Tsunami warning was issued in Alaska after 7.3 magnitude earthquake [updated] • Hacker News Board

Re: Tsunami warning was issued in Alaska after 7.3 magnitude earthquake [updated]

#21

Post by misswaterfairy » Thu, Jul 17, 2025, 5:20 AM UTC

senkora wrote: post #12

chrbr wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Aren't warnings always positioned as being a more immediate threat than watches? https://www.weather.gov/safety/tsunami-alerts

+1. We really need better words for this because I have to look up which is worse every time.

Australia seems to have gotten this right, after its experiences of the Black Saturday bushfires.

https://www.australianwarningsystem.com.au/

Below are the three alert levels for all hazards in Australia, including tsunami:

- Advice: An incident has started. There is no immediate danger. Stay up to date in case the situation changes.

- Watch and Act: There is a heightened level of threat. Conditions are changing and you need to start taking action now to protect you and your family.

- Emergency Warning: You may be in danger and need to take action immediately. Any delay now puts your life at risk.

The scale slides up and down, but can immediately be set to Emergency Warning if the situation demands it.

They can also be further defined with 'Calls to Action': - 'Monitor conditions' - 'Prepare now' - 'Seek shelter immediately' - 'Move to higher ground immediately'

Siren systems aren't widespread across the country, though systems are popping up in some flood-prone parts of Queensland. Sirens are typically activated when the 'Emergency Warning' alert level is reached.

Re: Tsunami warning was issued in Alaska after 7.3 magnitude earthquake [updated]

#22

Post by dylan604 » Thu, Jul 17, 2025, 1:05 PM UTC

arcfour wrote: post #20

sejje wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Right, so: Warning, tornadoes might occur. Watch out, we saw a tornado!

You are watching for something that might happen, in case it does happen. You are warning others that something dangerous has happened, because you have seen it. There is an actual danger. This has always been intuitive for me (once it was first explained at least), so I'm surprised it isn't for others.

It’s clearly easy to get them reversed evidenced by the large number of people admitting it. I too had them reversed growing up, but took until I really got into learning weather in preparations for storm chasing way back before the internet. At least until I learned how expensive it is, and life had other plans for me.

Mocking someone for not understanding something you do is not a good look, and you should really try to be more empathetic. We all didn’t know something at one point.

Re: Tsunami warning was issued in Alaska after 7.3 magnitude earthquake [updated]

#23

Post by sejje » Thu, Jul 17, 2025, 9:06 PM UTC

dylan604 wrote: post #22

arcfour wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You are watching for something that might happen, in case it does happen. You are warning others that something dangerous has happened, because you have seen it. There is an actual danger. This has always been intuitive for me (once it was first explained at least), so I'm surprised it isn't for others.

It’s clearly easy to get them reversed evidenced by the large number of people admitting it. I too had them reversed growing up, but took until I really got into learning weather in preparations for storm chasing way back before the internet. At least until I learned how expensive it is, and life had other plans for me. Mocking someone for not understanding something you do is not a good look, and you should really t…

I reversed them on purpose to make a point, so I don't feel mocked. My point was how easy it is to mix them up. Warnings and watches are, linguistically, very similar.

Additionally, his comment was a gentle correction, not mocking. I think his empathy is fine, not sure what language you're even calling him out for.

Re: Tsunami warning was issued in Alaska after 7.3 magnitude earthquake [updated]

#24

Post by sejje » Thu, Jul 17, 2025, 9:10 PM UTC

dylan604 wrote: post #17

sejje wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Right, so: Warning, tornadoes might occur. Watch out, we saw a tornado!

No. You've reversed them. We're watching out for a tornado because the conditions are right for them. You're now warned a tornado is coming after it is confirmed.

Yes, I did it on purpose to show that the words used make them easy to reverse.

I think one word should be stronger, or unambiguous.

Tornado sighting

Tornado alarm

Tornado touchdown

Tornado lookout

Tornado conditions

Tornado possibility

I go by Elk crossing warning signs a lot. They display all the time, giving their warning, not just when there's a recent sighting.

It's like saying the "red/black" rhyme about coral snakes is fine. It is, if you remember it exactly. And it's also incredibly easy to mix it up.

Re: Tsunami warning was issued in Alaska after 7.3 magnitude earthquake [updated]

#25

Post by dylan604 » Thu, Jul 17, 2025, 11:03 PM UTC

sejje wrote: post #23

dylan604 wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It’s clearly easy to get them reversed evidenced by the large number of people admitting it. I too had them reversed growing up, but took until I really got into learning weather in preparations for storm chasing way back before the internet. At least until I learned how expensive it is, and life had other plans for me. Mocking someone for not understanding something you do is not a good look, and you should really t…

I reversed them on purpose to make a point, so I don't feel mocked. My point was how easy it is to mix them up. Warnings and watches are, linguistically, very similar. Additionally, his comment was a gentle correction, not mocking. I think his empathy is fine, not sure what language you're even calling him out for.

just saying it is easy to get them reversed just shows how GP is out of touch thinking it is strange that someone would get them reversed.

also, it's just not helpful to intentionally reverse them the way you did in such a declarative manner. Grok might use that as its basis for giving out the wrong information one day

Re: Tsunami warning was issued in Alaska after 7.3 magnitude earthquake [updated]

#26

Post by lazide » Sat, Jul 19, 2025, 6:51 AM UTC

op00to wrote: post #4

dylan604 wrote: post #2

* A tsunami was generated by this event, but no longer poses a threat. * This will be the final U.S. National Tsunami Warning Center message issued for this event. I'm in danger of being "Warning-ed" out. Watches are different and will always get my attention. Especially after the recent overreaction to sending out way more flood warnings even when it is not any where near me is just getting me to not bother with the…

How would you handle the situation differently?

Not the poster, but I’m definitely starting to understand those old folks that say ‘fuck it, if the hurricane gets me it gets me’.

Re: Tsunami warning was issued in Alaska after 7.3 magnitude earthquake [updated]

#27

Post by arcfour » Sat, Jul 19, 2025, 10:56 AM UTC

dylan604 wrote: post #22

arcfour wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You are watching for something that might happen, in case it does happen. You are warning others that something dangerous has happened, because you have seen it. There is an actual danger. This has always been intuitive for me (once it was first explained at least), so I'm surprised it isn't for others.

It’s clearly easy to get them reversed evidenced by the large number of people admitting it. I too had them reversed growing up, but took until I really got into learning weather in preparations for storm chasing way back before the internet. At least until I learned how expensive it is, and life had other plans for me. Mocking someone for not understanding something you do is not a good look, and you should really t…

I wasn't mocking anyone and have no idea what you're talking about, sorry.