April 13, 1949 Tsunami: Puget Sound, WA, United States
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 7 earthquake and a landslide began at Puget Sound, WA, United States on April 13, 1949 at 19:56 UTC. Its effects were recorded at 2 places. It killed 8 people, counting the earthquake or eruption that caused it.
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
- April 13, 1949, 19:56 UTC
- Source
- Puget Sound, WA, United States
- Cause
- Earthquake and landslide
- Earthquake
- Magnitude 7, 70 km deep
- Runups recorded
- 2
- Waters
- Ocean
- How certain
- Probable tsunami
- Source location
- 47.167° N, 122.617° W
The toll
- Deaths
- 8 with the earthquake or eruption that caused it
- Damage
- $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.
A magnitude 7.1 earthquqake occurred near Olympia, Washington, causing $25 million damage and eight deaths. At Cooper's Point 150 feet of a sandy spit northwest of Olympia jutting into Puget Sond disappeared during the night of April 13 leaving a small island. There were reports of a large wave but no damage. (Reference #237)
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pattison Lake, WA, WA | United States | 22 | 0.3 | Eyewitness observation of water height | |||
| Olympia, WA, WA | United States | 25 | Eyewitness observation of water height |
More
Every tsunami in 1949The 1900sTsunamis 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 1790.