2024 Cape Mendocino earthquake facts for kids
| UTC time | 2024-12-05 18:44:19 |
|---|---|
| USGS-ANSS | ComCat |
| Local date | December 5, 2024 |
| Local time | 10:44 PST (UTC−08:00) |
| Magnitude | 7.0 Mww |
| Depth | 0.6 km (0 mi) |
| Epicenter | 40°22′12″N 125°01′30″W / 40.370°N 125.025°W |
| Type | Strike-slip |
| Areas affected | North Coast, California, United States |
| Max. intensity | VIII (Severe) |
On December 5, 2024, a strong 7.0 magnitude earthquake happened off the coast of Humboldt County, California. It struck at 10:44 AM PST. People in northern California and the Central Valley felt the shaking.
Contents
Understanding Earth's Plates: Tectonic Setting
Near Cape Mendocino, three huge pieces of Earth's crust, called tectonic plates, meet up. This area is very active with earthquakes. The Mendocino Fracture Zone is like a big crack in the Earth. It separates two of these plates: the Pacific Plate and the Gorda plate.
To the south, the Pacific Plate and the North American plate rub against each other. This happens along the famous San Andreas Fault. To the north, the Gorda Plate is pushing under the North American Plate. This area is called the Cascadia subduction zone. Earthquakes in the Gorda Plate happen because of this pushing and squeezing.
The 2024 Cape Mendocino Earthquake
The earthquake's starting point, called its epicenter, was in the ocean. It was about 62 kilometers (38 miles) west of Petrolia. The earthquake happened very close to the surface, at a depth of only 0.6 kilometers (0.4 miles).
A similar earthquake happened in this area in 1980. That one also had the same type of movement. Experts say this earthquake happened along the Mendocino Fracture Zone. This is where the three tectonic plates meet. It is the biggest earthquake to hit California since 2019. It is also the strongest to hit the northwestern coast of California since 2005. People as far away as Phoenix, Arizona and Vancouver, Canada reported feeling the ground shake.
Impact and Damage Caused by the Quake
After the earthquake, over 10,000 homes and businesses in Humboldt County lost electricity. Early reports showed that some houses in the Eel River Valley region moved off their foundations.
See also
- List of earthquakes in California
- List of earthquakes in 2024
- 1700 Cascadia earthquake
