FERNDALE, USA — Northern California’s coastline endured a series of aftershocks into Friday morning following a powerful 7.0-magnitude earthquake that struck off Cape Mendocino in Humboldt County on Thursday, December 5, 2024, morning.
More than 120 aftershocks of magnitude 2.5 or higher have been recorded since the initial quake, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), along with dozens of smaller tremors.
The largest quake, which hit at 10:44 a.m., was the strongest to shake the state since the Ridgecrest earthquake in 2019.
While there have been no reports of major damage, the quake triggered a tsunami warning that briefly alarmed residents across a wide swath of California’s coastline.
Tsunami Warning Sparks Concern
The National Weather Service (NWS) issued the tsunami warning minutes after the earthquake, but it was cancelled approximately 70 minutes later when no significant tsunami threat materialised.
On Friday morning, the NWS Bay Area addressed public concerns in a detailed thread on X, explaining the rapid decision-making process behind issuing such warnings.
“There are a lot of questions, frustration, and even some anger about how it all unfolded,” the agency posted.
The NWS explained that tsunami warnings must often be issued with incomplete data due to time constraints.
In the case of local tsunamis, the warning must be made swiftly to maximise evacuation time.
“The downside of this speed requirement is that the [National Tsunami Warning Center] does not have the luxury of waiting to actually observe a tsunami wave before the first warning is needed,” the post read.
Aftershock Forecast
The USGS estimates a 53% chance of one or more aftershocks exceeding magnitude 5 in the coming week.
It also predicts up to 130 aftershocks of magnitude 3 or higher during the same period.
“The number of aftershocks will decrease over time, but a large aftershock can temporarily increase the number of aftershocks,” the USGS stated on its aftershock forecast page.
A Familiar Event for Ferndale
For the community of Ferndale and the surrounding area, dealing with significant earthquakes around the holiday season has become a recurring event.
Thursday’s earthquake marked the third major quake in the region since 2020 to strike near the holidays.
While no severe damage has been reported, the quake served as a reminder of the region’s seismic vulnerability.
Known as California’s “earthquake country,” the area lies at the confluence of three tectonic plates, making it one of the most seismically active regions in the United States.
As aftershocks continue to ripple through the region, local officials are urging residents to remain vigilant and prepared for potential future activity.
For those living in California’s North Coast, the events of this week underscore the delicate balance of living in a region that is both beautiful and geologically active.
