National Tsunami Warning Center, NOAA/NWS

Tsunami of 3 May 2006

A great earthquake with a moment magnitude of 7.9 occurred at 1527 UTC 3 May 2006 and was located 158 km NE of Nuku'alofa, Tonga  (20.1°S, 174.2°W, 55 km depth - USGS location).

The earthquake produced a tsunami that was recorded at several tide gages (operated by NOAA/National Ocean Survey, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, the University of Hawaii, Canadian Hydrographic Survey, Australian Tidal Facility and the Japanese Meteorological Agency). If available, click on the site name to see a graph of the tsunami. Wave heights are maximum peak-to-trough height in cm. Arrival time is the actual tsunami arrival time in UTC on gages where it could be determined. The ETA is the estimated time of arrival computed at the National Tsunami Warning Center (NTWC) based on the origin time and location. The Sample Interval column shows the time between samples. (NOTE: for the 0.25 minute sample, the interval may vary). Click on the Data File column to get the raw data for NOAA/NOS Alaska tide gages which have a 0.25 minute real-time output to the NTWC.  Data can be saved using text mode with your browser. 
Tide gage site Wave height (cm p-t) Arrival time (UTC) ETA (UTC) Initial motion Sample Interval (min) Data File
Nuku'alofa, Tonga 42 1600       5/3 1555       5/3 rise 6 Time format is Julian Day
Pago Pago, American Samoa 54 1615       5/3 1619       5/3 rise 1 Time format is Year, Date, Time
Apia, Samoa 7 1624      5/3 1624      5/3 rise 6 Time format is Julian Day
Rarotonga, Cook Is. 13 1710       5/3   ???       5/3   rise 6  
Suva, Fiji 7 1720       5/3 1715       5/3 rise 6  
Funafuti, Tuvalu OBS 1750       5/3 1743       5/3 ? 6 Time format is Julian Day
Lautoka, Fiji OBS. ??? ???       5/3 1743       5/3 ? 6 Time format is Julian Day
Papeete, Fr. Polynesia 23  ??? 1855       5/3 1845       5/3 ? 6 Time format is Julian Day
Port Vila, Vanuatu Is. 45 1905         5/3 1901       5/3 rise 6 Time format is Julian Day
Noumea, New Caledonia 48 1918       5/3 1918       5/3 rise 6  
Jackson Bay, New Zealand 15 ???       5/3 2119       5/3 ? 6 Time format is Julian Day
Wake Island OBS ???         5/3 2142       5/3 ? 1 Time format is Year, Date, Time
Nawiliwili, Hawaii 27 2150       5/3 2153       5/3 rise ? 1 Time format is Year, Date, Time
Hilo, Hawaii 17 2200       5/3 2155       5/3 ? 1 Time format is Year, Date, Time
Honolulu, Hawaii 27 2200       5/3 2156       5/3 ? 1 Time format is Year, Date, Time
Kahului, Hawaii 49 2220       5/3 2219       5/3 ? 1 Time format is Year, Date, Time
Kawaihae, Hawaii 17 2140        5/3 ?             5/3 rise ? 1 Time format is Year, Date, Time
Hanasaki, Japan 15 0155       5/4 0150       5/4 ? 2  
Adak, AK OBS ???         5/4 0153       5/4 ? 1 Time format Julian Day
Ofunato, Japan OBS  ??? ???         5/4 0156       5/4 ? 2  
Pt. Arena, CA 16 0225       5/4 0226       5/4 ? 6  
Pt. Reyes, CA 26 0230       5/4 0230       5/4 ? 6 Time format is Julian Day
Santa Barbara, CA 35 0230       5/4 0237       5/4 ? 1 Time format is Year, Date, Time
La Jolla, CA 8 0245       5/4 0240       5/4 ? 1 Time format is Year, Date, Time
Los Angeles, CA 16 0305       5/4   ?           5/4 rise 1 Time format is Year, Date, Time
Santa Monica, CA 20 0245       5/4 0246       5/4 rise 1 Time format is Year, Date, Time
Crescent City, CA 54 0250       5/4 0253       5/4 ? 1 Time format is Year, Date, Time
Port Orford, OR 12 0315       5/4   ?           5/4 ? 1 Time format is Julian Day
King Cove, AK 13 ???       5/4   ?           5/4 ? 1 Time format is Julian Day
Alameda, CA 8 ???         5/4   ?           5/4 ? 6 Time format is Julian Day
San Francisco, CA 10 0305       5/4  0259      5/4 ? 6 Time format is Julian Day
Charleston, OR 7 ???       5/4  0306     5/4 ? 6 Time format is Julian Day
Sand Point, AK 10 ???       5/4  0307     5/4 ? .25 Time format is Epochal Time
Winter Harbor, BC OBS ???       5/4  0331      5/4 ? 1 Time format is Julian Day
Tofino, BC 10 0345       5/4  0350     5/4 ? 1 Time format is Julian Day
Port Angeles, WA 8 ???       5/4       ?       5/4 ? 1 Time format is Julian Day
La Push, WA 11 ???       5/4       ?       5/4 ? 1 Time format is Julian Day
Neah Bay, WA OBS ???       5/4  0350     5/4 ? 1 Time format is Julian Day
Sitka, AK OBS ???         5/4  0359     5/4 ? .25 Time format is Epochal Time

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