Thu, 30 Apr 2026 23:48:03 +0000

Tsunami Watch Hits Oregon—What If This Isn’t the First Warning Ever? In early May 2025, Oregon residents witnessed an unexpected tsunami watch, a rare and urgent alert from national and regional emergency systems. While many tuned in to learn about this potential coastal threat, a growing question lingers: What if this isn’t the first tsunami warning Oregon has ever received? With the Pacific’s geological volatility and historically limited but significant tsunami records, scientists and emergency planners are reevaluating how preparedness accounts for worst-case scenarios—including ancient, undocumented warnings buried in coastal geologic clues. ### The Oregon Tsunami Watch: Immediate Context On May 4, 2025, the National Weather Service’s Tsunami Warning Center issued a watch for parts of Oregon’s coastline following seismic activity offshore—a swarm of earthquakes near the Cascadia Subduction Zone. Though no actual tsunami struck, the alert prompted coastal communities to activate emergency protocols, open evacuation routes, and educate the public. The event underscored the ever-present threat posed by the Cascadia Fault, where a massive earthquake could trigger tsunamis capable of sweeping through Oregon’s beaches within minutes.