On December 5th (local time), a 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck off the northern coast of California, USA, prompting a tsunami warning for about 5 million residents living in northern California and coastal areas of Oregon. According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the earthquake occurred at 10:44 AM near the coast, approximately 100 km southwest of Ferndale, California, at a depth of 10 km. The tremor was felt as far south as San Francisco, and several smaller aftershocks were reported.
The National Tsunami Warning Center indicated that tsunami activity could already be affecting the coastline and was expected to reach San Francisco by noon. However, about an hour after the earthquake, the warning center lifted the alert, stating there was no destructive tsunami. The specific damage caused by this earthquake has not yet been determined. The weather agency warned that tsunamis consist of waves that can last for several hours, and the first wave may not be the largest.