Earthquake Today: A 6.0 earthquake struck Susitna, Alaska on Thanksgiving Day Thursday.
The quake struck at 8:11 a.m. about 26 miles southwest of Willow and about 37 miles from Anchorage, reports Earthquake in Alaska Center.
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) recorded a magnitude 6.0 earthquake at a shallow depth of 42.8 miles (69 km).
There are no immediate reports of damage or injuries. However, several residents took to social media platforms to share videos of the widespread tremors.
“We checked a magnitude 6.0 event that occurred at 08:11 AK time northwest of Anchorage at a depth of 43 miles. This event was felt widely across south central Alaska and as far as Fairbanks,” the Alaska Earthquake Center said.
No tsunami is expected, the National Tsunami Center said.
More than 4,600 Alaskans reported shaking, according to the “Did You Feel It” page on the United States Geological Survey (USGS) website.
The strongest earthquakes in southern Alaska are generated by the megathrust fault, which marks the contact zone between the subducting Pacific and the overriding North American plates.
Alaska experiences an average of half a dozen earthquakes of magnitude 6 or greater per year. Coastal communities in Alaska also face additional tsunami hazards from earthquakes or landslides.
Several residents went to X to report that they felt the earthquake on Thanksgiving Day.
“Happy Thanksgiving, Alaska! We all enjoyed the earthquake. Not much. It was a fun ride, about 30 seconds. Grateful for strong communities, epic feasts, and a reminder to hug our loved ones tighter,” said user X.
“Okay, I’ll get up on my day off,” said another.
“A strong earthquake shook Alaska north of Anchorage this morning (time shown is Pacific Time). About half a million people live within 100 kilometers of the epicenter,” user X said.
Weather forecast
According to the National Weather Service (NWS), Anchorage, “If you will be traveling on Seward and Sterling Highways on the Thanksgiving holiday, use caution and be aware of hazardous travel conditions.”
He added that the storm will bring heavy snow, rain and freezing rain to parts of the Kenai Peninsula from tonight into early Friday morning.
“Give yourself extra time for holiday travel and check road conditions on Alaska 511. The previous graphic has been updated to include a new advisory in effect for the South Kenai Peninsula,” the NWS said.
