Tsunami threat Australian East Coast Jan 15th

Appears to be related to volcanic activity in Tonga (which also saw a tsunami earlier today).

Decent sized tsunami in Tonga. Samoans moving to higher ground too.

Here are some of the observed tsunami wave heights following today's volcanic eruption near Tonga. Norfolk Island is currently under a Tsunami LAND Warning, meaning 'major land inundation' is possible. pic.twitter.com/Ud8VIA5Ray

— Ben Domensino (@Ben_Domensino) January 15, 2022

https://twitter.com/SitaLeota/status/1482292965683138566

Immense power on display as the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Haʻapai volcano sends a shockwave through the atmosphere this afternoon.

📹: RAMMB/CIRA pic.twitter.com/udEYHN4JfN

— Ben Domensino (@Ben_Domensino) January 15, 2022

Holy shit, just realised that I heard the sonic booms from the volcanic eruption in Tonga, I was on the balcony cooking dinner on the BBQ and heard/felt a quiet rumble that genuinely made put down the tongs, and walk out on to the street. Seemed to be what I imagine a small earthquake might sound like, but without any movement. A second one happened about a minute later. Couldn’t work out what it was, then got distracted. Unsure of the exact time but between 6:30 - 7pm I reckon.

Yep, check hPa readings at coastal weather stations around this time, confirms the sonic boom. Byron dropped 6hPa between 6:17pm and 6:48pm.

http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDN60801/IDN60801.94599.shtml

Phenomenal.

Evacuation Order Issued for #LordHoweIsland. Land Threat for #NorfolkIsland. Marine Threat for #NSW, #QLD, #TAS, #VIC, #MacquarieIsland. #Tsunami Warning after volcanic eruption near TONGA ISLANDS. Latest info here: https://t.co/Tynv3ZQpEq. pic.twitter.com/wliDqjgYbB

— Bureau of Meteorology, Australia (@BOM_au) January 15, 2022

So, at 8:45pm last night, the Tweed tide gauge recorded a 0.47m positive residual, and then a 0.23 negative residual at 9:15pm (i.e 0.7m drop over half an hour). That's quite impressive.

Water levels continue to fluctuate right now too, so the tsunami warning is still current.

Wow, most impressive location the East Coast seems to be Crowdy Head, where the marina saw a negative residual of -0.61m at 9pm, and then a positive residual of 0.69m at 10pm (with a few waves between). That's a 1.3m tidal range over sixty minutes.

Will close this, and move everything over to our main article.

https://www.swellnet.com/news/swellnet-dispatch/2022/01/16/australia-and...