Tsunami WATCH now in effect for Washington, Oregon, California, Alaska

According to the National Weather Service's Seattle office, a tsunami watch is is now in effect for the Left Coast, including Washington, Oregon, California, and Alaska. A watch is not as significant as a warning, which means a tsunami has been detected/is imminent, but residents in coastal communities should remain vigilant and keep a television or radio on.

This is a breaking news update. We'll have more information shortly.

UPDATE: Here is the bulletin:

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PORTLAND OR
1207 AM PST FRI MAR 11 2011

ORZ001-002-WAZ021-111615-
NORTH OREGON COAST-CENTRAL OREGON COAST-SOUTH WASHINGTON COAST-INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ASTORIA...CANNON BEACH...TILLAMOOK... LINCOLN CITY...NEWPORT...FLORENCE...RAYMOND...LONG BEACH... CATHLAMET

1207 AM PST FRI MAR 11 2011

...TSUNAMI WATCH IN EFFECT FOR THE SOUTH WASHINGTON...NORTH OREGON... CENTRAL OREGON COAST...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A TSUNAMI WATCH FOR THE COASTAL AREAS OF SOUTH WASHINGTON...NORTH OREGON...CENTRAL OREGON. AT 946 PM PST A LARGE EARTHQUAKE WITH A PRELIMINARY MAGNITUDE OF 8.9 HAS BEEN DETECTED ON THE EAST COAST OF JAPAN.

THE ARRIVAL TIME FOR THE INITIAL WAVE ON THE OREGON AND WASHINGTON COAST IS ESTIMATED TO OCCUR AROUND 715 AM.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE SITUATION... AND WILL UPDATE THIS BULLETIN EVERY HOUR OR SOONER AS CONDITIONS WARRANT.

PLEASE STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR YOUR LOCAL MEDIA SOURCE FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

UPDATE, 12:14 AM: The very latest statement from NOAA's NWS.

UPDATE, 12:52 AM: The Los Angeles Times has a story on the tsunami watch and the likely impact on the California coast.

No big waves are expected, but beaches may be cleared.