No Such Thing As "Earthquake Weather" - Dr. Lucy Jones

Dr. Lucy Jones Explains Why "Earthquake Weather" Is A MythPhoto byNOAA on Unsplash

Now that we have recently experienced another earthquake in California, the words “Earthquake Watch” sprawl across the internet and news outlets. Many residents have expressed both fear and anger over these fear-mongering words. This should not instill fear or panic, as it is nothing we haven’t experienced for years in California.

This article will not downplay the importance of preparedness for such events, but it will explain what it means.

“EARTHQUAKE WATCH”

Number one, if you have lived in California for any length of time you already know we are prone to earthquakes. We have been told for years that preparedness is key, what to do, and have always been told to remain calm. In all my research, I cannot find an official report from any source that states California is on an “Earthquake Watch.” What I did find was that according to the Southern California Earthquake Data Center at Caltech, they keep firm data on recent quakes, offer earthquake information, and offer a ShakeMap which provides near-real-time maps of ground motion. These maps are used by federal, state, and local organizations, both public and private, for post-earthquake response and recovery, as well as public and scientific information.

Berkeley offers a MyShake app that will deliver an alert to your phone if ground motion is felt in your area with the potential of a 4.5 or more magnitude earthquake. This alert does not mean we will have a larger magnitude earthquake, it means there is now early warning technology for the potential of an earthquake in your area.

Dr. Lucy Jones, a renowned seismologist and considered the public voice of earthquake safety in California, stated to Fox40, “What is true is that for about half of the big quakes seen in California began with a foreshock followed by a mainshock. I am certain that the chance of a very big earthquake on the San Andreas Fault is 100% but it is hard to predict the exact location where and when an earthquake will hit.” She is quoted as stating “The last two quakes we had (of magnitudes of 4.2) were on the same fault, but there was no correlation between the two.”

Those 2 earthquakes were what started the panic of an “Earthquake Watch” which is unprecedented.

In all reality, an “Earthquake Watch” refers to reliable seismologists and geologists who “Watch Earthquakes” and provide the necessary data for public safety.

We should always be on alert for an earthquake of any magnitude, as we live in California.

“EARTHQUAKE WEATHER”

There is an age-old debate over whether earthquake weather is real. Of course, this debate was readdressed as Southern California dealt with a powerful tropical storm sweeping through the area in 2023, when a 5.1-magnitude earthquake hit north of Los Angeles. As Tropical Storm Hilary impacted So Cal, combined with a larger magnitude earthquake, many were left wondering if there is a correlation between chaotic weather and earthquakes. especially since triple-digit temperatures are being experienced in California, and the largest earthquake in three years just hit days ago.

In speaking with Dr. Lucy Jones at KCAL, she stated, “There is no particular relationship between the weather and what’s happening underground. Remember, people always try to make patterns. There’s really no way that what’s going on in the storm would affect the rate of earthquakes.”

Her sentiments were echoed by the United States Geological Survey, which tracks seismic activity worldwide. “Statistically, there is approximately an equal distribution of earthquakes in cold weather, hot weather, rain weather, etc.”

A sudden slip on a fault causes an earthquake. Not weather. Therefore, according to the experts, there is no such thing as “Earthquake Weather” as the notion came from the 4^th century BC. The iconic Greek philosopher Aristotle proposed that quakes resulted from winds trapped in subterranean caves, which were thought to trigger small tremors, as large ones were caused by the air breaking the surface. That’s a little history lesson that has carried the term “Earthquake Weather” to this day. However, as time progressed, Seismologist and Geological experts have proven there is no such thing as any weather to cause a quake.

So, there you have it, California.

Earthquake Watch and Earthquake Weather, which have great shock value and instill fear, are not realistic.

Always be prepared and calm, research before panicking, and follow me on NewsBreak. Please share this article with others who may need to be informed about the facts. Before we clear off the shelves at the grocery store, always listen to experts such as Dr. Lucy Jones.