Magnitude 7.0 and 5.8 earthquakes off the coast of Northern California have prompted a rare tsunami warning for coastal areas near the California-Oregon state line, including San Francisco Bay.
SAN FRANCISCO, Ca. – A magnitude 7.0 earthquake off the coast of Northern California prompted a rare tsunami warning for coastal areas near the California-Oregon state line, including San Francisco Bay.
A powerful 7.0 earthquake was recorded around 10:44 a.m. PT about 60 miles offshore of Ferndale, California, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The USGS originally reported a magnitude 5.8 quake struck Cobb, California 3 minutes after the 7.0 quake but have since updated their data to reduce that quake to a magnitude 2.5.
The 7.0 quake is the strongest in the region since at least 2005, when a magnitude of 7.2 occurred, according to the FOX Forecast Center.
The major quake promoted a Tsunami Warning from Davenport to 10 miles south of Florence, Oregon. The warning included more than 4.6 million people and was allowed to expire just before 11 a.m.
A 7.0 magnitude earthquake in northern California on Dec. 5, 2024.
A Tsunami Warning means that a tsunami with significant inundation is possible or is already occurring.
A tsunami is a series of long waves caused by significant disruptions in the ocean, most commonly earthquakes along tectonic plate boundaries.
‘You are in danger’: Evacuations ordered for coastal areas
Shaking from the major earthquake was felt in Napa Valley and across San Francisco.
Officials in West Berkley issued evacuation orders for the tsunami zone west of 7th Street.
Emergency management in San Francisco warned residents, “You are in danger. Get away from coastal waters.”
Bay Area Rapid Transportation (BART) temporarily closed Transbay Tube service to and from San Francisco after the earthquake. Trains began running again before 11 a.m. PT.
Aftershocks ongoing
The USGS does expect more aftershocks. According to the USGS Aftershock forecast, “there is a more than 99% chance of magnitude 3 and above aftershocks within the next week, and it is most likely that 3 to 280 of these will occur.”
Those aftershocks should decrease in intensity and frequency over time. Geologists said about 10 aftershocks have already occurred, at a magnitude of 5 or less.
There is a small chance of aftershocks being stronger than the initial 7.0 earthquake.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
