Portland, OR –A magnitude 5.4 earthquake struck off the coast of Oregon early Wednesday, prompting quick checks for tsunami risk but no coastal warnings. The offshore quake occurred at approximately 7:00 a.m. PDT (14:00 UTC) at a depth of about 10 km, west of the central Oregon shoreline and within the Cascadia offshore zone that frequently records moderate seismic activity.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the event’s preliminary coordinates were near 44.49°N, 129.54°W. A smaller M4.8 quake was recorded roughly 18 minutes earlier in the same offshore area. USGS rated expected impacts “Green” on its PAGER scale, indicating low likelihood of damage or injuries, with only light shaking possible along parts of the Oregon and southwest Washington coasts from Astoria and Seaside to Newport and Coos Bay.
According to the National Tsunami Warning Center, there is no tsunami danger from this earthquake. The agency issued a Tsunami Information Statement around 7:05 a.m. PDT confirming that no coastal action is required for Oregon or Washington.
USGS notes aftershock potential remains. The agency’s forecast shows about a 54% chance of at least one M3+ aftershock and a 15% chance of M4+ within the next week; the probability of another M5+ is around 2%. The event is currently identified as the potential mainshock of a short sequence. A handful of “Did You Feel It?” reports had been submitted as of publication.
Residents who experienced shaking can share reports with USGS to help refine intensity maps.
