Seems like this phenomena is everywhere. I got an email from a guy in Queensland (Australia), which is ironically very funny:
Subject: sea breeze
AT THE RISK OF SOUNDING LIKE A DRAMA QUEEN, WE WERE BRIEFED BY EMERGENCY SERVICES YESTERDAY AFTERNOON WERE TOLD THE FOLLOWING
· UP TO 300 KLM WINDS
· 7000 MM TIDAL SURGE
· 1.5 TO 2 METRE OF RAINFALL
· 100 KLM WIDE CYCLONE EYE
· COULD GO INLAND AS FAR AS RICHMOND (400 KLMS)
· WILL BE WINDS HERE TOMORROW MORNING
· B.O.M HAVE NEVER MODELLED A STORM OF THIS SIZE EVER IN AUSTRALIA.
SOME OF THESE BLOKES PACKED UP THEIR FAMILIES AND SENT THEM TO BRISBANE. THE GOVERNMENT ARE PRESENTLY SENDING SMS MESSAGES TO EVERYONE WARNING OF CYCLONE.