Historical tsunamis · May 18, 1980
1980 Washington tsunami
United States
The tsunami of May 18, 1980 originated near Washington (United States).
Key facts
- Date
- May 18, 1980
- Cause
- Volcano and landslide
- Maximum documented water height
- 250.0 m
- Deaths
- 61
- Observation records
- 2
- Countries affected
- 1
Cause according to NOAA/NCEI: Volcano and landslide.
The highest documented water height was 250.0 m (Spirit Lake West, Wa, United States).
2 observation sites in 1 countries are recorded.
The database records 61 deaths.
Map of observation sites
2Each 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 2 | 250.0 m Spirit Lake West, Wa | — | — |
Highest documented water heights
2 / 2Individual 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spirit Lake West, Wa · Wa | 250.00 m | 9 km | United States |
| Spirit Lake East, Wa · Wa | 225.00 m | 10 km | United States |
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.