Hawaii & Japan Tsunami Advisories

 

**** UPDATE:  USGS lowers Magnitude to 7.6 ****

**** UPDATE: Tsunami Watch For Hawaii Cancelled ****

BULLETIN
TSUNAMI MESSAGE NUMBER   2
NWS PACIFIC TSUNAMI WARNING CENTER EWA BEACH HI
331 AM HST FRI AUG 31 2012

TO - CIVIL DEFENSE IN THE STATE OF HAWAII

SUBJECT - TSUNAMI WATCH CANCELLATION

THE EARTHQUAKE MAGNITUDE IS REDUCED.

THE TSUNAMI WATCH IS CANCELLED FOR THE STATE OF HAWAII EFFECTIVE
AT 0331 AM HST.

USGS Shake map

 

# 6528

 

Although it is not yet known whether a tsunami was generated by the 7.9 earthquake that occurred within the last hour east of the Philippines, Japan has issued a tsunami advisory, and Hawaii is under a tsunami watch.

 

This from the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center.

 

TO - CIVIL DEFENSE IN THE STATE OF HAWAII

SUBJECT - TSUNAMI WATCH

A TSUNAMI WATCH IS ISSUED FOR THE STATE OF HAWAII EFFECTIVE AT 0257 AM HST.

AN EARTHQUAKE HAS OCCURRED WITH THESE PRELIMINARY PARAMETERS

   ORIGIN TIME - 0248 AM HST 31 AUG 2012
   COORDINATES - 10.9 NORTH  127.1 EAST
   LOCATION    - PHILIPPINE ISLANDS REGION
   MAGNITUDE   - 7.9  MOMENT

EVALUATION

BASED ON ALL AVAILABLE DATA A TSUNAMI MAY HAVE BEEN GENERATED BY THIS EARTHQUAKE THAT COULD BE DESTRUCTIVE ON COASTAL AREAS EVEN
FAR FROM THE EPICENTER. AN INVESTIGATION IS UNDERWAY TO DETERMINE IF THERE IS A TSUNAMI THREAT TO HAWAII.

IF TSUNAMI WAVES IMPACT HAWAII THE ESTIMATED EARLIEST ARRIVAL OF THE FIRST TSUNAMI WAVE IS

                     1228 PM HST FRI 31 AUG 2012

MESSAGES WILL BE ISSUED HOURLY OR SOONER AS CONDITIONS WARRANT

 

 

Meanwhile, Japan’s Meteorological Agency has issued a Tsunami advisory for what may be a .5 meter tidal wave.

**********About Tsunami Forecast************
<Tsunami Advisory>
Tsunami height is expected to be about 0.5 meters. Attention advised.

******* Earthquake Information ********

Occurred at 
21:48 JST 31 Aug 2012

Region name 
PHILIPPINES AND ITS VICINITY

Latitude 10.9N

Longitude 127.1E

Depth Unknown

Magnitude  7.9

 

UPDATE:  No Destructive Tsunami Expected Along West Coast

 

To: U.S. West Coast, Alaska, and British Columbia coastal regions

From: NOAA/NWS/West Coast and Alaska Tsunami Warning Center

Subject: Tsunami Information Statement #2 issued 08/31/2012 at 6:36AM PDT

This message is updated with REVISED MAGNITUDE OF 7.6.

A strong earthquake has occurred, but a tsunami IS NOT expected along the California, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, or Alaska coast. NO tsunami warning, watch or advisory is in effect for these areas.

A damaging tsunami IS NOT expected along the California, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, and Alaska coasts although some of these areas may experience non-damaging sea level changes.

At 5:48 AM Pacific Daylight Time on August 31, an earthquake with preliminary magnitude 7.6 occurred in the Philippine Islands region . (Refer to the United States Geological Survey for official earthquake parameters.)

Pacific coastal regions outside California, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, and Alaska should refer to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center messages for information on the event.

This will be the final statement issued for this event by the West Coast/Alaska Tsunami Warning Center unless conditions warrant. See the WCATWC web site for basic tsunami information, safety rules, and a tsunami travel time map. (NOTE: Travel time maps indicate forecasted times only, not that a wave was generated.)

Philippines: 7.9 Quake & Tsunami Warning

****  UPDATE:  USGS lowers Magnitude to 7.6 ****

**** UPDATE: Tsunami Watch For Hawaii Cancelled ****

USGS Earthquake Map

 

# 6527

 

Preliminary reports indicate that a 7.9 magnitude quake has struck east of the Philippines, and a Tsunami warning and watch have been issued by the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center.

 

TSUNAMI BULLETIN NUMBER 001

PACIFIC TSUNAMI WARNING CENTER/NOAA/NWS
ISSUED AT 1255Z 31 AUG 2012

THIS BULLETIN APPLIES TO AREAS WITHIN AND BORDERING THE PACIFIC OCEAN AND ADJACENT SEAS...EXCEPT ALASKA...BRITISH COLUMBIA...
WASHINGTON...OREGON AND CALIFORNIA.

... A TSUNAMI WARNING AND WATCH ARE IN EFFECT ...

A TSUNAMI WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR   INDONESIA / PHILIPPINES / BELAU / YAP / TAIWAN / JAPAN / GUAM / N. MARIANAS / PAPUA NEW GUINEA

A TSUNAMI WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR   CHUUK / MARCUS IS. / KOSRAE / POHNPEI / MARSHALL IS. /
WAKE IS. / SOLOMON IS. / RUSSIA / NAURU

FOR ALL OTHER AREAS COVERED BY THIS BULLETIN... IT IS FOR INFORMATION ONLY AT THIS TIME.

 

 

At this time, we’ve no reports of damage, and we do not know whether a tsunami was generated, only that one is possible.

 

Alaska: 7.1 Mag Quake, Local Tsunami Warning Issued

UPDATED: Cancellation #3 issued 09/2/2011 at 3:57AM AKDT

The Tsunami Warning is canceled for the coastal areas from Unimak Pass, Alaska (80 miles NE of Dutch Harbor) to Amchitka Pass, Alaska (125 miles W of Adak).

NO destructive tsunami has been recorded, and NO tsunami danger exists along the coasts of the U.S. west coast states, Alaska, and British Columbia. Local authorities can assume all clear upon receipt of this message.

 

It now appears that the USGS has downgraded the earthquake to a 6.8.

 

# 5805

 

A strong 7.1 magnitude earthquake has struck in the Fox islands of Alaska in the past hour. Quakes of that size are capable of generating small to medium sized (usually localized) tsunamis. 

 

At this point, no Pacific-wide destructive tsunami is expected to have been generated.

 

 

 

NOAA’s West Coast and Alaska Tsunami Warning Center has issued the following statement:

 

A Tsunami Warning is now in effect which includes the coastal areas of Alaska from Unimak Pass, Alaska (80 miles NE of Dutch Harbor) to Amchitka Pass, Alaska (125 miles W of Adak).

<SNIP>

At 2:56 AM Alaskan Daylight Time on September 2, an earthquake with preliminary magnitude 7.1 occurred 45 miles/72 Km southeast of Amukta Pass, Alaska . (Refer to the United States Geological Survey for official earthquake parameters.) Earthquakes of this size are known to generate tsunamis. If a tsunami has been generated, the waves will first reach Adak, Alaska at 3:52 AM AKDT on September 2. Estimated tsunami arrival times and maps along with safety rules and other information can be found on the WCATWC web site.

The WCATWC will likely update this report shortly.

Miyagi: Tsunami Advisory After 6.5 Magnitude Aftershock

 

 

 

# 5453

 

 

The strongest aftershock in several days  struck off the east coast of Miyagi Prefecture  at 7:27 JST, on Monday Morning  (1827hrs EST Sunday).

 

While far less powerful than the earthquake of March 11th, a local Tsunami advisory has been issued by Japan’s Meteorological Agency.

 

They anticipate the quake might have generated of a series of waves less than 1 meter in height.

 

A destructive tsunami is not expected.

 

 

Quake Photos

 

 

# 5375

 

 

One of the best compilations of early photos from the massive 8.9 Honshu earthquake that I’ve seen are posted on the National Post’s website.  

 

There are 29 posted at this time.

 

http://news.nationalpost.com/photo_gallery/photos-massive-quake-unleashes-tsunami-on-japan/

West Coast Tsunami Warning Issued

 

 

CLICK THIS LINK FOR LATEST/ALL QUAKE UPDATES

 

# 5372

 

With more data coming in NOAA has just upgraded the alert level for portions of the west coast of the United States to a TSUNAMI WARNING after the massive 8.9 magnitude Honshu earthquake which occurred only 3 hours ago.

 

 

 

TSUNAMI MESSAGE NUMBER 4

NWS WEST COAST/ALASKA TSUNAMI WARNING CENTER PALMER AK 1244 AM PST FRI MAR 11 2011

THIS MESSAGE UPDATES THE ALERT STATUS TO WARNING AND ADVISORY.

...A TSUNAMI WARNING IS NOW IN EFFECT WHICH INCLUDES THE COASTAL AREAS OF CALIFORNIA AND OREGON FROM POINT CONCEPCION CALIFORNIA TO THE OREGON-WASHINGTON BORDER...

 

...A TSUNAMI WARNING IS NOW IN EFFECT WHICH INCLUDES THE COASTAL AREAS OF ALASKA FROM AMCHITKA PASS ALASKA/125 MILES  W OF ADAK/ TO ATTU ALASKA...

 

...THE TSUNAMI ADVISORY IS EXPANDED TO INCLUDE THE COASTAL  AREAS OF CALIFORNIA FROM THE CALIFORNIA-MEXICO BORDER TO POINT CONCEPCION CALIFORNIA...

 

...THE TSUNAMI ADVISORY IS EXPANDED TO INCLUDE THE COASTAL  AREAS OF WASHINGTON - BRITISH COLUMBIA AND ALASKA FROM THE OREGON-WASHINGTON BORDER TO CHIGNIK BAY ALASKA...

...THE TSUNAMI ADVISORY CONTINUES IN EFFECT FOR THE COASTAL  AREAS OF ALASKA FROM CHIGNIK BAY ALASKA TO AMCHITKA PASS ALASKA/125 MILES W OF ADAK/...

RECOMMENDED ACTIONS

A TSUNAMI HAS BEEN GENERATED WHICH IS EXPECTED TO CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE WARNING AND/OR ADVISORY REGIONS LISTED IN THE HEADLINE.

PERSONS IN LOW-LYING COASTAL AREAS SHOULD BE ALERT TO  INSTRUCTIONS FROM THEIR LOCAL EMERGENCY OFFICIALS. EVACUATIONS ARE ONLY ORDERED BY EMERGENCY RESPONSE AGENCIES.

- PERSONS IN TSUNAMI WARNING COASTAL AREAS SHOULD MOVE INLAND TO  HIGHER GROUND.

- PERSONS IN TSUNAMI ADVISORY COASTAL AREAS SHOULD MOVE OUT OF THE WATER... OFF THE BEACH AND OUT OF HARBORS AND MARINAS

 

 

Estimated Tsunami Arrival Times

 

CLICK THIS LINK FOR LATEST/ALL QUAKE UPDATES

 

# 5370

 

 

NOAA has produced a map of possible arrival times for the Tsunami believed to be moving across the Pacific as a result of the Honshu earthquake. 

 

Reports out of Japan indicate that up to an 11 meter (33 ft)  tsunami may have struck the coastline.  Damage is reportedly extensive.

 

 

Here is the latest advisory from the West Coast and Alaska Tsunami Warning Center.

 

To: U.S. West Coast, Alaska, and British Columbia coastal regions

From: NOAA/NWS/West Coast and Alaska Tsunami Warning Center

Subject: Tsunami Watch and Advisory #3 issued 03/10/2011 at 11:33PM PST

UPDATED MAGNITUDE TO 8.8

The Tsunami Advisory continues in effect for the coastal areas of Alaska from Chignik Bay, Alaska to Attu, Alaska.

The Tsunami Watch continues in effect for the coastal areas of California, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia and Alaska from the California-Mexico border to Chignik Bay, Alaska.

A Tsunami Advisory means that a tsunami capable of producing strong currents or waves dangerous to persons in or very near the water is expected. Significant, widespread inundation is not expected for areas under an advisory. Currents may be hazardous to swimmers, boats, and coastal structures and may continue for several hours after the initial wave arrival.

A Tsunami Watch means that all coastal residents in the watch area should prepare for possible evacuation. A tsunami watch is issued to areas which will not be immediately impacted by the tsunami. Watch areas will either be upgraded to warning or advisory status, or canceled.

At 9:46 PM Pacific Standard Time on March 10, an earthquake with preliminary magnitude 8.8 occurred near the east coast of Honshu, Japan . (Refer to the United States Geological Survey for official earthquake parameters.) This earthquake has generated a tsunami which could cause damage to coastal regions in a warning or advisory. The waves are expected to first reach Shemya, Alaska at 12:13 AM AKST on March 11. Estimated tsunami arrival times and maps along with safety rules and other information can be found on the WCATWC web site.

Pacific Wide Tsunami Warnings

 

CLICK THIS LINK FOR LATEST QUAKE UPDATE 

 

# 5369

 

Pacific wide Tsunami warnings are now being issued across the entire pacific in the wake of the 8.9 earthquake off the coast of Honshu. T

 

Tsunami waves in excess of 7 meters have now been reported in Northern Japan.

 

A TSUNAMI WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR:

JAPAN / RUSSIA / MARCUS IS. / N. MARIANAS / GUAM / WAKE IS. / TAIWAN / YAP / PHILIPPINES / MARSHALL IS. / BELAU / MIDWAY IS. / POHNPEI / CHUUK / KOSRAE / INDONESIA / PAPUA NEW GUINEA / NAURU / JOHNSTON IS. / SOLOMON IS. / KIRIBATI / HOWLAND-BAKER / HAWAII / TUVALU / PALMYRA IS. / VANUATU / TOKELAU / JARVIS IS. / WALLIS-FUTUNA / SAMOA / AMERICAN SAMOA / COOK ISLANDS / NIUE / AUSTRALIA / FIJI / NEW CALEDONIA / TONGA / MEXICO / KERMADEC IS / FR. POLYNESIA / NEW ZEALAND / PITCAIRN / GUATEMALA / EL SALVADOR / COSTA RICA / NICARAGUA / ANTARCTICA / PANAMA / HONDURAS / CHILE / ECUADOR / COLOMBIA / PERU

 

The following excerpt is from the Tsunami warning issued for Hawaii. 

BULLETIN

TSUNAMI MESSAGE NUMBER   3


NWS PACIFIC TSUNAMI WARNING CENTER EWA BEACH HI


931 PM HST THU MAR 10 2011


TO - CIVIL DEFENSE IN THE STATE OF HAWAII


SUBJECT - TSUNAMI WARNING

A TSUNAMI WARNING IS ISSUED FOR THE STATE OF HAWAII EFFECTIVE AT 931 PM HST.


AN EARTHQUAKE HAS OCCURRED WITH THESE PRELIMINARY PARAMETERS

   ORIGIN TIME - 0746 PM HST 10 MAR 2011


   COORDINATES - 38.2 NORTH  142.5 EAST


   LOCATION    - NEAR EAST COAST OF HONSHU   JAPAN    MAGNITUDE   - 8.8  MOMENT

<SNIP>

A TSUNAMI HAS BEEN GENERATED THAT COULD CAUSE DAMAGE ALONG COASTLINES OF ALL ISLANDS IN THE STATE OF HAWAII. URGENT ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN TO PROTECT LIVES AND PROPERTY.

 

A TSUNAMI IS A SERIES OF LONG OCEAN WAVES. EACH INDIVIDUAL WAVE CREST CAN LAST 5 TO 15 MINUTES OR MORE AND EXTENSIVELY FlOOD COASTAL AREAS. THE DANGER CAN CONTINUE FOR MANY HOURS AFTER THE  INITIAL WAVE AS SUBSEQUENT WAVES ARRIVE. TSUNAMI WAVE HEIGHTS CANNOT BE PREDICTED AND THE FIRST WAVE MAY NOT BE THE LARGEST.

 

TSUNAMI WAVES EFFICIENTLY WRAP AROUND ISLANDS. ALL SHORES ARE AT RISK NO MATTER WHICH DIRECTION THEY FACE. THE TROUGH OF A TSUNAMI WAVE MAY TEMPORARILY EXPOSE THE SEAFLOOR BUT THE AREA WILL QUICKLY FLOOD AGAIN. EXTREMELY STRONG AND UNUSUAL NEARSHORE CURRENTS CAN ACCOMPANY A TSUNAMI. DEBRIS PICKED UP AND CARRIED BY A TSUNAMI AMPLIFIES ITS DESTRUCTIVE POWER. SIMULTANEOUS HIGH TIDES OR HIGH SURF CAN SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASE THE TSUNAMI HAZARD.

 

THE ESTIMATED ARRIVAL TIME IN HAWAII OF THE FIRST TSUNAMI WAVE IS  0259 AM HST FRI 11 MAR 2011

 

MESSAGES WILL BE ISSUED HOURLY OR SOONER AS CONDITIONS WARRANT.

 

For the latest Tsunami warnings go to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center.

Quake/Tsunami Damage Heavy

 

 CLICK THIS LINK FOR LATEST QUAKE UPDATE

 

# 5368

 

Tsunami waves of up to 4 meters reportedly struck the coast shortly after the (now upgraded) 8.9 quake off the coast of Honshu.  Farms and houses are reportedly washed away by the incoming waves, and more than an hour after the quake fresh waves continue to come in.

 

Quake damage reports are just beginning to come in, but at this point they look to be significant. 

 

Live streaming video from NHK World with English news commentary is available at:

 

http://www.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/

 

 

In the hour or so since the major quake, several very strong aftershocks have been reported.

 

Major Quake Off Japan, Pacific Tsunami Warning/Watch Issued

 

CLICK THIS LINK FOR LATEST QUAKE UPDATE

 

 

# 5367

 

 

The world is waiting for damage reports, and word of any tsunami generated, in the wake of an extremely powerful earthquake that struck off the coast of Honshu, Japan mid afternoon local time Friday.

 

Immediate had estimated the magnitude range at 7.9, but the USGS is now showing it at 8.8 , and the depth at 24.4 km.   Adjustments to magnitudes often occur when more data is received.

 

 

This is the latest of a series of earthquakes in this region that began less than 48 hours ago with a 7.2 magnitude quake, followed by many aftershocks.

 

The Pacific Tsunami Warning center has issued the following statement:

 

 

And from Hawaiinewsnow.com  we get the following story:

 

Tsunami watch issued after Japan earthquake

Updated: Mar 11, 2011 1:42 AM EST Friday, March 11, 2011 1:42 AM EST

EWA BEACH (HawaiiNewsNow) -- A Tsunami Watch has been issued for the state of Hawaii following an 8.8 magnitude earthquake off the east coast of Honshu, Japan.

 

Scientists at the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Ewa Beach said that based on available data, a tsunami may have been generated by the quake. They said the earliest that tsunami waves could reach Hawaii would be at 2:59 a.m. Friday.

 

This is obviously a breaking news story, and I’ll have updates as they become available.   I’ll also be looking for online streaming coverage, and will post any links I can find.

Tsunami Warning For The Pacific

 

 

 

# 4388

 

In the early hours of this morning a massive 8.8 magnitude quake struck southern Chile, causing what early reports suggest is extensive damage, and generating a Tsunami.

 

This Tsunami – or rather, series of Tsunamis – are traveling across the Pacific at roughly the speed of an airliner.   Their impacts won’t be felt in places like Hawaii, New Zealand, and Indonesia for hours.

 

It is impossible to forecast with any accuracy how large these tsunami waves will be when they reach these locations, but we can estimate the arrival time.

 

The first of these Tsunamis is expect to strike the Hawaiian islands a little after 11am, HST.

 

 

 

Huge earthquake batters Chile, 78 dead

SANTIAGO, Chile (Reuters) - A massive magnitude-8.8 earthquake struck south-central Chile early on Saturday, killing at least 78 people, knocking down buildings and triggering a tsunami.

 

President Michelle Bachelet said there were 78 confirmed deaths and that more were possible. Telephone and power lines were down, making it difficult to make an early assessment of the damage, but serious damage was reported in two southern cities.

 

"Never in my life have I experienced a quake like this, it's like the end of the world," one man told local television from the city of Temuco, where the quake damaged buildings and forced staff to evacuate the regional hospital.

 

The U.S. Geological Survey said the earthquake struck 56 miles northeast of the city of Concepcion at a depth of 22 miles at 3:34 a.m. (1:34 a.m. ET).

(Continue . . . )

 

 

Early reports, such as the number of deaths, amount of damage, and size of tsunamis generated are all subject to revision.

  

The latest Tsunami bulletins are available by clicking the graphic below.

 

BULLETIN
TSUNAMI MESSAGE NUMBER   7
NWS PACIFIC TSUNAMI WARNING CENTER EWA BEACH HI
148 AM HST SAT FEB 27 2010

TO - CIVIL DEFENSE IN THE STATE OF HAWAII

SUBJECT - TSUNAMI WARNING SUPPLEMENT

A TSUNAMI WARNING CONTINUES IN EFFECT FOR THE STATE OF HAWAII.

AN EARTHQUAKE HAS OCCURRED WITH THESE PRELIMINARY PARAMETERS

   ORIGIN TIME - 0834 PM HST 26 FEB 2010
   COORDINATES - 36.1 SOUTH   72.6 WEST
   LOCATION    - NEAR COAST OF CENTRAL CHILE
   MAGNITUDE   - 8.8  MOMENT

EVALUATION

A TSUNAMI HAS BEEN GENERATED THAT COULD CAUSE DAMAGE ALONG  COASTLINES OF ALL ISLANDS IN THE STATE OF HAWAII. URGENT ACTION  SHOULD BE TAKEN TO PROTECT LIVES AND PROPERTY.

 

A TSUNAMI IS A SERIES OF LONG OCEAN WAVES. EACH INDIVIDUAL WAVE  CREST CAN LAST 5 TO 15 MINUTES OR MORE AND EXTENSIVELY FLOOD  COASTAL AREAS. THE DANGER CAN CONTINUE FOR MANY HOURS AFTER THE  INITIAL WAVE AS SUBSEQUENT WAVES ARRIVE. TSUNAMI WAVE HEIGHTS  CANNOT BE PREDICTED AND THE FIRST WAVE MAY NOT BE THE LARGEST.

 

TSUNAMI WAVES EFFICIENTLY WRAP AROUND ISLANDS. ALL SHORES ARE AT RISK NO MATTER WHICH DIRECTION THEY FACE. THE TROUGH OF A TSUNAMI  WAVE MAY TEMPORARILY EXPOSE THE SEAFLOOR BUT THE AREA WILL  QUICKLY FLOOD AGAIN. EXTREMELY STRONG AND UNUSUAL NEARSHORE  CURRENTS CAN ACCOMPANY A TSUNAMI. DEBRIS PICKED UP AND CARRIED  BY A TSUNAMI AMPLIFIES ITS DESTRUCTIVE POWER.
SIMULTANEOUS HIGH TIDES OR HIGH SURF CAN SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASE THE TSUNAMI HAZARD.

 

THE ESTIMATED ARRIVAL TIME IN HAWAII OF THE FIRST TSUNAMI WAVE IS

         1119 AM HST SAT 27 FEB 2010

MESSAGES WILL BE ISSUED HOURLY OR SOONER AS CONDITIONS WARRANT.