November 21, 1894 Tsunami: Atlantic Ocean
A tsunami of unknown cause began at Atlantic Ocean on November 21, 1894. The water rose as high as 12.2 meters. Its effects were recorded at 1 place.
Where the waves reached
The source (white) and every runup with a place, colored by the water height recorded there. A ring is a runup NCEI marks doubtful.
- Under 1 m
- 1 to 3 m
- 3 to 10 m
- 10 to 30 m
- 30 m and more
- Height not recorded
The tsunami
- Date
- November 21, 1894
- Source
- Atlantic Ocean
- Cause
- Unknown
- Maximum water height
- 12.2 m (40.0 ft)
- Runups recorded
- 1
- Tsunami magnitude (Iida)
- 3.6
- Waters
- Ocean
- How certain
- Questionable tsunami
- Source location
- 49.000° N, 34.500° W
The toll
The record gives no deaths, injuries or damage for this tsunami.
What the record says
NCEI’s account, from the sources it cites.
Large waves, possibly caused by submarine volcanic activity in the vicinity of 49 N, 34.5 W, were reported from several locales in the Atlantic. Off the west coast of Ireland at 53o 09' N, 09o 52' W, the ship S.S. Diamond lying-to-awaiting daylight to enter port, reported that the wave was heard some time before it was seen and then seemed to be about 40 feet high. The vessel never rose to it but was literally submerged for a time. (reference #43)
Every runup
Nearest the source first. Heights are above sea level at the time; a tide gauge reads half the wave’s full height.
| Where | Country | Km from source | Water height, m | Inland, m | Measured by | First wave, UTC | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Coast Ireland | Ireland | 1,777 | 12.2 | Eyewitness observation of water height |
More
Every tsunami in 1894The 1800sTsunamis of Atlantic OceanThis day in weather historyAlerts in force
Sources
Tsunami events and runups from NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information, Global Historical Hazard Database, cited as NCEI/WDS, doi:10.7289/V5PN93H7. Public domain. Read 2026-09-24. NCEI tsunami event 1215.