Tsunami Threat Clears for Northern California and Oregon Coasts Following Powerful 7.0 Earthquake

 Tsunami Warning Lifted for California and Oregon After Powerful M7.0 Earthquake

The National Weather Service canceled the tsunami warning on Thursday morning following a magnitude 7.0 earthquake off the coast of Ferndale, California. This marked the region's most powerful earthquake since 2005.

SAN FRANCISCO – A rare tsunami warning was issued for coastal areas near the California-Oregon border, including parts of the San Francisco Bay Area, after the 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck about 60 miles offshore at 10:44 a.m. PT, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).

The quake, the strongest in nearly two decades, triggered a tsunami warning stretching from Davenport, California, to 10 miles south of Florence, Oregon. Over 4.6 million people were within the warning zone. The alert, however, was lifted just before 11 a.m.

A tsunami warning indicates the potential for dangerous flooding and powerful waves caused by underwater disruptions, typically earthquakes along tectonic plate boundaries. Geologist Pat Abbott from San Diego State University emphasized that even seemingly small tsunami waves can be extremely destructive.

"A tsunami isn’t like a single wave that rises and falls," Abbott explained. "It’s a massive sheet of water that rushes in. Even knee-deep water can sweep you away for hundreds of feet, carrying debris that can cause serious harm."

Shaking Felt Across Northern California

The earthquake was widely felt, with reports of shaking from Napa Valley to San Francisco. Emergency officials in West Berkeley issued evacuation orders for areas west of 7th Street, warning residents to move inland immediately.

San Francisco's emergency management urged residents near coastal areas: “You are in danger. Move away from the water.”

Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) temporarily halted service through the Transbay Tube but resumed operations before 11 a.m.

Geologists noted that the quake, while significant, was shallow and near the lower threshold needed to produce a tsunami. The swift tsunami warning issuance was crucial to ensuring public safety, Abbott said.

No major tsunami-related impacts were reported, but the event serves as a reminder of the region's vulnerability to seismic activity and the importance of prompt emergency response.