October 31, 1895 Tsunami: Charleston, MO, United States
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 5.8 earthquake began at Charleston, MO, United States on October 31, 1895 at 11:08 UTC. 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
- October 31, 1895, 11:08 UTC
- Source
- Charleston, MO, United States
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Earthquake
- Magnitude 5.8
- Runups recorded
- 1
- Waters
- A lake or river, not the ocean
- How certain
- An event that only caused a seiche
- Source location
- 36.900° N, 89.300° W
The toll
- Damage
- Severe (about $5 to $25 million) with the earthquake or eruption that caused it
Where the literature gives no number, NCEI records a description on a scale of 1 to 4, printed here in its words. Damage is in millions of US dollars of the year of the event, not adjusted for inflation.
What the record says
NCEI’s account, from the sources it cites.
In Green Bay, WI.:A slight earthquake shock was felt; slight tidal wave manifestations on the bay (reference #1781)
This was the largest earthquake to occur in the central Mississippi River valley since the 1811-12 series in the area of New Madrid, Missouri. A slight earthquake shock was felt at Green Bay, Wisconsin. There was a slight tidal manifestations on the bay. Validity 1. (reference #541)
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Green Bay, WI, WI | United States | 853 | Other |
More
Every tsunami in 1895The 1800sTsunamis of United StatesThe earthquakeThis 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 2453.