a city on the Kamchatka Peninsula.

Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky has an estimated population of 181,216, according to USGS data.

Tsunami advisory canceled for Alaska

A tsunami advisory was subsequently issued for Amchitka Pass, Alaska. After further review, the National Tsunami Warning Center canceled the advisory for the Western Aleutian Islands in Alaska at around 2:11 p.m. PT.

According to FOX Weather, a Tsunami Advisory is a lower-rung alert for a tsunami, issued when small waves may impact an area.

🟡Tsunami Advisory is in effect for the Western Aleutians, AK, following a large quake in Eastern Russia. No other U.S. or Canadian continental locations are in an alert.

The M7.8 earthquake occurred at 090mi E Petropavlovsk, Kamchatka 1158PDT Sep 18.https://t.co/npoUHxWBas

— NWS Tsunami Alerts (@NWS_NTWC) September 18, 2025

Tsunami threat canceled for Hawaii

NOAA issued a tsunami threat for Hawaii at 12:30 p.m., with the potential of 1–3.3 foot waves. However, at around 2:40 p.m. the tsunami threat was canceled for Hawaii.

Is there a tsunami threat in WA?

Washington Emergency Management announced at around 1:42 p.m. that there is no tsunami threat for the US or Canadian Pacific coasts.

UPDATE: The National Tsunami Warning Center reports there is no tsunami threat for US and Canadian Pacific coasts in North America. pic.twitter.com/e3tPUMXaWv

— WA Emergency Management (@waEMD) September 18, 2025

What do the different tsunami alert levels mean?

As natural disasters like tsunamis can develop rapidly, understanding the levels of tsunami alerts is critical for public safety. These alerts, issued by agencies like the National Weather Service, are divided into four levels: Tsunami Threat, Tsunami Watch, Tsunami Advisory, and Tsunami Warning.

1. Tsunami Threat: This serves as an information statement to update the public on tsunami activity, often to report no threat or cancel previous alerts.

2. Tsunami Watch: This means a tsunami is possible based on preliminary data, and people in at-risk areas should stay alert for updates

3. Tsunami Advisory: This indicates the potential for strong currents or waves that may be hazardous to those in or near the water.

4. Tsunami Warning: This means a dangerous tsunami is imminent or already occurring. Coastal areas are advised to evacuate immediately.