National Tsunami Warning Center, NOAA/NWS

TSUNAMI of 13 June, 2013 (Northwestern Atlantic Ocean)

Tsunami-like waves were observed along the US east coast during the afternoon of June 13, 2013 (day 164). The source is complex and still under review, though the coincidence at several gages with strong atmospheric pressure fluctuations indicate that it is at least partly generated by meteorological causes. The event occurred in close conjunction with a weather system labeled by the National Weather Service as a low-end derecho which propagated from west to east over the New Jersey shore just before the tsunami. The tsunami was observed at over 30 tide gages and one DART buoy throughout the Northwestern Atlantic Ocean.

A first-hand description was provided by Brian Coen who observed the event at Barnegat Inlet in New Jersey:
Around 3:30pm on Thursday June 13, 2013, Brian Coen was spear fishing near the mouth of Barnegat Inlet; just south of the submerged northern breakwater. Earlier in the day around noon, thunderstorms had moved through the area. By 3:30pm the weather was overcast with a light east wind. At approximately 3:30, the outgoing tide was amplified by strong currents which carried divers over the submerged breakwater (normally 3-4 feet deep). This strong outrush continued for 1-2 minutes and eventually the rocks in the submerged breakwater were exposed. Brian backed his boat out before being sucked over as well.

At this point, Brian noticed a large wave coming in, approximately 6 feet peak-to-trough and spanning across the inlet. The upper 2 feet of the wave was breaking. This wave occurred in conjunction with a reversal of the current such that even though the tide was going out, a strong surge was entering the inlet. This surge carried the divers back over the submerged reef and into the inlet from where they were picked up. On the south jetty three people were swept off the rocks which were 5 to 6 feet above sea level at the time. At least two were injured requiring medical treatment. There was no more strong activity after about 5 minutes.

This event produced a tsunami that was recorded at tide gages monitored by the National Tsunami Warning Center (NTWC). 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 Sample Interval column shows the time between data samples.

 

Radar Image of Derecho
(click to enlarge)

Animation of Storm Track (NOAA)
(click to enlarge)

 

Coastal Observations

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)

Duck Pier, NC

-

2300 (164)

16

-

-

up

1

164 165

Chesapeake Bay Bridge, VA

-

2105 (164)

7

-

-

?

1

164 165

Kiptopeke, VA

-

2127 (164)

25

-

-

up

1

164 165

Wachapreague, VA

-

2130 (164)

8

-

-

?

1

164 165

Ocean City, MD

-

2000? 164)

12

-

-

?

1

164 165

Lewes, DE

-

1458 (164)

12

-

-

up

1

164 165

Cape May, NJ

-

1504 (164)

12

-

-

up

1

164 165

Atlantic City, NJ

-

1806 (164)

24

-

-

?

1

164 165

Sandy Hook, NJ

-

1954 (164)

8

-

-

?

1

164 165

The Battery, NY

-

1958 (164)

6

-

-

?

1

164 165

Montauk, NY

-

1850? (164)

19

-

-

up

1

164 165

Bridgeport, CT

-

1520? (164)

10

-

-

?

1

164 165

New London, CT

-

1732? (164)

11

-

-

?

1

164 165

Newport, RI

-

1820? (164)

26

-

-

up

1

164 165

Providence, RI

-

2012 (164)

23

-

-

up

1

164 165

Quonset Point, RI

-

1845 (164)

12

-

-

up

1

164 165

Cominicut Light, RI

-

1937 (164)

10

-

-

up

1

164 165

Fall River, MA

-

1949 (164)

10

-

-

up

1

164 165

Woods Hole, MA

-

1923 (164)

22

-

-

?

1

164 165

Nantucket, MA

-

1944? (164)

9

-

-

?

1

164 165

Boston, MA

-

2221(164)

4

-

-

up

1

164 165

DART 44402
(39.3992N 70.9419W)

-

1655(164)

4

-

-

up

1

164

DART 44402
(39.3992N 70.9419W)

-

-

-

-

-

-

15 sec

164

DART 41424
(32.93N 72.47W)

-

-

-

-

-

-

15 sec

164

DART 41420
(23.31N 67.47W)

-

-

-

-

-

-

15 sec

164

DART 41421
(23.4N 63.9W)

-

-

-

-

-

-

15 sec

164

Bermuda, UK

-

1821(164)

6

-

-

up

1

164 165

Mayaguez, PR

-

2040? (164)

5

-

-

?

1

164 165

Mona Island, PR

-

2020? (164)

7

-

-

?

1

164 165

Chesapeake Bay Observations

(Note: some sites had two well-defined starts as shown by the first in parenthesis).

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)

Baltimore, MD

-

(1300?)/2107? (164)

(4)/5

-

-

?

1

164 165

Annapolis, MD

-

(1312)/2030 (164)

(4)/6

-

-

(up)/up

1

164 165

Bishop's Head, MD

-

2000 (164)

12

-

-

up

1

164 165

Tolchester Beach, MD

-

(1322)/2039 (164)

(13)/9

-

-

(up)/up

1

164 165

Lewisetta, VA

-

2051? (164)

4

-

-

up

1

164 165

Windmill Point, VA

-

2053 (164)

12

-

-

up

1

164 165

Yorktown, VA

-

2104 (164)

10

-

-

up

1

164 165

Sewell's Point, VA

-

2117 (164)

7

-

-

up

1

164 165

Money Point, VA

-

2139 (164)

17

-

-

up

1

164 165


Questions and Answers about this Event


NOS Air Pressure Observations at certain Tide Gages


Summarized Sea Level Observations


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