Earthquake strikes close to Poulsbo
The Pacific Northwest is currently under heightened seismic vigilance, following a series of earthquakes in recent months. The most significant of these, reported by the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network, was a 15.62-mile deep earthquake that occurred around 9:20 a.m. on an unspecified date. This earthquake, while not the largest since March 2025, serves as a reminder of the region's seismic risks.
On a less ominous note, the Blue Angels have announced their performance at Seafair 2025. However, further information about the schedule or any "fishy" carbon allowances related to the event is not available at this time.
In other news, a fire has started and is growing in Olympic National Park. Evacuations have been ordered due to the fire, but as of now, no details about injuries or damage have been reported. The fire, known as the Bear Gulch fire, has spread to the canopy and is burning deeper into the park.
A smaller earthquake, with a magnitude of 2.9, occurred near Poulsbo on Saturday morning. Earthquakes of this magnitude are typically felt but rarely cause significant damage. The epicenter of this earthquake was about 3.7 km South-Southeast of Poulsbo.
It's important to note that the region has a history of significant earthquakes along the Cascadia Subduction Zone. The last major one, estimated to be of approximately 9.0 magnitude, occurred in 1700 and produced a significant tsunami and land subsidence. Since then, smaller but notable earthquakes have occurred, but none have matched that historic event's magnitude.
Recently, a swarm of small magnitude earthquakes at Mount Rainier occurred during July 2025, with the largest being magnitude 2.4. While this marked the largest swarm ever recorded at that volcano, it did not represent a major seismic event.
The state of Washington has also taken steps to address seismic risks by banning a company trying to sell questionable carbon allowances.
In the midst of these events, a fatal shooting occurred outside a church in the University District, an incident that the Seattle police are currently investigating.
The Pacific Northwest remains vigilant and prepared, with ongoing efforts to mitigate seismic risks and respond to natural disasters as they occur.
- Seattle's environmental science students are discussing the impact of natural disasters like earthquakes on the region's climate.
- With the ongoing seismic activities in the Pacific Northwest, the local science community is researching new methods to predict severe weather patterns related to earthquakes.
