Tsunami Simulations for Washington State Coasts

These are unofficial simulations for illustrative purposes, based on the L1 Scenario for a Mw 9.0 Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake. This is a "2500-year" scenario that is also used for producing official hazard and evacuation maps, and represents an event that is thought to have very low probability of occuring in the next 50 years. Smaller earthquakes are more likely.

Some simulations produced for the Tsunami Roadshow, April 2018:

Note that surface elevation / inundation depth are shown in feet, and colors saturate at 10 feet above/below sea level or above ground.

• Big picture:
  • Coarse-grid simulation of entire coast

• Port Angeles:
  • Water depth near Port Angeles
  • Water speed near Port Angeles (colors saturate at 8 knots)

• Port Townsend:
  • Water depth near Port Townsend
  • Water speed near Port Townsend (colors saturate at 8 knots)

• La Push:
  • Water depth near LaPush
  • Water speed near LaPush (colors saturate at 8 knots)

• Hoh River:
  • Water depth near Hoh
  • Water speed near Hoh (colors saturate at 8 knots)

Some simulations produced for the Public session on vertical evacuation in Ocean Shores, June 2018 [video]:

Note that surface elevation / inundation depth are shown in feet, and colors saturate at 10 feet above/below sea level or above ground.