UPDATE – (7:40 p.m.) – The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center says the Tsunami Advisory for the State of Hawaiʻi is no longer in effect. The PTWC reported:

Tsunami wave heights across the State of Hawaiʻi are now below advisory levels and are continuing to diminish. Measurements recorded for  Kahului and  Hilo are now below advisory level. Based on all available data the  Pacific  Tsunami  Warning  Center is now cancelling the tsunami advisory. Small sea level changes and strong or unusual currents may persist for several additional hours in some coastal areas and appropriate caution should be exercised by boaters and swimmers.

The Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense says all beaches will remain closed for today as a precaution due to possible strong currents.

NOTE: Due to the important changes to this story, we have revised the headline.

UPDATE – (5:30 p.m.) – After first reporting there was no threat to Hawaiʻi from this morning’s Magnitude 7.5 earthquake off Alaska, emergency officials announced early this evening that a Tsunami Advisory was in effect for the State.

From the Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense radio message issued just before 5:50 p.m. HST:

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center has issued a Tsunami Advisory for the Island and State of Hawaii.

A Tsunami Advisory is issued when an earthquake has generated a wave expected to be three feet or less in height when it reaches Hawaii.

An earthquake with a magnitude of 7.5 has occurred at approximately 10:55 HST in the vicinity of the Aleutian Islands in Alaska.

All beaches and low-lying coastal areas are at risk and will be closed for the remainder of today.

I say again, a Tsunami Advisory is in effect for the Island and State of Hawaii.

A Tsunami Advisory is issued when an earthquake has generated a wave expected to be three feet or less in height when it reaches Hawaii.

An earthquake with a magnitude of 7.5 has occurred hear Aleutian Islands Alaska.

All beaches and low-lying coastal areas are at risk and will be closed the rest of the day today.

You will be informed as conditions change.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center wrote this in an advisory that was posted 4:46 HST, hours after it had first stated that there was no threat to Hawaiʻi:

Based on all available data a major tsunami is not expected to strike the State of Hawaiʻi. However… sea level changes have been recorded at Hilo and Kahului just above advisory level that could be a hazard to swimmers and boaters as well as to persons near the shore at beaches and in harbors and marinas. The threat may continue for several hours after the initial wave arrival.

UPDATE – The Tsunami Warning for South Alaska and the Alaska Peninsula has been downgraded to an Advisory. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center reported that a tsunami with a height of 1.5 ft was observed at King Cove, and a 2 ft wave was seen at Sand Point, AK.

(BIVN) – A Tsunami Warning has been issued for an area of the Pacific Ocean following a Magnitude 7.4 earthquake off Alaska, but emergency officials say there is no threat to Hawaiʻi.

This message was distributed by the Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense on Monday shortly after the earthquake occurred:

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) reports an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.4 has occurred at approximately 10:55 am HST in the vicinity of Sand Point Alaska.

PTWC confirms there is NO TSUNAMI THREAT to the Island and State of Hawaii. I say again, there is NO TSUNAMI THREAT to the Island and State of Hawaii.

You will be informed should conditions change.

UPDATE – (11:32 a.m.) – A Pacific Tsunami Warning Center message issued at 1 p.m. Alaska time (11 a.m. Hawaiʻi time) stated that a Tsunami Warning is in effect for “South Alaska and the Alaska Peninsula, Pacific coasts from Kennedy Entrance, Alaska (40 miles SW of Homer) to Unimak Pass, Alaska (80 miles NE of Unalaska)”

At the time the message was issued, the PTWC stated that “for other US and Canadian Pacific coasts in North America,  the level of tsunami danger is being evaluated.”

UPDATE – (11:33 a.m.) – At 11:31 a.m. HST, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued an updated message, revising the magnitude of the earthquake up to a Magnitude 7.5.

The Tsunami Warning remains in effect for South Alaska and the Alaska Peninsula.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center recommended these actions if you are in a tsunami warning area:

• Evacuate inland or to higher ground above and beyond designated tsunami hazard zones or move to an upper floor of a multi-story building depending on your situation.
• Move out of the water, off the beach, and away from harbors, marinas, breakwaters, bays and inlets.
• Be alert to and follow instructions from your local emergency officials because they may have more detailed or specific information for your location.
• If you feel a strong earthquake or extended ground rolling take immediate protective actions such as moving inland and/or uphill preferably by foot.
• Boat operators: Where time and conditions permit, move your boat out to sea to a depth of at least 180 feet. If at sea avoid entering shallow water, harbors, marinas, bays, and inlets to avoid floating and submerged debris and strong currents.
• Do not go to the shore to observe the tsunami.
• Do not return to the coast until local emergency officials indicate it is safe to do so.