West Coast/Alaska Tsunami Warning Center, NOAA/NWS

TSUNAMI of 27 October, 2012 (Haida Gwaii, Queen Charlotte Islands, B.C., Canada)

A major earthquake with a moment magnitude of 7.7 (USGS magnitude) occurred at 03:04:10 UTC 28 October, 2012 (day 302) and was located 126 mi/201 km SSW of Prince Rupert, British Columbia, Canada (52.769N, 131.927W, 10.9 mi/17.4 km depth--USGS location).

This earthquake produced a tsunami that was recorded at tide gages monitored by the West Coast/Alaska Tsunami Warning Center (WCATWC). Many observatories provide data to the centers; such as the NOAA National Ocean Service, the U. of Hawaii Sea Level Center, the Chilean Navy, the Japan Meteorological Agency and the National Tidal Facility in Australia among others. Click on the site name to see a graph of the tsunami, when available. Listed wave heights are maximum amplitude in cm (above sea level). Observed Arrival time is the actual tsunami arrival time in UTC on gages where it could be determined. The Computed Arrival time is the estimated time of wave arrival computed at the WCATWC based on the earthquake origin time and location. The Sample Interval column shows the time between data samples.

For additional information about this tsunami event see the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center's homepage.


Travel Time Map (click to enlarge)	Maximum Amplitude Graph (click to enlarge)

Tide gage/ Measurement Location	Estimated Arrival Time [UTC (J.Day)]	Observed Arrival time [UTC (J.Day)]	Peak amplitude (above sea level in cm)	Time of Peak Amplitude Measurement [UTC (J.Day)]	Model Forecast Amplitude (above sea level in cm)	Initial motion	Sample Interval (min)	Data File (Julian Day Starts at 0000 UTC)
Alameda, California	-	0712 (302)	11	0825 (302)	4	up	1	302, 303
Arena Cove, California	0604 (302)	0601 (302)	35	0637 (302)	28	up	1	302, 303
Crescent City, California	0543 (302)	0544 (302)	44	0914 (302)	24	up	1	302, 303
La Jolla, California	0741 (302)	0741 (302)	5	0748 (302)	4	up	1	302, 303
Los Angeles, California	0729 (302)	0728 (302)	8	1002 (302)	7	up	1	302, 303
Monterey Harbor, California	0632 (302)	0634 (302)	14	0929 (302)	11	up	1	302, 303
North Spit, California	0546 (302)	0546 (302)	12	0649 (302)	15	up	1	302, 303
Point Reyes, California	0632 (302)	0619 (302)	24	0905 (302)	9	up	1	302, 303
Port San Luis, California	0657 (302)	0658 (302)	27	0810 (302)	11	up	1	302, 303
Richmond, California	-	0708 (302)	9	0822 (302)	-	up	1	302, 303
San Diego, California	-	0904 (302)	5	0920 (302)	7	up	1	302, 303
San Francisco, California	0652 (302)	0652 (302)	14	0802 (302)	6	up	1	302, 303
Santa Monica, California	0728 (302)	0723 (302)	8	0933 (302)	5	up	1	302, 303
Astoria, Oregon	0554 (302)	0541 (302)	3	0549 (302)	6	up	1	302, 303
Charleston, Oregon	0525 (302)	0523 (302)	13	0732(302)	12	up	1	302, 303
Garibaldi, Oregon	0531 (302)	0512 (302)	5	0519 (302)	-	up	1	302, 303
Port Orford, Oregon	0526 (302)	0521 (302)	23	0841 (302)	18	up	1	302, 303
South Beach, Oregon	0527 (302)	0528 (302)	7	0531 (302)	12	up	1	302, 303
La Push, Washington	0517 (302)	0452 (302)	12	0757 (302)	-	up	1	302, 303
Neah Bay, Washington	0515 (302)	0503 (302)	11	0638 (302)	8	up	1	302, 303
Port Angeles, Washington	0552 (302)	0550 (302)	12	0640 (302)	5	?	1	302, 303
Toke Point, Washington	-	0525 (302)	4	0533 (302)		up	1	302, 303
Westport, Washington	0533 (302)	0513 (302)	8	0521 (302)	21	up	1	302, 303
Langara Point, B.C., Canada	0338 (302)	0340 (302)	25	0504 (302)	10	up	1	302, 303
Neptune05, B.C., Canada	-	0443 (302)	8	0453 (302)	-	up	1	302, 303
Winter Harbour, B.C., Canada	0417 (302)	0401 (302)	22	0550 (302)	-	up	1	302, 303
*Bamfield, B.C., Canada	-	-	6	-	-	up
*Bella Bella, B.C., Canada	-	-	11.33	-	-	down
*Hartley Bay, B.C., Canada	-	-	3.33	-	-	?
*Henslung Cove, B.C., Canada	-	-	26	-	-	down
*Kitimat, B.C., Canada	-	-	3.66	-	-	down
*Port Alberni, B.C., Canada	-	-	15.3	-	-	down
*Port Hardy, B.C., Canada	-	-	8	-	-	up
*Queen Charlotte City, B.C., Canada	-	-	5.33	-	-	up
*Tofino, B.C., Canada	-	-	9	-	-	down
Atka, Alaska	0705 (302)	0725 (302)	11	0831 (302)	-	up	1	302, 303
Chignik, Alaska	0652 (302)	0654 (302)	18	1026 (302)	-	up	15 sec	302, 303
Craig, Alaska	0450 (302)	0426 (302)	8	0450 (302)	-	up	15 sec	302, 303
Dutch Harbor, Alaska	0702 (302)	0733 (302)	7	0939 (302)	5		1	302, 303
Elfin Cove, Alaska	0430 (302)	0434 (302)	7	0448 (302)	7	up	1	302, 303
Ketchikan, Alaska	0436 (302)	0440 (302)	5	0801 (302)	-	up	1	302, 303
Old Harbor, Kodiak, Alaska	0620 (302)	0601 (302)	14	0617 (302)	-	up	15 sec	302, 303
Port Alexander, Alaska	0404 (302)	0410 (302)	11	0602 (302)	-	up	1	302, 303
Sand Point, Alaska	0642 (302)	0648 (302)	6	0814 (302)	9	up	15 sec	302, 303
Sitka, Alaska	0419 (302)	0426 (302)	10	0558 (302)	16	up	15 sec	302, 303
Valdez, Alaska	0609 (302)	0618 (302)	3	0639 (302)	5	up	1	302, 303
Yakutat, Alaska	0517 (302)	0522 (302)	15	1135 (302)	20	up	1	302, 303
Barbers Point, Hawaii	-	0834 (302)	9	0925 (302)	-	up	1	302, 303
French Frigate Shoals, Hawaii	0844 (302)	0855 ? (302)	14	0956 (302)	-	?	1	302, 303
Haleiwa, Hawaii		0830 (302)	43	0857 (302)	24	up	10 sec	302, 303
Hanalei, Hawaii		0829 (302)	19	0854 (302)	24	up	10 sec	302, 303
Hilo, Hawaii	0850 (302)	0837 (302)	29	1011 (302)	42	up	1	302, 303
Honokohua, Hawaii	-	0845 (302)	9	0923 (302)	-	up	10 sec	302, 303
Honolulu, Hawaii	0842 (302)	0844 (302)	20	0909 (302)	19	up	1	302, 303
Kahului, Hawaii	0841 (302)	0837 (302)	79	0907 (302)	60	up	1	302, 303
Kaumalapau, Hawaii	-	0852 (302)	18	0958 (302)	-	up	1	302, 303
Kawaihae, Hawaii	0844 (302)	0842 (302)	56	0934 (302)	53	up	1	302, 303
Lahaina, Hawaii	-	0846 (302)	28	1004 (302)	-	up	10 sec	302, 303
Makapuu, Hawaii	-	0830 (302)	27	0935 (302)	-	up	10 sec	302, 303
Mokuloe, Hawaii	-	0834 (302)	9	0854 (302)	26	up	1	302, 303
Aburatsu, Japan	-	1504 (302)	10	2043 (302)	-		1	302, 303
Chichijima, Japan	-	1426 (302)	10	1804 (302)	-	?	1	302, 303
Fukaura, Japan	-		6	1503 (302)	-	?	1	302, 303
Mera, Japan	-	1333 (302)	11	1419 (302)	-	?	1	302, 303
Rarotonga, Cook Is. (NZ)	-	1429 (302)	15	1537 (302)	-	up	1	302, 303
Christmas Is., Kiribati	1055 (302)	1057 (302)	3	1117 (302)	-	up	1	302, 303
Auckland. NZ	1756 (302)		5	1738 (302)	-	?	1	302, 303
Chatham Island, NZ	-	1838 (302)	14	2138 (302)	-	up	1	302, 303
Gisborn, NZ	1717 (302)	?	10	2245 (302)	-	?	1	302, 303
Lottin Point, NZ	1649 (302)	1730 (302)	5	2032 (302)	-	up	1	302, 303
Hienghene, New Caledonia	-	?	4	2137 (302)	-	?	1	302, 303
Huahine, Fr. Polynesia	-	1324 (302)	7	1624 (302)	-	up	2	302, 303
Midway Island, USA	0900 (302)	0914 (302)	9	0927 (302)	23	up	1	302, 303
Nuku Hiva, Fr. Polynesia	-	1220 (302)	16	1245 (302)	-	up	1	302, 303
Ouinne, New Caldonia	-	1842 (302)	8	0232 (303)	-		1	302, 303
Pago Pago, Amer. Samoa	1343 (302)	1344 (302)	8	1455 (302)	-	?	1	302, 303
Papeete, Fr. Polynesia	1328 (302)	1329 (302)	4	1400 (302)	-	up	1	302, 303
Rangiroa Atoll, Fr. Polynesia	-	1324 (302)	6	1426 (302)	-	down	1	302, 303
Raoul Is., Boat Cove, NZ	1540 (302)	1720 (302)	6	1908 (302)	-	?	1	302, 303
Raoul Is. Fishing Rock, NZ	-	1722 (302)	7	2011 (302)	-	?	1	302, 303
Rikitea, Fr. Polynesia	1425 (302)	?	10	1554 (302)	-	?	1	302, 303
Saipan, USA	1308 (302)	1350 (302)	2	1607 (302)	-	?	3	302, 303
Wake Is., USA	1108 (302)	1128 (302)	4	1151 (302)	-		1	302, 303
Apia, Western Samoa	1344 (302)	1347 (302)	6	1513 (302)	-	up	1	302, 303
Funafuti, Tuvalu	1323 (302)	1336 (302)	2	1352 (302)	-	?	1	302, 303
Honiara, Solomon Islands	1544 (302)	?	3	1736 (302)	-	?	1	302, 303
Lata Wharf, Solomon Islands	-	1510 (302)	4	1541 (302)	-	?	1	302, 303
Manus, Papua New Guinea	1512 (302)	?	5	1750 (302)	-	?	1	302, 303
Point Murat, Ausralia	-	1349 (302)	5	2000 (302)	-	?	1	302, 303
Port Villa, Vanuatu	1555 (302)	1619	6	1926 (302)	-		1	302, 303
Tarekukure, Solomon Islands	-	1601 (302)	4	1656 (302)	-	up	1	302, 303

* Compliments of Canadian Hydrographic Services


US Dept of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Page Owner: West Coast & Alaska Tsunami Warning Center 910 S. Felton St. Palmer, AK 99645 USA Phone:907-745-4212 / FAX:907-745-6071 Contact Us: WCATWC This page was last updated on: 11/01/2012 18:36:15	Disclaimer Information Quality Credits Glossary	Privacy Policy Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) About Us Career Opportunities