By Jack Phillips
Contributing author

A magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck off the coast of Northern California on Thursday, triggering a brief tsunami warning, according to U.S. officials.

The U.S. Geological Survey reported that the quake struck about 60 miles west-southwest of Ferndale, a city about 100 miles south of the California-Oregon border.

A tsunami warning was issued immediately after the quake, but was lifted about 50 minutes later. It is not clear whether any damage or injuries were reported in connection with the earthquake.

The National Weather Service office in San Francisco had warned of possible tsunami impacts on social media: “We are still waiting for orders of magnitude water rises.”

The earthquake struck at around 10:44 a.m. local time at a depth of about 6 miles. Initially a magnitude of 6.6 was tentatively recorded, but the USGS increased it to 7.0 shortly afterwards.

According to the USGS, after the initial magnitude 7.0 quake, several aftershocks of smaller magnitude occurred in the area offshore.

About three minutes after the magnitude 7.0 earthquake, a magnitude 2.5 earthquake also struck inland about 200 miles southeast in Cobb, central California, the USGS reported. Cobb tremor was revised downward from 5.8 by the USGS.

According to the agency’s website, residents in Northern California and California’s Central Valley reported feeling the tremor. Users of the social media platform X also reported vibrations and other shocks.

Some users also posted screenshots of National Weather Service tsunami warnings they received on their phones before they were lifted.

“A series of strong waves and strong currents may affect shorelines in your area. You are in danger. Stay away from coastal waters,” the notice said. “Now go to higher ground or inland. Stay away from the coast until local authorities say it is safe to return.”

Deanne Criswell, director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, was notified of the quake and is “monitoring the situation” in California, an official confirmed.

“Please listen to local officials and heed their warnings,” FEMA spokeswoman Jaclyn Rothenberg wrote on X.

Bay Area Rapid Transit, which operates subways in the San Francisco and Oakland areas, said it is experiencing service disruptions due to the earthquake and tsunami warning in Ferndale.

“There is a large delay in all directions system-wide. Due to an earthquake report, there is currently no Transbay subway service to or from San Francisco. Please seek alternative means of transport,” the transport operator said.