Tsunami in California

Events

21

Deaths

1

Injuries

0

Damage

$56 million

• Tsunami in California, March 11 to 13, 20111 death · $7.0 million · 2 eventsOn March 10, a 9.1 earthquake off the west coast of Japan caused a tsunami that traveled across the Pacific Ocean in roughly ten hours. The first waves arrived on the coast of northern California around 9:30 a.m. on March 11 and continued for over three days.
• Tsunami in California, March 11 to 13, 2011$29 million · 4 eventsAt 10:46 pm on March 10, 2011, a magnitude 8.9 earthquake struck near the coast of Honshu, Japan. The earthquake generated a tsunami significantly affecting California on March 11, 2011.
• Tsunami in California, January 15, 2022$9.5 million · 2 eventsAn underwater eruption of a volcano in Tonga (South Pacific archipelago) triggered a tsunami across the Pacific basin. The National Tsunami Warning center in Palmer, AK issued a Tsunami Advisory for the U.S.
• Tsunami in California, November 15 to 16, 2006$9.2 million · 1 eventAn 8.3 magnitude earthquake off the Kuril Islands produced a tsunami that propagated across the Pacific Ocean and impacted the West Coast of North America, including California.
• Tsunami and Flash Flooding in California, September 15 to 17, 2015$875,000 · 10 eventsA broad upper level Pacific trough moved through the West Coast on September 14-15 and tapped into remnant tropical cyclone Linda moisture west of the California Bight. Widespread and locally heavy rainfall developed across the entire CWA with 1 to 2 inches of rainfall common.
• Tsunami in California, July 30 to 31, 2025$1.0 million · 1 eventA magnitude 8.8 earthquake occurred off the Kamchatka Peninsula in eastern Russia on the 29th of July, Pacific Time. The tsunami wave then traveled across the Pacific and impacted the Northwest California coast around midnight on the 30th.
• Tsunami in California, March 11 to 12, 2011$250,000 · 1 eventA magnitude 9.1 earthquake struck Japan on March 10th, sending a tsunami toward the west coast of the U.S. The tsunami arrived in Southern California in the form of a series of tidal surges, the first observed around 9 am March 11th.
• Tsunami in California, February 27, 2010$155,000 · 2 eventsA tsunami generated by an 8.8 magnitude earthquake off the coast of Chile reached the Southern California coast shortly after noon on February 27. The tsunami caused tidal surges of four to five feet over the course of about two hours.
• Tsunami in California, February 27, 2010$150,000 · 2 eventsA magnitude 8.8 earthquake occurred along the central coast of Chile and produced a tsunami. For the coast of Southern California, it was one of the largest tsunami episodes since 1964. In general, tsunami waves between 2 and 4 feet were reported.
• Tsunami in California, January 15, 20222 eventsAn underwater volcano near Tonga erupted on January 15, 2022 which produced a tsunami to travel across the Pacific Ocean. An information statement was issued at 3:25 AM PST, and the first advisory and statement was issued at 4:56 AM PST.
• Tsunami in California, November 15, 2006$3,000 · 1 eventAn 8.1 earthquake was reported at 0314 PST on November 15th, 2006. During the afternoon and early evening a series of surge waves moved into Northern and Central California.
• Tsunami in California, January 1, 20221 eventA underwater volcano erupted near the island of Tonga, generating a tsunami. In Ventura Harbor, some damage was reported with part of a dock broken off and a Harbor Patrol boat capsized.
• Tsunami in California, July 30, 20251 eventA tsunami, which was created by an earthquake which occurred off the coast of Russia, impacted several locations along the beachline of Southern California, including the damage to an older vessel in Dana Point.

Tsunami everywhereEvery kind of event in California

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24.