A misleading tsunami warning test alert caused a panic when it was sent to the phones of thousands of people across the United States early Tuesday morning.

The test message was issued in cities from New York to Texas by Accuweather, citing the National Tsunami Warning Center, which is a branch of the National Weather Service.

And because it wasn't clearly labeled as a test warning in the notification, people who checked their phones upon waking up took to social media in a confused panic, worrying that a tsunami was going to strike at any moment.

Within about 30 minutes of the initial warning, though, National Weather Service Twitter accounts across the country issued alerts to ensure the warning was just a test.

The test message was issued in cities from New York to Texas at around 8.30 EST Tuesday morning by the National Tsunami Warning Center

And because it wasn't clearly labeled as a warning in the notification, people took to social media in a confused panic, worrying that a a tsunami was going to strike at any moment

Within about 30 minutes of the initial warning, though, National Weather Service Twitter accounts across the country issued alerts to ensure the warning was just a test

'We have been notified that some users received this test message as an actual tsunami warning,' the NWS in Caribou, Maine, tweeted at around 9am.

'A tsunami warning is not in effect. Repeat, a tsunami warning is not in effect.'

Accounts in cities such as New York, Tampa, New Orleans, Charleston and Houston quickly followed suit.

AccuWeather also issued a tweet that covered all of the Eastern Seaboard, ensuring that the warning was just a test.

'The National Weather Service Tsunami Warning this morning was a TEST. No Tsunami warning is in effect for the East Coast of the US,' the tweet read.

Many of those accounts also wrote 'please retweet' in their messages - clearly desperate to rectify the misleading tweets and prevent any further confusion or panic.

But the message came a bit too late for many people who saw the alert and took to social media in a panicked flurry.

'I'm 2 old to be getting a false #tsunami warning alert on my phone,' one Twitter user wrote at the conclusion of the ordeal.

'When I tell you my legs turned to jelly, I hyperventilated and almost passed out? Child please. Getting any type of work done is cancelled. I need to go home to recuperate cuz I'm not built for this kinda s***.'

'We have been notified that some users received this test message as an actual tsunami warning,' the NWS in Caribou, Maine, tweeted at around 9am

Accounts in cities such as New York, Tampa, New Orleans, Charleston and Houston quickly followed suit

AccuWeather also issued a tweet that covered all of the Eastern Seaboard, ensuring that the warning was just a test

But the message came a bit too late for many people who saw the alert and took to social media in a panicked flurry

'I'm 2 old to be getting a false #tsunami warning alert on my phone,' one Twitter user wrote at the conclusion of the ordeal

And another Twitter user from Charleston, South Carolina, said the message caused 'mass hysteria'.

The alert showed up as a notification on people's smartphones - but didn't clearly indicate it was a test until people opened the message itself.

There it said 'test' in the headline and then twice in the first few lines of copy.

The NWS said it isn't clear why the message went out as a warning, but is looking into the miscommunication.

The warning also has some wondering if there is an issue with the warning alert system in the United States after a false ballistic missile warning was sent to the smart phones of people in Hawaii last month.

'First a fake missile launch warning in Hawaii and now a fake tsunami warning on the east coast? Somebody is hacking into the american warning systems,' one Twitter user wrote.

Major panic was caused on January 13 when a false nuclear missile alert was sent to all smartphones in Hawaii. The US official apparently sent out the message during a state-wide test because he genuinely believed they were under attack.

'BALLISTIC MISSILE THREAT INBOUND TO HAWAII. SEEK IMMEDIATE SHELTER. THIS IS NOT A DRILL,' the alert read. It took the state 38 minutes to become aware of the blunder and issue a redaction.

And another Twitter user from Charleston, South Carolina, said the message caused 'mass hysteria'