Mar 11, 2019
You may be wondering:
Is the whole “volcano in the Canary Islands” thing true?
Yes and no.
Yes, there is a volcano, Cumbre Vieja, on the island of La Palma in the Canary Islands. And yes, this volcano has erupted twice before (once in 1949 and again in 1971). And yes, an eruption from Cumbre Vieja could generate a mega-tsunami capable of traveling across the Atlantic Ocean and hitting the east coast of the United States. But, it’s extremely unlikely.
Based on computer modelling and calculation by Dr. Simon Day of University College London and Dr. Steven Ward of the University of California, if the volcano were to erupt, the following events could occur:
Before you freak out:
While possible, the odds of this mega-tsunami scenario happening are very, very, very low.
While a mega-tsunami hitting the east coast is unlikely, the odds of flooding from a hurricane or another major storm are much higher. Plan ahead for natural disasters like these: visit https://www.ready.gov/.
For additional info on the Cumbre Vieja eruption, check out these resources: