TEST Tsunami Warning Issued for Southeast Coast, Canceled After One Hour
National Weather Service activated test tsunami warning covering Southeast coast from Texas to North Carolina, automatically expiring after one hour.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA — The National Weather Service issued a test tsunami warning Monday afternoon covering extensive coastal areas across the Southeast, Gulf Coast, and Eastern Seaboard before canceling the alert exactly one hour later.
The National Tsunami Warning Center activated the test warning at 12:31 p.m. EDT on April 28, sending alerts to coastal zones spanning from Texas to North Carolina. The warning automatically expired at 1:31 p.m. EDT as scheduled.
Widespread Coverage Area
The test alert encompassed marine zones and coastal counties across multiple states. In Georgia, the warning covered zones 153, 154, 165, 166, 217, 219, and 239 through 241.
Florida received the most extensive coverage with dozens of zones included, ranging from the Panhandle through the Keys. The alert covered zones 201 through 206, along with numerous inland and coastal areas including zones 008, 010, 012, 014, 108, and 112 through 118.
Alabama coastal zones 261 through 266 were included, while Mississippi zones 086 through 088 received the test warning. Louisiana zones covered areas 073, 074, 241, and 252 through 254, plus zones 070, 076, 078, 091, 093, 095, and 097.
Multi-State Alert System
Texas coastal zone 251 and zones 351, 354, 355, 451, 454, 455 were part of the test, along with numerous inland zones. The Carolinas also participated, with South Carolina zones 148 through 152, plus zones 054 and 056.
North Carolina’s inclusion covered zones 106, 108, 110, and 044 through 047, extending to zones 080, 081, 092 through 095, 098, 103, 104, and 193 through 199. Additional zones 203 through 205, 015 through 017, 030 through 032, and 102 were also included.
Virginia rounded out the coverage area with zones 084 through 086 and 097 through 099 receiving the test alert.
Routine Testing Protocol
The National Weather Service conducts periodic tests of the tsunami warning system to ensure proper functionality and public awareness. These tests help verify that alert systems reach designated areas and that emergency management agencies receive timely notifications.
The one-hour duration represents standard testing protocol for tsunami warning systems. During actual tsunami events, warnings remain active until the threat passes or conditions change significantly.
Coastal residents and marine interests regularly receive these test alerts as part of the nation’s tsunami preparedness infrastructure. The extensive geographic coverage demonstrates the interconnected nature of tsunami warning systems across multiple states and coastal regions.
