August 18, 1892 Tsunami: SW England, United Kingdom

Tsunami origin Linked to a thunderstorm/ squall in the English Channel. Newspapers reported that “a series of tidal waves” occurred along the western English Channel coast in the estuary of the River Yealm, where “a good deal of damage was done to boats moored in the river” on 18 August 1892 (Penny Illustrated 1892). The 19 August Times also reported this event, stating that “there was a rapid rise in the River Fowey as a great tidal wave, but this immediately subsided.” Although these waves coincided with an earthquake that had occurred in the Bristol Channel, to which the newspapers connected them, they are more likely to have been related to squalls. The Times reported thunderstorms in the English Channel that day (1892b), and Charles Davison believed that the storms generated the large waves (1924). (reference #14268)

On the 18 August 1892, there was a rapid rise in sea level at the mouth of the River Yealm, which quickly subsided. This does seem to have parallels with meteotsunamis in Menorca and a similar event in the Yealm Estuary (Tappin et al., 2013), but may be related to a Pembrokeshire earthquake at the time, which led to small water disturbances in southwest Wales (Davison, 1924). However, Davison (1924) suggests that unusual wave activity in the Channel was unrelated to the earthquake. (reference #14269)

Yealm (Devon) and Fowey estuaries (Cornwall), 18th August 1892. Haslett and Bryant (2009) present newspaper reports stating that ‘‘a series of tidal waves” occurred along the western English Channel coast in the estuary of the River Yealm where ‘‘a good deal of damage was done to boats moored in the river” (Penny Illustrated, 1892, p. 6). The Times (1892a) also reports this event in the River Yealm as well as stating that ‘‘there was a rapid rise in the River Fowey as a great tidal wave, but this immediately subsided” (p. 4). These waves do coincide with an earthquake that occurred in the Bristol Channel, with which the newspaper reports make a connection; however, these waves are more likely to be related to squalls. The Times (1892b) report thunderstorms in the English Channel that day and Davison (1924) considers that they generated the large tsunami-like waves. (reference #6325)

It is likely that the waves noted in Milford Haven relate to a seiche from the earthquake event whereas those waves noted in the English Channel have no connection with the earthquake for the reasons offered by Davison (1897) above. Haslett and Bryant (2009) include the English Channel events in their catalogue of meteotsunamis. (reference #14326)