Tsunami advisory for L.A. beaches lifted

"Damaging tsunamis are no longer expected," said a statement from the West Coast/Alaska Tsunami Warning Center in Palmer, Alaska.�

Overnight, tsunami advisories had been dropped for Orange and San Diego counties, but remained in effect from Long Beach north to the Oregon boundary. Strong currents -- about 18 miles per hour -- were observed during the night at Ventura Harbor, 70 miles up the coast from Los Angeles.�

The effects of Japan's great earthquake, which struck about 9:46 p.m. Thursday, were minimal at Southern California marinas on Friday, though some unusual surges were reported.�

An advisory is the NWS' lowest level tsunami alert, but tidal gauges were recording continuing surges early today.�

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The first gushes of energy from the undersea earthquake some 5,500 miles away arrived in Southern California about 8:30 a.m. Friday.�

The effects were subtle in most places. At Catalina Island, 10 boats were overturned when a swell arrived at about 1:30 p.m., the Los Angeles Times reported.�The boats, including a skiff used by the sheriff's office, were flipped right-side by deputies and others.�

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In Marina del Rey around midday Friday, an outrigger paddler reported strong currents near the ocean breakwater. Helicopter pictures showed a sheriff's department boat tied up to a navigation buoy, attempting to keep it from being washed out to sea.�

Some unusual currents and fluctuations in tides were reported around Long Beach and Los Angeles harbors, and some sensitive work at the ports was temporarily suspended. A surge in King Harbor was believed responsible for a boat breaking free and slicing a dock in two.�

The tsunami warning prompted city officials to suspend the cleanup of the freakish sardine die-off that occurred Tuesday.�

No problems were reported in Orange County harbors. Beaches saw unusually-low tides, but no damage.�

North of Point Conception, where the NWS issued a higher-level tsunami warning, was a different story.�

A surge in Santa Cruz harbor wrecked dozens of boats and docks, constituting what appeared to be the worst damage along the California coast.�

In King Harbor today, the cleanup of decaying of sardines was expected to continue. As if to add insult to injury, several tons of sardines scooped from the harbor fell off a truck on Interstate 215 in Colton while en route to a Victorville composting site.�

The mishap, shortly after 3 p.m. Friday, slimed two lanes and caused a 10-mile backup into Riverside.

Emma Heming Gisele Bündchen Kristanna Loken Brooke Burke Shania Twain