Tsunami Safety at the Beach: Natural Warnings, Official Alerts and Where to Go
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How we wrote this: A plain-English summary of National Weather Service tsunami safety pages and the U.S. Tsunami Warning Centers' message definitions, checked October 29, 2026. Local emergency officials' instructions come first.
The National Weather Service says tsunamis are among Earth's most infrequent hazards, but a tsunami can strike any ocean coast at any time, and there's no season for them. Here's what to know before a beach trip.
Natural warnings: act without waiting
NWS describes two kinds of warning, official and natural, and says both matter equally. You may not get both, so respond to whichever comes first. Natural warnings are:
- a strong or long earthquake,
- a loud roar from the ocean (like a train or an airplane),
- unusual ocean behavior: a fast-rising flood or wall of water, or water draining away suddenly to show the sea floor.
If you're in a hazard zone or a low-lying coastal area and notice any of these, NWS says a tsunami could arrive within minutes. Protect yourself during the shaking (drop, cover and hold on), then move quickly to high ground or inland. Don't wait for an official warning.
NWS adds: if you're on the beach or near the water and feel an earthquake, no matter how big or how long, move off the beach to high ground or inland as soon as you safely can.
Official alerts
The U.S. Tsunami Warning Centers use four levels:
| Alert | Potential hazard | Public action |
|---|---|---|
| Warning | Dangerous coastal flooding and powerful currents | Move to high ground or inland |
| Advisory | Strong currents and waves dangerous to those in or very near water | Stay out of the water, away from beaches and waterways |
| Watch | Not yet known | Stay tuned and be prepared to act |
| Information statement | No threat, or a distant event not yet assessed | No action suggested |
Official warnings come through local radio and TV, NOAA Weather Radio, Wireless Emergency Alerts, Tsunami.gov, sirens and local officials.
The first wave isn't the last
NWS warns that dangerous flooding and currents may continue for hours or days, and the first wave may not be the last or the largest. Stay out of the hazard zone until local officials say it's safe.
Before you go
- Find out whether your beach, hotel or campground is in a tsunami hazard or evacuation zone; NWS says hotels and campgrounds may have warning and evacuation information.
- Note evacuation routes and plan to reach your safe place on foot.
- Set your phone to receive Wireless Emergency Alerts.
Also see our guides to rip current safety and beach weather and lightning safety.