Historical tsunamis · Jan 20, 1999
1999 Soufriere Hills Volcano tsunami
Montserrat
The tsunami of Jan 20, 1999 originated near Soufriere Hills Volcano (Montserrat).
Key facts
- Date
- Jan 20, 1999
- Cause
- Volcanic eruption
- Maximum documented water height
- 2.00 m
- Observation records
- 3
- Countries affected
- 3
Cause according to NOAA/NCEI: Volcanic eruption.
The highest documented water height was 2.00 m (Soufriere Hills, Montserrat).
3 observation sites in 3 countries are recorded.
Map of observation sites
3Each dot is a documented observation site; colour and size show the observed water height. The triangle marks the source.
Observations by country
| Country | Observation records | Maximum documented water height | Deaths | Earliest arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montserrat | 1 | 2.00 m Soufriere Hills | — | — |
| Antigua and Barbuda | 1 | 0.50 m Antigua | — | — |
| Guadeloupe (French Territory) | 1 | 0.50 m Guadeloupe | — | — |
Highest documented water heights
3 / 3Individual 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Soufriere Hills | 2.00 m | 0 km | Montserrat |
| Antigua | 0.50 m | 54 km | Antigua and Barbuda |
| Guadeloupe | 0.50 m | 83 km | Guadeloupe (French Territory) |
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.