New Zealand Local Weather Forum
Weather Discussion => International => Topic started by: JennyLeez on September 17, 2015, 12:11:43 PM
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A powerful 8.3-magnitude earthquake struck off Chile's coast on Wednesday, according to a preliminary assessment from the U.S. Geological Survey.
The quake's epicenter was about 55 kilometers (34 miles) west of Illapel, Chile, USGS said. It occurred around 7:54 p.m. (6:45 p.m. ET) and had a depth of 33 kilometers (20.5 miles).
Chile's national emergency agency issued a tsunami warning, ordering evacuations in some coastal areas.
There were reports of damages to homes in Illapel, Interior Minister Jorge Burgos told reporters.
"Widespread hazardous tsunami waves are possible" along the coast of Chile and Peru, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said, and a tsunami watch is in effect for Hawaii.
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September 17th
12.17pm
The Ministry of Civil Defence has issued a tsunami warning for East Cape, Chatham Islands, Coromandel, and Banks Peninsula.
The expected arrival times are 12 hours for Chatham Island and 13 hours for the East Coast of NZ (after the earthquake at 22:54 UTC)
Strong tidal currents are likely to go on for 24 hours, with a peak 4 to 10 hours after the first arrival.
12.28pm
NZ tsunami warning: IF waves reach NZ, they were expected to first hit Gisborne about 12.15am Fri NZT.
Full Report:
NZ Herald (http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=11514540&ref=NZH_Tw)
12.45pm,
Civil Defence update:
Tsunami Marine and Beach Threat - Bay of Plenty - Friday 18 Sep - 12:31 am
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Updated at 14:52, 17 September 2015 NZT --- The Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency Management (MCDEM) has issued a tsunami warning (marine and beach threat) for: CHATHAM ISLANDS, COROMANDEL PENINSULA, GISBORNE, NAPIER/HASTINGS, CHRISTCHURCH NORTH, BANKS PENINSULA, MID to SOUTH CANTERBURY in NEW ZEALAND.
Initial Tsunami waves have been recorded on DART Buoys in the Pacific. Modelling from these suggest wave heights from between 0.2m - 1m may be expected in Chatham Islands, East Cape, Coromandel and Banks Peninsula. For those areas it is likely that wave heights will be toward the lower end of the 0.2m - 1m band, while wave heights for northern Chatham Islands will be toward the higher end of the band.
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Non technical description of what is happening geologically
A Huge Earthquake Just hit Chile: Here's the Science of What's Happening
A Huge Earthquake Just Shook Chile (http://space.io9.com/chile-just-had-a-massive-earthquake-heres-the-science-1731244624)
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11.50pm
The Chatham Island Council has reported repeated ebbing and flowing of the tide, along with ocean noises associated with tide surge.
Residents in some areas of the Chatham Islands within 2-3m of the shore have self-evacuated.
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In conclusion:
A tsunami warning remains in place for much of New Zealand's east coast and the Chatham Islands as waves of up to 50cm higher than normal hit overnight following a deadly 8.3-magnitude earthquake in Chile.
The powerful quake, which killed 11 people and forced the evacuation of 1 million in the South American nation, prompted the Pacific to be on alert for rising waves.