A powerful 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Northern California early Thursday morning, prompting a tsunami warning for millions of residents along the West Coast. The warning, issued by the US National Weather Service, has since been canceled, bringing relief to anxious communities.
The earthquake, which hit at 10:44 am PST, was centered west of Ferndale, a small city in Humboldt County near the Oregon border, according to the US Geological Survey. the tremors were felt as far south as San Francisco, where residents described a rolling motion lasting several seconds, followed by a series of smaller aftershocks.
While the earthquake was widely felt, initial reports indicate no major damage or injuries. Tho, concerns remain about potential damage in the northern part of the state.
“I have signed off on a state of emergency declaration to quickly move state resources to affected areas along the coast,” said Governor Gavin Newsom. “State officials are particularly concerned about damage in the northern part of the state.”
The national Weather Service had issued an urgent warning to residents along the northern California coastline, including the San Francisco Bay Area, urging them to evacuate to higher ground due to the tsunami threat.
“A series of powerful waves and strong currents may impact coasts near you.You are in danger. Get away from coastal waters. Move to high ground or inland now. Keep away from the coast until local officials say it is safe to return,” the warning read.
The USGS reported that at least 5.3 million people in California were under the tsunami warning.
Tsunami Threat Subsides After Powerful earthquake Rocks Northern California
A powerful 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Northern California early Thursday morning, prompting a tsunami warning for millions of residents along the West Coast. The warning, issued by the US National Weather Service, has since been canceled, bringing relief to anxious communities.While the earthquake was widely felt, initial reports indicate limited damage and no major injuries. Governor Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency to expedite aid to potentially affected areas.
The shaking, centered west of Ferndale in Humboldt county, was felt as far south as San Francisco. To understand the full implications of this seismic event, we spoke with Dr. Emily Jones, a seismologist at the California Institute of Technology, and Dr. Samuel Ramirez, a coastal geologist with the US Geological Survey.
Understanding the Quake: Magnitude,Location,and Potential Impacts
We began by asking Dr. Jones about the earthquake’s meaning:
“A 7.0 magnitude earthquake is considered a major earthquake. The fact that it occurred offshore, however, likely mitigated some of its potential impact. While the ground shaking was felt over a wide area, the energy was dissipated more widely in the ocean.”
Dr. Ramirez added, “This earthquake serves as a stark reminder of the seismic activity along the Pacific Coast. While Northern California hasn’t experienced a major earthquake in recent years, the Cascadia Subduction Zone, capable of producing even larger earthquakes, poses a significant threat to the region.”
