Does a Tsnumai warning mean that waves are going to hit?

[jonathon]

Or, does it just suggest a strong likelyhood.

I don't know very much about this type of thing. Experts?

[Newsjock]

1. Official definitions

Sorry for the screaming all-caps; that's in the original:
http://wcatwc.arh.noaa.gov/ops/opsmanual.pdf (pdf)

A TSUNAMI WARNING MEANS... ALL COASTAL RESIDENTS IN THE WARNING
AREA WHO ARE NEAR THE BEACH OR IN LOW-LYING REGIONS SHOULD MOVE
IMMEDIATELY INLAND TO HIGHER GROUND AND AWAY FROM ALL HARBORS AND
INLETS INCLUDING THOSE SHELTERED DIRECTLY FROM THE SEA.

A TSUNAMI ADVISORY MEANS THAT A TSUNAMI CAPABLE OF PRODUCING
STRONG CURRENTS OR WAVES DANGEROUS TO PERSONS IN OR VERY NEAR
THE WATER IS IMMINENT OR EXPECTED. SIGNIFICANT WIDESPREAD
INUNDATION IS NOT EXPECTED FOR AREAS UNDER AN ADVISORY.

A TSUNAMI WATCH MEANS... ALL COASTAL RESIDENTS IN THE WATCH AREA
SHOULD PREPARE FOR POSSIBLE EVACUATION. A TSUNAMI WATCH IS ISSUED
TO AREAS WHICH WILL NOT BE IMMEDIATELY IMPACTED BY THE TSUNAMI.
WATCH AREAS WILL EITHER BE UPGRADED TO WARNING OR ADVISORY STATUS
OR CANCELED.

[leftofcool]

2. Just in case......get to high ground