June 13, 2013 Tsunami: Northwest Atlantic Ocean, United States

2013, June 2. Tsunami-like waves were observed along the US east coast during the afternoon of June 13, 2013 (day 164). The source is complex and still under review, though the coincidence at several gages with strong atmospheric pressure fluctuations indicate that it is at least partly generated by meteorological causes. The event occurred in close conjunction with a weather system labeled by the National Weather Service as a low-end derecho which propagated from west to east over the New Jersey shore just before the tsunami. It is also possible that the slumping at the continental shelf east of New Jersey played a role. The tsunami was observed at over 30 tide gages and one DART buoy throughout the Northwestern Atlantic Ocean.

A first-hand description was provided by Brian Coen who observed the event at Barnegat Inlet in New Jersey: Around 3:30pm on Thursday June 13, 2013, Brian Coen was spear fishing near the mouth of Barnegat Inlet; just south of the submerged northern breakwater. Earlier in the day around noon, thunderstorms had moved through the area. By 3:30pm the weather was overcast with a light east wind. At approximately 3:30, the outgoing tide was amplified by strong currents which carried divers over the submerged breakwater (normally 3-4 feet deep). This strong outrush continued for 1-2 minutes and eventually the rocks in the submerged breakwater were exposed. Brian backed his boat out before being sucked over as well.

At this point, Brian noticed a large wave coming in, approximately 6 feet peak-to-trough and spanning across the inlet. The upper 2 feet of the wave was breaking. This wave occurred in conjunction with a reversal of the current such that even though the tide was going out, a strong surge was entering the inlet. This surge carried the divers back over the submerged reef and into the inlet from where they were picked up. On the south jetty three people were swept off the rocks which were 5 to 6 feet above sea level at the time. At least two were injured requiring medical treatment. There was no more strong activity after about 5 minutes.

(above from reference #10663)

On June 13, 2013, a widespread meteotsunami was recorded along the central Atlantic state coasts (Lipa et al. 2013). This event, which was well recorded from Maryland up to Massachusetts, caused two injuries in New Jersey where it reached its maximum size and was recorded across the Atlantic in Puerto Rico and Bermuda. (reference #11036)

An unusual storm system moved eastward across the country on June 13, 2013, commonly called a "derecho", and appears to have launched a meteotsunami that impacted the US East Coast. (reference #11079)

the derecho-induced extreme tsunami-like waves of 13 June 2013 were so strong that, for the first time in history, a tsunami alarm was issued for the U.S. East Coast (reference #14047)

Further, along the US East Coast, a meteotsunami generated by a derecho on 13 June 2013, arrived 2–3 hr after the storm passed over the area, dragging the swimmers into the sea, with similar events occurring on multiple occasions due to reflection of the offshore propagating meteotsunami waves at the shelf edge and their subsequent “return” to the coast (Pasquet & Vilibic, 2013; Vennell, 2007, 2010; Wertman et al., 2014). (reference #14271)