Tsunami alert! Going to the top of the hill behind...

[pollyglot]

...the house with a sleeping bag, tent, camping stove, billy and teabags. Not just yet, but before dark. We look right down across the sea...I hope the surges won't be too big, AIBU to keep you posted?

I didn’t realise NZ would be affected either. Keeping everything crossed for you there.

Am watching this thread with huge interest. Thank you for starting it OP.

For those saying they didn’t realise NZ would be affected, it’s quite close the that part of Russia, I think we forget how huge Russia is and how far east it goes.
Good luck @pollyglot

Good luck! I got an alert when I started my car (Japan) luckily I am will inland, but hope every affected takes the warnings as sensibly as you. Stay safe

I can assure you the risk of a humungous wave wiping out your entire home / town, and potentially killing you and your family is not that exciting!

Luckily everyone has had plenty of warning and it sounds as if hopefully nowhere is going to be too badly hit, so it is hopefully a fun night camping out for the OP.

Pacific tsunami alerts: what we know so far about the warnings stretching from Japan to the US | Tsunamis | The Guardian

Good luck all. I’m hoping that the early waves are a precursor to a smaller impact.

Solidarity OP. We are in Canterbury and I was in bed with flu and the civil defence alert gave me the shock of my life !
We are far from the sea and up a solid hill.

Thinking of you op. Glad you can get somewhere safe
Does anyone know how long till the risk will be over? I have family on west coast of US but don't want to pester them as they have young kids to sort

... yet.

What on earth is wrong with you? In some of the parts of Japan that have been evacuated they are still recovering from the 2011 disaster and mourning the 20,000 people who died. Other parts of the pacific are still reeling from the 2004 tsunami that killed over 200,000 people. Thankfully this one doesn’t look to be anywhere near that scale but this is not a fun experience for the people receiving these warnings.

Good luck.

WTAF?

It’s in no way fun for people at risk and receiving these warnings, that’s for sure. However, whilst acknowledging that, we have local surfers here rubbing their hands in delight. I’m in Australia, so no risk here as such BUT on some stretches of our coast it is predicted to increase waves by 1-3m as a by-product. You can by sad about some things and happy about others at the same time, and they are both.

Thanks for your messages everyone, and thinking of you in Japan and the US. It looks like it's going to rain heavily tonight...will go into town for the night away from the coast. I doubt it will come to anything, but better to be a little further away from the beach. NZ has a history of absolutely massive tsunami - I have seen them in the archaeological record on various sites around the country. Not for a while though. But then, this was an absoutely massive earthquake. Kia kaha those of you in vulnerable places x

Wishing you and your neighbours all the best, @pollyglot

Do you live in a populous area? I’m trying to imagine everyone up on the same hill, or inland to the same town.

Fingers crossed for you OP that it isn’t too awful.

Stay safe 🙏

Stay safe. NZ is a good bit away but the power of earthquakes and tides and water is huge. We really have no idea of the scale of the power.

I’m confused by this. My understanding is that tsunami waves don’t have “faces” so they can’t be surfed. They aren’t like a big normal wave, they are tidal surges. it’s also why the previous poster’s question about the sea looking ferocious was a bit silly, they don’t make the sea look generally choppy and ferocious and the waves aren’t the big, crashing kind.

My youngest dc is on a ship heading from Australia to Japan. I'm beyond worried.

So disrespectful saying it's exciting. People living in the areas that could be hit are extremely worried.

@WhatShoes4me As long as they are out in deep water and not near the coast they will be safe. Tsunamis aren’t a risk to ships in deep water. With a warning in place they will stay out at sea away from the coasts. It must be really worrying for you though. This is very scary.

Kia Kaha, @pollyglot. I'm following 1News (lived in Northland for a few years, and still have friends there), and hope their predictions of 'sea surges' rather than massive tsunami waves are true, and all people/animals/property is safe.

Keep safe @pollyglot and warm- from another NZ mumsnetter

Nothing to worry about, tsunamis in the open ocean are just a very small fast moving hump. It's when they reach shallow water or coastlines they lose speed but gain hight they become deadly. A ship at sea is probably the safest location please don't worry too much.