As the waves from a tsunami, a result of an 8.9 magnitude earthquake that struck Friday morning on the northeastern coast of Japan, created concern for the Pacific Rim coastlines, warnings were issued all the way to the Western U.S. coast. Pictured is Sunset Beach, California, where the tsunami is not expected to create any major dangers.

Cindi Preller of the West Coast and Alaska Tsunami Warning Center said the tsunami may cause some unusually high tides but no major inundations are expected when the wave arrives in California between 7:30 and 8:45 a.m. (at Newport Beach) PST.

California beaches could be cleared as a precaution but nothing more than small waves are predicted. Alerts have been issued for over 20 countries after a 13-foot swell came ashore in Japan, washing away farms, cars, and everything in its path following a massive earthquake in Sendai, Japan on Honshu Island around 2:40 p.m. local time, Friday, March 11, 2011.

The death toll from the quake has not been assessed as many large earthquakes continue in the aftermath of the first event.