Skip to content


NOAA NCTR research product
Not an official forecast

El Salvador Event Page | Local Impacts

The El Salvador tsunami was generated by a Mw 7.3 earthquake (12.139°N, 88.590°W ), at 04:37:19 UTC, 26km (78mi) S of Puerto El Triunfo, El Salvador (according to the USGS). In approximately 1.5 hours, the tsunami was first recorded at tsunameter/DART® buoy 43413. Forecast results shown below were created with the NOAA forecast method using MOST model with the tsunami source inferred from tsunameter/DART® data.

The graphics display forecast results, showing qualitative and quantitative information about the tsunami, including tsunami wave interaction with ocean floor bathymetric features, and neighboring coastlines. Tsunami model amplitude information is shown color-coded according to the scale bar. Offshore tsunami wave amplitude was forecasted based on actual tsunami observations at DART 43413 and was not based on any particular earthquake mechanism.

Modeling Results

* The model results for Galapagos, Ecuador tide gauges and El Salvador local inundation are computed based on unverified grids interpolated from ETOPO1 bathymetry and SRTM90 topography, which are known to have large errors in nearshore water depths and topography with dense vegetation. Therefore, these model results should be considered as preliminary and qualitative analyses of the August 27, 2012 El Salvador tsunami. .

The DART model timeseries are obtained from the pre-computed generation/propagation forecast database in real time, after fitting models to tsunami records from the closest DART 43413.

Disclaimer: The forecasts on these pages show the results of ongoing research to enhance tsunami science and to improve NOAA operational tsunami forecasts. These products were developed during or shortly after the tsunami event, are intended for research use, and are not an official forecast. They should not be used as the basis of any public or private policy decisions. Please contact NCTR to find if there are more detailed follow-on analysis results.

For media inquiries:

PMEL and NOAA contacts

When using information from this page, please credit NOAA / PMEL / Center for Tsunami Research