Tsunami Warnings in Costa Rica
Tsunami Warnings for Costa Rica (Central America) come from Instituto Meteorológico Nacional (IMN), Comisión Nacional de Prevención de Riesgos y Atención de Emergencias (CNE). This page explains what these warnings mean, which authority publishes them, and how to check the current status for San José.
Check live tsunami status for San JoséBrowse all warnings
At a glance
- countryCosta Rica · North America
- reference citySan José (9.93, -84.08)
- emergencyPrimary emergency number911
- risk profilestorm, flood, landslide, earthquake, volcano, tsunami, drought
What counts as a tsunami warnings
Tsunami warnings are issued by regional warning centres after a large undersea earthquake, volcanic eruption or landslide. A warning means waves are expected; the first wave is often not the largest, and wave arrival times are published per coastal segment. Natural warning signs - strong shaking, a sudden sea retreat, a loud roar - mean leave immediately without waiting for an official message.
Who issues tsunami warnings in Costa Rica
- meteoInstituto Meteorológico Nacional (IMN)
- civilComisión Nacional de Prevención de Riesgos y Atención de Emergencias (CNE)
Warning levels, colours and terminology are set nationally. Always read the warning text of the issuing authority: it names the affected districts, the expected time window and the recommended action.
If a warning is active in Costa Rica
- Move inland and at least 30 m above sea level, on foot, immediately.
- Stay away for hours: wave trains continue long after the first wave.
- Do not return to the coast until the all-clear from the official warning centre.
Where the data comes from
Waarning reads public, key-free sources for Costa Rica: NOAA PTWC, JMA, national tsunami warning centres, USGS. Measurements and official warnings are shown separately, and official warnings always keep the name of the authority that issued them.
Frequently asked questions
Who issues tsunami warnings in Costa Rica?
Instituto Meteorológico Nacional (IMN), Comisión Nacional de Prevención de Riesgos y Atención de Emergencias (CNE). Waarning does not issue warnings; it aggregates the public feeds of these bodies and links back to the original source.
What is the emergency number in Costa Rica?
The primary emergency number is 911. Use it for a life-threatening situation; for non-urgent reports use the local police station number.
Does Waarning show live tsunami warnings for Costa Rica?
Yes. The dashboard loads the current values for San José from NOAA PTWC, JMA, national tsunami warning centres, USGS. You can open it with one click and the location is already set.
More warnings for Costa Rica
- Severe Weather Warnings
- Flood Warnings
- Drought Warnings
- Air Quality Warnings
- Earthquake Alerts
- Volcano Alerts
Tsunami Warnings in nearby countries
Generated 2026-10-14. Waarning is not an official warning service; in an emergency follow local authorities and emergency services.