NWS: No tsunami threat despite warning alert

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — A test Tsunami Warning is apparently causing some confusion and alarm along the east coast this morning.

At 8:30 a.m. the National Weather Service sent out a test Tsunami Warning that apparently led to a push notification on some people’s smartphones. The alert, though read:

“…THIS_MESSAGE_IS_FOR_TEST_PURPOSES_ONLY…

…THIS IS A TEST TO DETERMINE TRANSMISSION TIMES INVOLVED IN THE

DISSEMINATION OF TSUNAMI INFORMATION…”

Several National Weather Offices sent out tweets clarifying what happened a short time later.

The National Weather Service office in Wilmington sent out an update around 9:20 a.m. letting people know there was not a Tsunami Warning in effect.

A monthly Tsunami Warning test was issued around 830 am by @NWS_NTWC . We have been notified that some users received this test message as an actual Tsunami Warning. A Tsunami Warning is not in effect. Repeat, a Tsunami Warning is not in effect.

— NWS Wilmington NC (@NWSWilmingtonNC) February 6, 2018