Current Warnings - International Tsunami Information Center (2024)

At the national level, each Member State or country is responsible for issuing warnings to its own citizens through theirNational Tsunami Warning Centres (NTWC)or designated authorities. These warnings are based either on the NTWC’s own analysis of the situation, on the advisory messages received from the international TSPs (and some other sources), or on a combination of all.

PACIFIC OCEAN AND MARGINAL SEAS Tsunami Bulletins
The USA (PTWC, US NTWC), Japan, and China are the Tsunami Service Providers.
USA Tsunami Warning Centers
Pacific Tsunami Warning Center Bulletins
PTWC issues warnings for the US state of Hawaii, territories of American Samoa and Guam, commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the territory of the US Virgin Islands, the commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the British Virgin Islands.
PTWC issues international threat information to countries of the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean and Adjacent Region, and on an interim basis, for the South China Sea region.
US National Tsunami Warning Center Tsunami Bulletins
US NTWC issues warnings for Canada and the US states in North America.

NTWC and PTWC issue products based on earthquake tsunamigenic potential and/or forecasted tsunami amplitude. Warnings and Advisories suggest that action be taken. Watches are issued to provide an early alert for areas that are distant from the wave front, but may have danger. Once the danger level is determined, the Watch is upgraded to a Warning or Advisory, or canceled. The full definition of each message follows.

Tsunami Warning - A tsunami warning is issued when a tsunami with the potential to generate widespread inundation is imminent, expected, or occurring. Warnings alert the public that dangerous coastal flooding accompanied by powerful currents is possible and may continue for several hours after initial arrival. Warnings alert emergency management officials to take action for the entire tsunami hazard zone. Appropriate actions to be taken by local officials may include the evacuation of low-lying coastal areas, and the repositioning of ships to deep waters when there is time to safely do so. Warnings may be updated, adjusted geographically, downgraded, or canceled. To provide the earliest possible alert, initial warnings are normally based only on seismic information.

Tsunami Advisory - A tsunami advisory is issued when a tsunami with the potential to generate strong currents or waves dangerous to those in or very near the water is imminent, expected, or occurring. The threat may continue for several hours after initial arrival, but significant inundation is not expected for areas under an advisory. Appropriate actions to be taken by local officials may include closing beaches, evacuating harbors and marinas, and the repositioning of ships to deep waters when there is time to safely do so. Advisories are normally updated to continue the advisory, expand/contract affected areas, upgrade to a warning, or cancel the advisory.

Tsunami Watch - A tsunami watch is issued to alert emergency management officials and the public of an event which may later impact the watch area. The watch area may be upgraded to a warning or advisory - or canceled - based on updated information and analysis. Therefore, emergency management officials and the public should prepare to take action. Watches are normally issued based on seismic information without confirmation that a destructive tsunami is underway.

Tsunami Information Statement - A tsunami information statement is issued to inform emergency management officials and the public that an earthquake has occurred, or that a tsunami warning, watch or advisory has been issued for another section of the ocean. In most cases, information statements are issued to indicate there is no threat of a destructive tsunami and to prevent unnecessary evacuations as the earthquake may have been felt in coastal areas. An information statement may, in appropriate situations, caution about the possibility of destructive local tsunamis. Information statements may be re-issued with additional information, though normally these messages are not updated. However, a watch, advisory or warning may be issued for the area, if necessary, after analysis and/or updated information becomes available.