Tsunamis in 1903

August 1903 Tsunami: Cook Inlet, AK, United States

August 1903 · Questionable tsunami

A tsunami caused by a volcano began at Cook Inlet, AK, United States in August 1903. 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

Tsunami warnings in force

The tsunami

Date
August 1903
Source
Cook Inlet, AK, United States
Cause
Volcano
Runups recorded
1
Waters
Ocean
How certain
Questionable tsunami

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.

Waves were seen in the calm Iniskin Bay; there are reports of a mudflow following the partial collapse of a caldera. It is speculated that a continuing process, such as a volcanic activity, produced the disturbance. (Ref #239)

Every runup

Nearest the source first. Heights are above sea level at the time; a tide gauge reads half the wave’s full height.

WhereCountryKm from sourceWater height, mInland, mMeasured byFirst wave, UTCDeaths
Iniskin Bay, AK, AKUnited StatesEyewitness observation of water height

More

Every tsunami in 1903The 1900sTsunamis of United StatesAlerts 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 1297.