People gather on the bluffs at Shoreline Park in Santa Barbara on Saturday morning to watch for a possible tsunami triggered by the eruption of an underwater volcano near the Tonga Islands. 
Beachgoers walk along Arroyo Burro Beach, also known as Hendry’s Beach, in southern Santa Barbara County on Saturday morning. A tsunami advisory was in effect and was not expected to cause widespread inundation on the West Coast, according to the National Weather Service. 
Tsunami hazard zone signs are permanently posted at Arroyo Burro Beach and other coastal areas in Santa Barbara County, as seen on Saturday morning during a tsunami advisory. 
A tsunami advisory was issued for the California coast, including Santa Barbara County, on Saturday morning and remained in effect into the night.
The estimated start time was 7:45 a.m. for Santa Barbara, 7:40 a.m. for Port San Luis and 7:50 a.m. for the Los Angles Harbor, according to the U.S. Tsunami Warning Center.
“If you are located in this coastal area, move off the beach and out of harbors and marinas,” the National Weather Service said.
The tsunami advisory followed an underwater volcano eruption near the Tonga Islands on Friday night.
No problems were reported in Santa Barbara County beyond a slight delay for the Rincon Classic surfing competition.
On Saturday morning, the Santa Barbara County Office of Emergency Management warned people to stay away from beaches and waterways, adding that the threat may continue for several hours after the initial wave.
The initial advisory encompassed the Pacific Coast, including California, Washington, British Columbia and Alaska.
“Tsunami advisories mean that a tsunami capable of producing strong currents or waves dangerous to persons in or very near the water is expected or is already occurring,” according to the NWS. “Areas in the advisory should not expect widespread inundation.
“Tsunamis are a series of waves dangerous many hours after initial arrival time. The first wave may not be the largest.”
The advisory was lifted for some areas, but remained active into Saturday evening for a large segment of coastal California including Santa Barbara, Ventura and San Luis Obispo counties.
By 10:30 p.m., the advisory had been narrowed to an area stretching from Point Conception along the Gaviota Coast to Ragged Point, 50 miles northwest of San Luis Obispo.
While Santa Barbara County escaped with problems, a tidal surge caused damage at the Santa Cruz Harbor more than 250 miles north.
The public launch ramp at the Ventura Harbor was closed as a precaution, officials said. Harbor Patrol discouraged recreational activities, such as paddling and boating, because of strong and unpredictable currents.
On Saturday morning, Port San Luis recorded its highest sea-level measurement since a Jan. 27, 1983, storm, according to John Lindsey, a Pacific Gas & Electric Co. meteorologist.
The Rincon Classic surfing competition, which is scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, started later than planned with first-round heats shorter than initially scheduled.
The livestream of the surfing competition's second day can be watched by clicking here.
Check back with Noozhawk for updates to this story.
— Noozhawk North County editor Janene Scully can be reached at jscully@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk, @NoozhawkNews and @NoozhawkBiz. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.