7.0 Earthquake Triggers Brief Tsunami Warning on US West Coast

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Facts

• A powerful 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck approximately 61 miles (99 km) west-southwest of Ferndale, Calif., just before 11 am local time on Thursday, occurring at a shallow depth of 10 km (six miles).^[1][2]
• The earthquake occurred near the triple junction of the Pacific, North American, and Juan de Fuca tectonic plates, with a significant 5.8-magnitude aftershock recorded near Cobb, Calif., in Lake County.^[3]
• The earthquake prompted immediate tsunami warnings along the California and Oregon coasts — extending as far south as the San Francisco Bay area. The warnings caused widespread evacuations and temporary closure of the Transbay Tube rail line.^[3][4]
• Multiple schools in Humboldt County, Calif., including Ferndale Unified and Rio Dell School Districts, were closed or evacuated as a precautionary measure while thousands of PG&E (Pacific Gas and Electric Company) customers experienced power outages. The extent of damage is being assessed.^[2]
• The National Tsunami Warning Center canceled the tsunami warning at 11:54 am local time after determining the earthquake did not generate a destructive wave. More than 20 aftershocks of magnitude 2.5 or higher have so far been recorded.^[1][5]

Sources: ^[1]Accuweather, ^[2]KRCR, ^[3]CBS, ^[4]New York Post and ^[5]Barrons.

Narratives

• Narrative A, as provided by Nature. Climate change is driving sea-level rise, amplifying tsunami risks by increasing wave heights and extending the areas affected. Studies show that ports face greater disruptions under extreme sea-level scenarios, with closures lasting over 200 days. In response, we must integrate sea-level projections into tsunami models, strengthen port infrastructure, and develop regional adaptation strategies.
• Narrative B, as provided by Jamesmacpherson, Watts Up With That? and BuildERS. Climate alarmists continue to undermine their credibility on rising sea levels which they tie to threats like tsunamis. In fact, it's highly questionable whether the rate of sea level rise is nearly enough to make a perceptible impact in a situation like this one. Rather than fearmongering about climate chaos, a better solution is simply developing better tsunami preparedness plans and resilient infrastructure for when earthquakes invariably strike.

Predictions