Historical tsunamis · Nov 18, 1929, 8:31 PM UTC
1929 Grand Banks, Newfoundland tsunami
Canada
The tsunami of Nov 18, 1929, 8:31 PM UTC originated near Grand Banks, Newfoundland (Canada).
Key facts
- Date
- Nov 18, 1929, 8:31 PM UTC
- Cause
- Earthquake and landslide
- Magnitude
- M7.2
- Depth
- 10 km
- Maximum documented water height
- 13.0 m
- Deaths
- 28
- Damage
- US$ 1.0 million
- Observation records
- 46
- Countries affected
- 7
It was triggered by a magnitude 7.2 earthquake at a depth of 10 km.
The highest documented water height was 13.0 m (Lamaline, Newfoundland, Canada).
46 observation sites in 7 countries are recorded.
Outside the source country, the earliest documented arrival was at The Flatts, Bermuda (Bermuda (UK Territory)) after 2:00 h.
The database records 28 deaths.
Damage is estimated at US$ 1.0 million.
Map of observation sites
46Each dot is a documented observation site; colour and size show the observed water height. The triangle marks the source.
Tsunami arrival times
Documented arrival times from the NOAA/NCEI database, showing the earliest recorded location per country. Coverage is incomplete: a country without an entry was not necessarily spared.
- 0:00 hEarthquake (origin) · Nov 18, 1929, 8:31 PM UTC
- 2:00 hBermuda (UK Territory) · The Flatts, Bermuda
- 2:33 hCanada · Burin, Newfoundland · 4.57 m
- 3:51 hUnited States · Ocean City, Md · 0.30 m
- 4:23 hAzores (Portugal) · Ponta Delgada · 0.14 m
- 6:18 hPortugal · Leixoes · 0.19 m
8 places with a documented arrival time
Observations by country
| Country | Observation records | Maximum documented water height | Deaths | Earliest arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | 27 | 13.0 m Lamaline, Newfoundland | 28 | 2:33 h |
 United States | 11 | 0.68 m Atlantic City, Nj | — | 3:51 h |
 Portugal | 2 | 0.19 m Leixoes | — | 6:18 h |
| Azores (Portugal) | 1 | 0.14 m Ponta Delgada | — | 4:23 h |
| Saint Pierre and Miquelon | 3 | — | — | — |
| Martinique (French Territory) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Bermuda (UK Territory) | 1 | — | — | 2:00 h |
Highest documented water heights
15 / 46Individual documented observations for this event. Heights come from different measurement types and sources; not every location has a measured height.
| Location / station | Observed height | Distance from source | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lamaline, Newfoundland · Nl | 13.00 m | 272 km | Canada |
| Lawn, Newfoundland · Nl | 13.00 m | 281 km | Canada |
| Lords Cove, Newfoundland · Nl | 13.00 m | 274 km | Canada |
| Port Au Bras, Newfoundland · Nl | 13.00 m | 302 km | Canada |
| Saint Lawrence, Newfoundland · Nl | 13.00 m | 280 km | Canada |
| Taylor's Bay, Newfoundland · Nl | 13.00 m | 274 km | Canada |
| Placentia Bay, Newfoundland · Nl | 4.70 m | 336 km | Canada |
| Burin, Newfoundland · Nl | 4.57 m | 299 km | Canada |
| Point Au Gaul, Newfoundland · Nl | 3.00 m | 272 km | Canada |
| Glace Bay, Nova Scotia · Ns | 2.40 m | 365 km | Canada |
| Sydney, Nova Scotia · Ns | 2.40 m | 378 km | Canada |
| Salmonier, Newfoundland · Nl | 1.80 m | 365 km | Canada |
| Atlantic City, Nj · Nj | 0.68 m | 1,622 km | United States |
| Canso, Nova Scotia · Ns | 0.60 m | 405 km | Canada |
| Halifax, Nova Scotia · Ns | 0.60 m | 601 km | Canada |
More tsunamis
Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Historical Tsunami Database. Confirmed events only. Deaths and damage are database estimates; older records are incomplete. Water heights come from different types of observation.