Tsunami in Santa Barbara, California

This morning I woke up at 3 am to an emergency text message from UCSB warning me of an impending tsunami. According to Noozhawk, tsunami waves of up to 1½ feet reached the Santa Barbara Harbor about 8:15 a.m., and elevated swells could continue for several hours and subsequent swells or waves can be larger than ones that came before them. The beaches have been shut down.

If I hadn't received that text or read the news this morning I would have been none the wiser -- well except for the phone calls and text messages from my family telling me not to go to the beach this morning like I usually do.

Via Noozhawk:

According to the National Weather Service, tsunami warnings mean a tsunami with significant widespread inundation is expected, along with dangerous coastal flooding. Powerful currents are possible and may continue for several hours after the initial wave. Coastal residents are asked to move inland to higher ground, and boats and ships should be repositioned to deep water when there is time to safely do so.

Tsunami advisories mean a tsunami capable of producing strong currents and waves is expected, and currents may be hazardous to swimmers, surfers, boats and coastal structures. Authorities said significant widespread inundation is not expected in advisory areas but unsettled conditions could continue for several hours afterward.