Historical tsunamis · Aug 16, 2013, 2:31 AM UTC
2013 Wellington tsunami
New Zealand
The tsunami of Aug 16, 2013, 2:31 AM UTC originated near Wellington (New Zealand).
Key facts
- Date
- Aug 16, 2013, 2:31 AM UTC
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Magnitude
- M6.5
- Depth
- 8 km
- Maximum documented water height
- 0.08 m
- Damage
- limited (under US$ 1 million)
- Observation records
- 2
- Countries affected
- 1
It was triggered by a magnitude 6.5 earthquake at a depth of 8 km.
The highest documented water height was 0.08 m (Kaikoura, New Zealand).
2 observation sites in 1 countries are recorded.
Damage is estimated at limited (under US$ 1 million).
Map of observation sites
2Each 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) · Aug 16, 2013, 2:31 AM UTC
- 1:03 hNew Zealand · Kaikoura · 0.08 m
2 places with a documented arrival time
Observations by country
| Country | Observation records | Maximum documented water height | Deaths | Earliest arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Zealand | 2 | 0.08 m Kaikoura | — | 1:03 h |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kaikoura | 0.08 m | 84 km | New Zealand |
| Queen's Wharf | 0.07 m | 72 km | New Zealand |
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.