West Coast/Alaska Tsunami Warning Center

Operations Manual

NOAA/NWS/WCATWC

910 South Felton Street

Palmer, Alaska 99645

Section 5.2: Message Definitions

Last Updated: 10/2011

Messages issued by the center are warning, watch, advisory, and information statement. Each has a distinct meaning relating to local emergency response. In summary:

Alert Level	Threat	Action
Warning	Inundating wave possible	Full evacuation suggested
Advisory	Strong currents likely	Stay away from the shore
Watch	Danger level not yet known	Stay alert for more info
Information	Minor waves at most	No action suggested

Based on seismic data analysis or forecasted amplitude (dependent on whether the center has obtained sea level data), WCATWC will issue the appropriate product. Procedural criteria are summarized in the linked bar chart. 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 is given below. See Section 5.1 for examples and descriptions of all WCATWC products.

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. For an example of the National Weather Service (NWS) format tsunami warning CLICK HERE. For a warning cancellation, CLICK HERE.

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.

For an example of the NWS format tsunami advisory CLICK HERE.

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. For an example of the NWS format tsunami watch CLICK HERE.

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. For an example of the NWS format information statement CLICK HERE.

See Section 5.1 for examples and descriptions of all WCATWC products.