This is a test. This is only a test…. Then again, perhaps not.

I love it when the National Weather Service tests its “watches, warnings & advisories” system. Like tonight, for instance:

Clicking on the “Read watches…” brings up the comforting message:

UPDATE: Well, maybe it’s not a test – maybe the NWS was just slow to link up the map to text warnings. Apparently they had had another big earthquake off the Kuril Islands – an 8.2 this time. (You may remember there was an M8.3 less than 100 miles away back on November 15.) The Tsunami Warning Center has a map up, and WCATWC is showing all sorts of graphical stuff but no explanatory text. Japan is bracing itself for a possible surge.