Weather
If you were in Tahoe yesterday, you probably felt a bit of a shakedown right around 8:47pm. You may have also felt some strong aftershocks early this morning.
The US Geological Survey has reported that a 5.7 magnitude Earthquake hit Lake Tahoe yesterday. The strongest aftershock reported was a 4.9 that occurred early Friday morning. In some areas the quake was felt very acutely. (learn how the richter scale works: Richter)
“All of a sudden things started falling off the shelves, mirrors fell off the wall, vases fell down to the floor, everything started crashing. It felt like the end of our world.” – Susan Shepard in Greenville, CA (as told to the Redding Record-Searchlight)
So far, there have been no reports of structural damage nor injuries.
The epicenter of this earthquake was 6 miles WNW of Greenville & 26 miles SW of Susanville. The above map shows the quakes exact location as the black star and displays how strongly the quake was felt in other regions of the state. Yesterday’s earthquake was felt as far away as San Francisco and Sacramento.
“Chief meteorologist Mark Finan at NBC affiliate KCRA said the quake was felt at the station’s studios in downtown Sacramento, about 145 miles south of the epicenter.” – nbcnews.com
Tahoe has a long history of earthquakes and believe it or not, Tsunamis. Scientists at the American Geophysical Union state that a tsunami in Lake Tahoe is long overdue.
“The West Tahoe Fault is capable of producing a magnitude-7.3 earthquake and tsunamis up to 30 feet (10 meters) high in the clear blue lake, where million-dollar homes line the shore, researchers said.” – livescience.com
Large earthquakes strike Tahoe’s west fault every 3-4 thousand years. The last big quake in Tahoe was over 4,500 years ago making Tahoe’s west fault well overdue.
A Paleo Landslide Into Lake Tahoe Generated a Tsunami over 100 meters high. Material from
the slide can still be seen on the lake bottom. Source: http://es.ucsc.edu/~ward/
A new fault was also recently discovered (2011) in the Truckee area right underneath the Martis Creek dam. This ‘new’ fault is 22 miles long and capable of a 6.9 magnitude earthquake.
We’re glad that no one was hurt in this earthquake & that Tahoe people got to feel the rock and roll of what it’s like to live on an active slice of Planet Earth.
Grew up in socal so it brought back memories. Kinda missed those small ones a big one up here would destroy 70% of the basin with all the old buildings
Quincy was rockin.
Felt it in Reno, seemed pretty chill
ah, that was mellow
Was my first. shit is scary
Flet it. Blood pressure up. Heart rate up.