The threat of a potential tsunami exists for the Aleutian Islands in Alaska, parts of the North Pacific coastline of Russia and for Japan after a 8.0-magnitude earthquake struck in the North Pacific Ocean on Tuesday evening Eastern time, according to the U.S. Tsunami Warning System, which is part of the National Weather Service.

Forecasters say Iona rapidly strengthened into a hurricane in the central Pacific Ocean and is expected to continue trekking toward the west over warm, open waters well south of Hawaii.