Largest quake yet hits WA's Mount Rainier in ongoing ‘earthquake swarm’

lol ur fucked

Awesome, let's get this over with.

A 7.3 magnitude earthquake struck near Sand Point, Alaska, on Wednesday, prompting a tsunami warning from the National Weather Service.

The warning was later downgraded to an advisory, according to the agency.

Sand Point is located on northwestern Popof Island, off the Alaska Peninsula. It's approximately 600 miles southwest of Anchorage, Alaska.

The earthquake struck 54 miles south of Sand Point, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).

The tsunami advisory is in effect from South Alaska and the Alaska Peninsula to Kennedy Entrance and Unimak Pass, Alaska, on the Pacific Coast.

In addition to Sand Point, Alaskan cities Cold Bay and Kodiak are included in the advisory area.

Kodiak Police told ABC News sirens sounded in the city, which indicates to move to high ground. Any impacts in the area would be expected to arrive at approximately 2:40 p.m.

There have not been any reports of damage from the earthquake in Kodiak, according to police.

Michael Ashley of Cold Bay Lodge told ABC News he was working outside when he noticed things shaking, but says it "wasn't very intense."

Cold Bay was under the tsunami warning, but Ashley said "residents are not concerned since we are 100 feet above sea level." He says these large quakes are common for the area in the summer.

Damn, maybe this is why all the bears were leaving Yellowstone en masse. 😯

Geologists discovered a new blue water spring at Yellowstone National Park that likely formed after a series of "mildly explosive events," the United States Geological Survey said.

The new pool was found in a subbasin at the Norris Geyser Basin, which is the park's hottest and oldest thermal area. Scientists conducting routine maintenance in the area unearthed the spring in April, according to a July 14 release from USGS.

The hole is about 13 feet in diameter and 1 foot below the rim, USGS said. The water in the pool, which is light blue in color, was measured at 109°F.

USGS said satellite images indicate the spring formed in a series of events between December 2024 and February 2025.

Geologists believe it formed as a result of a hydrothermal explosion, which is when hot water within a volcano flashes to steam, breaking rocks and throwing them into the air.

Yellowstone's new blue water spring "probably formed in a series of mildly explosive events" between late December 2024 and February 2025, USGS said.

R4, that rumor was debunked.

Oh, thanks, then, R6.

☺️

It sounded mysterious and possibly world-ending. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Interesting video about the history of Mount Rainier's eruptions & lahars (mudflows).

I couldn't help but notice that although it's been 5,600 years since the last event (Osceola Mudflow)....the state has seen fit to post "Volcano Evacuation Route" signs on roads, towns have installed sirens, etc. (Howdy, Texas!)

R7, I looked it up only because the idea fascinated me and I wanted more detail. I was both disappointed and relieved that it wasn't true.

Mt. Rainier is one of the most majestic mountains on earth. Its scale is hard to grasp from photos. It is about 100 miles from Seattle but seems to hang over the city at times.