UPDATED (8 a.m. on 9/17/2015)
8 a.m. Hawaii County Civil Defense Tsunami All Clear message
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center has Cancelled the Tsunami Advisory for the State of Hawaii. Beginning at approximately 3:20 a.m. today (Sept 17), sea level changes and increased wave heights were obvserved. Since that time no damages have been reported and conditions have continued to subside and improve. Based on the cancellation of the advisory and improved conditions an all clear is issued for Hawaii Island effective at 8 a.m. this morning. All beach parks are open.
Magnitude
8.3
Time
2015-09-16 22:54:32 (UTC)
2015-09-16 12:54:32 HST
Nearby Cities
54km (34mi) W of Illapel, Chile
76km (47mi) WNW of Salamanca, Chile
109km (68mi) NNW of La Ligua, Chile
118km (73mi) SSW of Ovalle, Chile
233km (145mi) NNW of Santiago, Chile
Threat Message for Hawaii
TSUNAMI MESSAGE NUMBER 23
NWS PACIFIC TSUNAMI WARNING CENTER EWA BEACH HI
734 AM HST THU SEP 17 2015
THE TSUNAMI ADVISORY IS ENDED FOR THE STATE OF HAWAII EFFECTIVE
AT 0733 AM HST.
AN EARTHQUAKE HAS OCCURRED WITH THESE PRELIMINARY PARAMETERS
ORIGIN TIME - 1254 PM HST 16 SEP 2015
COORDINATES - 31.5 SOUTH 72.0 WEST
LOCATION - NEAR THE COAST OF CENTRAL CHILE
MAGNITUDE - 8.3 MOMENT
MEASUREMENTS OR REPORTS OF TSUNAMI WAVE ACTIVITY
GAUGE LOCATION LAT LON TIME AMPL PER
------------------- ----- ------ ----- --------------- -----
NUKUALOFA TO 21.1S 175.2W 1542Z 0.09M / 0.3FT 18MIN
NAWILIWILI KAUAI 22.0N 159.4W 1602Z 0.14M / 0.5FT 08MIN
CRESCENT CITY CA 41.7N 124.2W 1602Z 0.25M / 0.8FT 20MIN
PORT ORFORD OR 42.7N 124.5W 1606Z 0.07M / 0.2FT 18MIN
VANUATU 17.8S 168.3E 1542Z 0.05M / 0.2FT 24MIN
QUEPOS CR 9.4N 84.2W 1012Z 0.15M / 0.5FT 22MIN
NAWILIWILI HI 22.0N 159.4W 1602Z 0.13M / 0.4FT 06MIN
MAKAPU`U HI 21.3N 157.7W 1417Z 0.01M / 0.0FT 14MIN
JOHNSTON US 16.7N 169.5W 1526Z 0.02M / 0.1FT 20MIN
DART 51407 19.6N 156.6W 1348Z 0.02M / 0.1FT 20MIN
KAWAIHAE HAWAII 20.0N 155.8W 1426Z 0.27M / 0.9FT 16MIN
OFF VANCOUVER BC 47.8N 127.8W 1434Z 0.00M / 0.0FT 14MIN
DART 46404 45.9N 128.8W 1354Z 0.01M / 0.0FT 22MIN
APIA UPOLU WS 13.8S 171.8W 1500Z 0.20M / 0.7FT 20MIN
HONOLULU OAHU 21.3N 157.9W 1432Z 0.06M / 0.2FT 14MIN
KAHULUI MAUI 20.9N 156.5W 1435Z 0.66M / 2.2FT 18MIN
PAGO PAGO AS 14.3S 170.7W 1418Z 0.67M / 2.2FT 20MIN
BOAT COVE RAOUL IS 29.3S 177.9W 1346Z 0.22M / 0.7FT 06MIN
LOTTIN PT NZ 37.6S 178.2E 1230Z 0.15M / 0.5FT 16MIN
KALAUPAPA HI 21.2N 157.0W 1406Z 0.08M / 0.3FT 16MIN
HILO HI 19.7N 155.1W 1406Z 0.93M / 3.0FT 18MIN
HILO HAWAII 19.7N 155.1W 1347Z 0.70M / 2.3FT 16MIN
MONTEREY HARBOR CA 36.6N 121.9W 1301Z 0.09M / 0.3FT 42MIN
DART 51426 23.3S 168.3W 1253Z 0.02M / 0.1FT 14MIN
DART 46411 39.3N 127.0W 1303Z 0.01M / 0.0FT 16MIN
PORT SAN LUIS CA 35.2N 120.8W 1245Z 0.08M / 0.2FT 16MIN
SANTA MONICA CA 34.0N 118.5W 1243Z 0.15M / 0.5FT 32MIN
OWENGA CHATHAM NZ 44.0S 176.4W 1209Z 0.35M / 1.2FT 14MIN
FISHING ROCK RAOUL 29.3S 177.9W 1224Z 0.05M / 0.2FT 10MIN
PAPEETE TAHITI 17.5S 149.6W 1113Z 0.14M / 0.5FT 16MIN
TALCAHUANO CL 36.7S 73.1W 0253Z 1.28M / 4.2FT 98MIN
NUKU HIVA MARQUESAS 8.9S 140.1W 1133Z 1.37M / 4.5FT 14MIN
PURETO ANGEL MX 15.7N 96.5W 1049Z 0.37M / 1.2FT 04MIN
HUAHINE PF 16.7S 151.0W 1101Z 0.09M / 0.3FT 14MIN
SALINA CRUZ MX 16.2N 95.2W 1017Z 0.22M / 0.7FT 20MIN
RIKITEA PF 23.1S 135.0W 0930Z 0.34M / 1.1FT 16MIN
CALLAO LA-PUNTA PE 12.1S 77.2W 0740Z 0.52M / 1.7FT 34MIN
CHIAPAS MX 14.7N 92.4W 0905Z 0.19M / 0.6FT 26MIN
RIKITEA PF 23.1S 135.0W 0908Z 0.33M / 1.1FT 14MIN
HUATULCO MX 15.8N 96.1W 0809Z 0.18M / 0.6FT 08MIN
CALDERA CL 27.1S 70.8W 0728Z 1.14M / 3.7FT 18MIN
VALPARAISO CL 33.0S 71.6W 0044Z 1.78M / 5.8FT 40MIN
MATARANI PE 17.0S 72.1W 0653Z 0.22M / 0.7FT 20MIN
JUAN FERNANDEZ 33.6S 78.8W 0038Z 1.21M / 4.0FT 08MIN
SANTACRUZ GALAPAGOS 0.7S 90.3W 0643Z 0.56M / 1.8FT 12MIN
DART 43413 10.8N 100.1W 0639Z 0.02M / 0.1FT 40MIN
DART 32411 5.0N 90.8W 0517Z 0.03M / 0.1FT 48MIN
EASTER CL 27.2S 109.4W 0505Z 0.83M / 2.7FT 04MIN
COQUIMBO CL 30.0S 71.3W 0025Z 4.75M / 15.6FT 20MIN
DART 32402 26.7S 74.0W 2334Z 0.10M / 0.3FT 32MIN
QUIRIQUINA CL 36.6S 73.1W 0249Z 0.83M / 2.7FT 88MIN
DART 32412 18.0S 86.3W 0146Z 0.05M / 0.2FT 20MIN
BUCALEMU CL 34.6S 72.0W 0246Z 0.76M / 2.5FT 12MIN
HUASCO CL 28.5S 71.2W 0106Z 0.77M / 2.5FT 12MIN
SAN FELIX CL 26.3S 80.1W 0051Z 0.69M / 2.3FT 08MIN
CONSTITUCION CL 35.4S 72.5W 0124Z 0.88M / 2.9FT 60MIN
CORRAL CL 39.9S 73.4W 0124Z 0.22M / 0.7FT 34MIN
TOCOPILLA CL 22.1S 70.2W 0046Z 0.12M / 0.4FT 38MIN
CHANARAL CL 26.4S 70.6W 0043Z 1.09M / 3.6FT 30MIN
TALTAL CL 25.4S 70.5W 0018Z 0.25M / 0.8FT 38MIN
DART 32401 20.5S 73.4W 0020Z 0.06M / 0.2FT 48MIN
SAN ANTONIO CL 33.6S 71.6W 2358Z 0.86M / 2.8FT 18MIN
LAT - LATITUDE (N-NORTH, S-SOUTH)
LON - LONGITUDE (E-EAST, W-WEST)
TIME - TIME OF THE MEASUREMENT (Z IS UTC IS GREENWICH TIME)
AMPL - TSUNAMI AMPLITUDE MEASURED RELATIVE TO NORMAL SEA LEVEL.
IT IS ...NOT... CREST-TO-TROUGH WAVE HEIGHT.
VALUES ARE GIVEN IN BOTH METERS(M) AND FEET(FT).
PER - PERIOD OF TIME IN MINUTES(MIN) FROM ONE WAVE TO THE NEXT.
NOTE - DART MEASUREMENTS ARE FROM THE DEEP OCEAN AND THEY
ARE GENERALLY MUCH SMALLER THAN WOULD BE COASTAL
MEASUREMENTS AT SIMILAR LOCATIONS.
EVALUATION
TSUNAMI WAVE HEIGHTS ACROSS THE STATE OF HAWAII ARE NOW BELOW
ADVISORY LEVELS AND ARE CONTINUING TO DIMINISH. BASED ON ALL
AVAILABLE DATA THE PACIFIC TSUNAMI WARNING CENTER IS NOW
CANCELLING THE TSUNAMI ADVISORY. SMALL SEA LEVEL CHANGES AND
STRONG OR UNUSUAL CURRENTS MAY PERSIST FOR SEVERAL ADDITIONAL
HOURS IN SOME COASTAL AREAS AND APPROPRIATE CAUTION SHOULD BE
EXERCISED BY BOATERS AND SWIMMERS.
THIS WILL BE THE FINAL MESSAGE ISSUED FOR THIS EVENT UNLESS
ADDITIONAL DATA ARE RECEIVED.
FURTHER MESSAGES WILL BE ISSUED HOURLY OR SOONER AS CONDITIONS
WARRANT UNTIL THE THREAT TO HAWAII HAS PASSED.
An animation of the September 16, 2015 magnitude 8.3 earthquake off the coast of Chile. Animation courtesy of European Commission JRC.
Threat Message for Pacific
TSUNAMI MESSAGE NUMBER 27
NWS PACIFIC TSUNAMI WARNING CENTER EWA BEACH HI
2305 UTC THU SEP 17 2015
...PTWC FINAL TSUNAMI THREAT MESSAGE...
PRELIMINARY EARTHQUAKE PARAMETERS
---------------------------------
* MAGNITUDE 8.3
* ORIGIN TIME 2254 UTC SEP 16 2015
* COORDINATES 31.5 SOUTH 72.0 WEST
* DEPTH 10 KM / 6 MILES
* LOCATION NEAR THE COAST OF CENTRAL CHILE
EVALUATION
----------
* AN EARTHQUAKE WITH A PRELIMINARY MAGNITUDE OF 8.3 OCCURRED
NEAR THE COAST OF CENTRAL CHILE AT 2254 UTC ON WEDNESDAY
SEPTEMBER 16 2015.
* BASED ON ALL DATA AVAILABLE TO THIS CENTER... THE TSUNAMI
THREAT FROM THIS EARTHQUAKE HAS NOW MOSTLY PASSED. ANY
REMAINING THREAT SHOULD BE EVALUATED BY LOCAL AUTHORITIES IN
IMPACTED AREAS.
TSUNAMI THREAT FORECAST
-----------------------
* THE TSUNAMI THREAT HAS NOW LARGELY PASSED.
RECOMMENDED ACTIONS
-------------------
* GOVERNMENT AGENCIES RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY IMPACTED COASTAL
AREAS SHOULD MONITOR CONDITIONS AT THE COAST TO DETERMINE IF
AND WHEN IT IS SAFE TO RESUME NORMAL ACTIVITIES.
* PERSONS LOCATED NEAR IMPACTED COASTAL AREAS SHOULD STAY ALERT
FOR INFORMATION AND FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS FROM LOCAL
AUTHORITIES.
* REMAIN OBSERVANT AND EXERCISE NORMAL CAUTION NEAR THE SEA.
POTENTIAL IMPACTS
-----------------
* MINOR SEA LEVEL FLUCTUATIONS OF UP TO 0.3 METERS ABOVE AND
BELOW THE NORMAL TIDE MAY CONTINUE OVER THE NEXT FEW HOURS.
TSUNAMI OBSERVATIONS
--------------------
* THE FOLLOWING ARE TSUNAMI WAVE OBSERVATIONS FROM COASTAL
AND/OR DEEP-OCEAN SEA LEVEL GAUGES AT THE INDICATED LOCATIONS.
THE MAXIMUM TSUNAMI HEIGHT IS MEASURED WITH RESPECT TO THE
NORMAL TIDE LEVEL.
GAUGE TIME OF MAXIMUM WAVE
COORDINATES MEASURE TSUNAMI PERIOD
GAUGE LOCATION LAT LON (UTC) HEIGHT (MIN)
-------------------------------------------------------------
CHICHIJIMA JP 27.1N 142.2E 2248 0.13M/ 0.4FT 14
HANASAKI HOKKAIDO J 43.3N 145.6E 2242 0.14M/ 0.4FT 18
KUSHIRO JP 43.0N 144.4E 2223 0.11M/ 0.4FT 24
OFUNATO HONSHU JP 39.0N 141.8E 2218 0.10M/ 0.3FT 18
PORT KEMBLA AU 34.5S 150.9E 2025 0.08M/ 0.3FT 14
LUGANVILLE VU 15.5S 167.2E 1942 0.12M/ 0.4FT 26
HONIARA SB 9.4S 160.0E 1951 0.02M/ 0.1FT 36
CHRISTCHURCH NZ 43.6S 172.8E 1900 0.25M/ 0.8FT 24
NORTH CAPE NZ 34.4S 173.0E 1657 0.16M/ 0.5FT 18
CASTLE POINT NZ 40.9S 176.2E 1419 0.22M/ 0.7FT 20
FISHING ROCK RAOUL 29.3S 177.9W 1506 0.27M/ 0.9FT 06
LATA WHARF SB 10.7S 165.8E 2027 0.22M/ 0.7FT 22
OUINNE NEW CALEDONI 22.0S 166.7E 1713 0.16M/ 0.5FT 10
VANUATU 17.8S 168.3E 1847 0.21M/ 0.7FT 22
MIDWAY 28.2N 177.4W 1740 0.20M/ 0.6FT 16
DART 21415 50.2N 171.8E 1833 0.02M/ 0.1FT 14
DART 21414 48.9N 178.3E 1756 0.02M/ 0.1FT 16
SAND POINT AK 55.3N 160.5W 1835 0.12M/ 0.4FT 20
NIKOLSKI AK 52.9N 168.9W 1823 0.19M/ 0.6FT 16
OFF VANCOUVER BC 48.7N 126.8W 1650 0.01M/ 0.0FT 06
NUKUALOFA TO 21.1S 175.2W 1542 0.09M/ 0.3FT 18
NAWILIWILI KAUAI 22.0N 159.4W 1602 0.14M/ 0.5FT 08
CRESCENT CITY CA 41.7N 124.2W 1602 0.25M/ 0.8FT 20
PORT ORFORD OR 42.7N 124.5W 1606 0.07M/ 0.2FT 18
QUEPOS CR 9.4N 84.2W 1012 0.15M/ 0.5FT 22
NAWILIWILI HI 22.0N 159.4W 1602 0.13M/ 0.4FT 06
MAKAPU'U HI 21.3N 157.7W 1417 0.01M/ 0.0FT 14
JOHNSTON US 16.7N 169.5W 1526 0.02M/ 0.1FT 20
DART 51407 19.6N 156.6W 1348 0.02M/ 0.1FT 20
KAWAIHAE HAWAII 20.0N 155.8W 1426 0.27M/ 0.9FT 16
OFF VANCOUVER BC 47.8N 127.8W 1434 0.00M/ 0.0FT 14
DART 46404 45.9N 128.8W 1354 0.01M/ 0.0FT 22
APIA UPOLU WS 13.8S 171.8W 1500 0.20M/ 0.7FT 20
HONOLULU OAHU 21.3N 157.9W 1432 0.06M/ 0.2FT 14
KAHULUI MAUI 20.9N 156.5W 1435 0.66M/ 2.2FT 18
PAGO PAGO AS 14.3S 170.7W 1418 0.67M/ 2.2FT 20
BOAT COVE RAOUL IS 29.3S 177.9W 1346 0.22M/ 0.7FT 06
LOTTIN PT NZ 37.6S 178.2E 1230 0.15M/ 0.5FT 16
KALAUPAPA HI 21.2N 157.0W 1406 0.08M/ 0.3FT 16
HILO HI 19.7N 155.1W 1406 0.93M/ 3.0FT 18
HILO HAWAII 19.7N 155.1W 1347 0.70M/ 2.3FT 16
MONTEREY HARBOR CA 36.6N 121.9W 1301 0.09M/ 0.3FT 42
DART 51426 23.3S 168.3W 1253 0.02M/ 0.1FT 14
DART 46411 39.3N 127.0W 1303 0.01M/ 0.0FT 16
PORT SAN LUIS CA 35.2N 120.8W 1245 0.08M/ 0.2FT 16
SANTA MONICA CA 34.0N 118.5W 1243 0.15M/ 0.5FT 32
OWENGA CHATHAM NZ 44.0S 176.4W 1209 0.35M/ 1.2FT 14
PAPEETE TAHITI 17.5S 149.6W 1113 0.14M/ 0.5FT 16
TALCAHUANO CL 36.7S 73.1W 0253 1.28M/ 4.2FT 98
NUKU HIVA MARQUESAS 8.9S 140.1W 1133 1.37M/ 4.5FT 14
PURETO ANGEL MX 15.7N 96.5W 1049 0.37M/ 1.2FT 04
HUAHINE PF 16.7S 151.0W 1101 0.09M/ 0.3FT 14
SALINA CRUZ MX 16.2N 95.2W 1017 0.22M/ 0.7FT 20
RIKITEA PF 23.1S 135.0W 0930 0.34M/ 1.1FT 16
CALLAO LA-PUNTA PE 12.1S 77.2W 0740 0.52M/ 1.7FT 34
CHIAPAS MX 14.7N 92.4W 0905 0.19M/ 0.6FT 26
RIKITEA PF 23.1S 135.0W 0908 0.33M/ 1.1FT 14
HUATULCO MX 15.8N 96.1W 0809 0.18M/ 0.6FT 08
CALDERA CL 27.1S 70.8W 0728 1.14M/ 3.7FT 18
VALPARAISO CL 33.0S 71.6W 0044 1.78M/ 5.8FT 40
MATARANI PE 17.0S 72.1W 0653 0.22M/ 0.7FT 20
JUAN FERNANDEZ 33.6S 78.8W 0038 1.21M/ 4.0FT 08
SANTACRUZ GALAPAGOS 0.7S 90.3W 0643 0.56M/ 1.8FT 12
DART 43413 10.8N 100.1W 0639 0.02M/ 0.1FT 40
DART 32411 5.0N 90.8W 0517 0.03M/ 0.1FT 48
EASTER CL 27.2S 109.4W 0505 0.83M/ 2.7FT 04
COQUIMBO CL 30.0S 71.3W 0025 4.75M/15.6FT 20
DART 32402 26.7S 74.0W 2334 0.10M/ 0.3FT 32
QUIRIQUINA CL 36.6S 73.1W 0249 0.83M/ 2.7FT 88
DART 32412 18.0S 86.3W 0146 0.05M/ 0.2FT 20
BUCALEMU CL 34.6S 72.0W 0246 0.76M/ 2.5FT 12
HUASCO CL 28.5S 71.2W 0106 0.77M/ 2.5FT 12
SAN FELIX CL 26.3S 80.1W 0051 0.69M/ 2.3FT 08
CONSTITUCION CL 35.4S 72.5W 0124 0.88M/ 2.9FT 60
CORRAL CL 39.9S 73.4W 0124 0.22M/ 0.7FT 34
TOCOPILLA CL 22.1S 70.2W 0046 0.12M/ 0.4FT 38
CHANARAL CL 26.4S 70.6W 0043 1.09M/ 3.6FT 30
TALTAL CL 25.4S 70.5W 0018 0.25M/ 0.8FT 38
DART 32401 20.5S 73.4W 0020 0.06M/ 0.2FT 48
SAN ANTONIO CL 33.6S 71.6W 2358 0.86M/ 2.8FT 18
NEXT UPDATE AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
--------------------------------------
* THIS WILL BE THE FINAL STATEMENT ISSUED FOR THIS EVENT UNLESS
NEW INFORMATION IS RECEIVED OR THE SITUATION CHANGES.
* AUTHORITATIVE INFORMATION ABOUT THE EARTHQUAKE FROM THE U.S.
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY CAN BE FOUND ON THE INTERNET AT
EARTHQUAKE.USGS.GOV/EARTHQUAKES -ALL LOWER CASE-.
* FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT THIS EVENT MAY BE FOUND AT
PTWC.WEATHER.GOV AND AT WWW.TSUNAMI.GOV.
* COASTAL REGIONS OF HAWAII... AMERICAN SAMOA... GUAM... AND
CNMI SHOULD REFER TO PACIFIC TSUNAMI WARNING CENTER MESSAGES
SPECIFICALLY FOR THOSE PLACES THAT CAN BE FOUND AT
PTWC.WEATHER.GOV.
* COASTAL REGIONS OF CALIFORNIA... OREGON... WASHINGTON...
BRITISH COLUMBIA AND ALASKA SHOULD ONLY REFER TO U.S. NATIONAL
TSUNAMI WARNING CENTER MESSAGES THAT CAN BE FOUND AT
NTWC.ARH.NOAA.GOV.
USGS: How large does an earthquake have to be to cause a tsunami?
Magnitudes below 6.5
Earthquakes of this magnitude are very unlikely to trigger a tsunami.Magnitudes between 6.5 and 7.5
Earthquakes of this size do not usually produce destructive tsunamis. However, small sea level changes may be observed in the vicinity of the epicenter. Tsunamis capable of producing damage or casualties are rare in this magnitude range but have occurred due to secondary effects such as landslides or submarine slumps.Magnitudes between 7.6 and 7.8
Earthquakes of this size may produce destructive tsunamis especially near the epicenter; at greater distances small sea level changes may be observed. Tsunamis capable of producing damage at great distances are rare in the magnitude range.Magnitude 7.9 and greater
Destructive local tsunamis are possible near the epicenter, and significant sea level changes and damage may occur in a broader region.Note that with a magnitude 9.0 earthquake, the probability of an aftershock with a magnitude exceeding 7.5 is not negligible. To date, the largest aftershock recorded has been magnitude 7.1 that did not produce a damaging tsunami.
