A dangerous tsunami with widespread flooding is expected or already happening. This is the most serious level a centre issues.
Move inland and to high ground immediately, and follow the instructions of your local emergency authority.
The levels
The warning centres publish four distinct states, and they mean different things. This app keeps them apart - it never collapses them into a single word like danger, because the right action is different for each one.
Strong currents and dangerous waves are expected near the shore. Widespread inland flooding is not expected.
Stay out of the water and away from beaches, harbours and waterways until the advisory is cancelled.
A tsunami may later affect this area. The centre is still evaluating, and the level can be raised or cancelled.
Stay alert, keep an official channel open, and be ready to act if it becomes a warning.
An earthquake happened, but it is not expected to cause a tsunami here - or a warning was issued for a different part of the ocean.
No action is required for this area.
A centre can raise, lower or cancel a level as it learns more. The level shown anywhere in this app is the one in the latest bulletin we were able to read - always follow the instructions of your local emergency authority over anything on this screen.