PlainHazard

Tsunami

NOAA Storm Events type · 52 records since 2006 · 8 states and territories

The National Weather Service defines tsunami as: "A series of very long waves generated by any rapid, large-scale disturbance of the sea (e.g., an underwater earthquake, landslide, or volcanic eruption) resulting in a fatality, injury or damage." NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 52 tsunami records from 2006 through June 30, 2026, the most in California (21), with 33 deaths recorded.

How the National Weather Service files tsunami

A series of very long waves generated by any rapid, large-scale disturbance of the sea (e.g., an underwater earthquake, landslide, or volcanic eruption) resulting in a fatality, injury or damage. When the wave reaches the coast, a tsunami may appear as a rapidly rising or falling tide, a series of breaking waves, or even a bore.
National Weather Service Instruction 10-1605, Storm Data Preparation (July 26, 2021), Appendix A, entry 50

Source: National Weather Service Instruction 10-1605. Read the instruction (PDF).

Tsunami, 2006 to 2026

Records per year (2026 to June 30, 2026).

  • recorded, no damage figure
  • under $10 million
  • $10 million or more
  • $100 million or more
  • $1 billion or more, or 100 deaths
  • $10 billion or more, or 1,000 deaths
  • a year's colour: its recorded damage or deaths
  • a year with a death
Records
522006 to June 30, 2026
Deaths
33150 injuries
Damage, 2025 dollars
$211Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
Counties with a record
35of 3,266

Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records through June 30, 2026. Search the record at NCEI.

Where do tsunami records happen?

States

  1. California 21
  2. American Samoa 17
  3. Oregon 4
  4. New Jersey 4
  5. Hawaii 2
  6. Alaska 2
  7. Washington 1
  8. Delaware 1

Counties

  1. Manu'a District, AS 11
  2. Santa Cruz County, CA 5
  3. Orange County, CA 4
  4. Swains Island, AS 3
  5. San Diego County, CA 3
  6. Del Norte County, CA 3
  7. Western District, AS 2
  8. Eastern District, AS 2
  9. Curry County, OR 2
  10. Hawaii County, HI 2

Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (forecast-zone records count on every county the zone covers).

When do tsunami records happen?

40% of its tsunami records since 2006 fell in February and March. The busiest month is March.

The values, month by month

Jan 9 · Feb 8 · Mar 13 · Apr 0 · May 0 · Jun 5 · Jul 8 · Aug 2 · Sep 4 · Oct 0 · Nov 3 · Dec 0 (records).

Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.

The deadliest tsunami records

The tsunami records with the most deaths
DateRecordCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2009-09-29 TsunamiManu'a District, AS · forecast zone Tutuila A 7.9 earthquake occurred about 120 miles southwest of Pago Pago and it shook the entire Samoan and Tongan region. The earthquake occurred around 648 am Samoan local time, and it took within 15 minutes for the tsunami waves to reach the Samoan Islands. 32 148 $111M
2011-03-11 TsunamiDel Norte County and Humboldt County, CA · forecast zone Redwood Coast Surges in Crescent City harbor caused damage to docks and coastal infrastructure and sank numerous fishing boats. The damage was primarily caused by the high velocity current. 1 0 $3.9M

Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, deaths direct and indirect as filed.

The most recent tsunami records

To June 30, 2026
DateRecordCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2025-08-10 TsunamiHoonah-Angoon Census Area, AK · forecast zone Admiralty Island 0 0 –
2025-08-10 TsunamiJuneau City and Borough, AK · forecast zone City And Borough Of Juneau 0 0 –
2025-07-30 TsunamiOrange County, CA · forecast zone Orange County Coastal 0 0 –
2025-07-30 TsunamiManu'a District, AS · forecast zone Tutuila 0 0 –
2025-07-30 TsunamiDel Norte County, CA · forecast zone Coastal Del Norte 0 0 $1.0M
2025-07-29 TsunamiManu'a District, AS · forecast zone Tutuila 0 0 –
2025-07-29 TsunamiManu'a District, AS · forecast zone Tutuila 0 0 –
2025-07-29 TsunamiManu'a District, AS · forecast zone Tutuila 0 0 –

Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.

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