Hurricane OLI Update 3 – February 5

TC Oli Hits French Polynesia

Tropical Cyclone OLI (P12) Strengthens to a Cat 4B Hurricane on FEWW New Hurricane Scale

Background:

• Cyclone OLI May Target Tourist Spots
• Hurricane OLI Update 1 – February 4
• Hurricane OLI Update 2 – February 4

Oli Strikes

OLI struck French Polynesia a few hours ago.  On the main island of Tahiti, hundreds of people abandoned their homes to escape the full wrath of the strengthening cyclone.  Roads harbors and airports were closed throughout the popular holiday island resorts, according to various reports.

Hurricane OLI Details

• Time/Date: 5 February 2010 –  00:01 UTC
• Position:  Near 20.4ºS, 151.4ºW
• Sustained Movement: 155  degrees
• Forward speed: 22 km/hr (~ 12 kt)
• Tropical Cyclone OLI has been tracking South-Southeast over the past 6 hours.
  

Current Wind Distribution:

• Maximum Sustained winds: 227 Km (122.4 kt)
• Maximum Gusts:  ~ 280km/hr (~ 150 kt)

Wave Height and Location:

• Maximum significant wave height: 8.5 m (26 ft)
• Location: OLI was located about about 350 km (~ 190 NM) SW of Tahiti
  
• Sources: CIMSS and Others

Cat 4B Hurricane OLI – Visible IR image. Date as inset. Source: UW-CIMSS. Click image to enter CIMSS Tropical Cyclone portal.

Related Links:

• Hurricane OLI Update 2 – February 4
• Cyclone OLI May Target Tourist Spots
• Hurricane OLI Update 1 – February 4
• FEWW New Hurricane Scale

Strong Earthquake Strikes Offshore N Calif

Earthquake measuring up to 6.1 Mw strikes offshore  northern California

Strong earthquake measuring up to 6.1Mw struck offshore northern California about 56 km (35 miles) WNW (282°) of Petrolia, CA, Thursday, February 4, 2010 at 20:20 UTC.

The earthquake was felt as far north as  Oregon’s Grant Passs, south to  San Francisco and east to Redding, reports said.

The quake occurred about 27km (17 miles) southwest of the M6.7 January 10 (UTC) quake that shook Ferndale and Humboldt Hill, CA.

Earthquake Location

Click image to enlarge. Source: NEIC/USGS

Tsunami Info

Although the quake struck at a depth of about 11 km, it wasn’t strong enough to create a significant tsunami.

Injury/Damage

Items reportedly fell from walls and shelves but there was no reports of serious damage, or any injuries as of posting.

The January 10 quake (UTC) caused at least $40 million in damage and a serious injury when an elderly woman broke her hip in a fall, Mercury News reported.

Earthquake Details:

• Magnitude as reported by USGS: 5.9 [Max magnitude estimated by Fire-Earth: 6.1Mw]
• Date-Time:
  • Thursday, February 04, 2010 at 20:20:21 UTC
  • Thursday, February 04, 2010 at 12:20:21 PM at epicenter
• Location: 40.431°N, 124.929°W
• Depth: 11.2 km (7.0 miles)
• Region: OFFSHORE NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
• Distances:
  • 56 km (35 miles) WNW (282°) from Petrolia, CA
  • 59 km (36 miles) WSW (254°) from Ferndale, CA
  • 68 km (42 miles) WSW (256°) from Fortuna, CA
  • 76 km (47 miles) WSW (239°) from Eureka, CA
  • 363 km (225 miles) NW (306°) from Sacramento, CA

• Location Uncertainty: horizontal +/- 1.4 km (0.9 miles); depth +/- 2 km (1.2 miles)
• Source:
  • California Integrated Seismic Net:
  • USGS Caltech CGS UCB UCSD UNR
• Event ID: nc71348851

Shakemap

Earthquake Shakemap. Source: CISN/USGS

Seismic hazard Map

Click image to enlarge.

USGS Quaternary Fault and Fold Database for the United States: Eureka 1° x 2° Sheet

Click image to enlarge.


Cascadia Subduction Zone

Cascadia Subduction Zone. Source: USGS

Quake Animations

• USA
• World

• California/Nevada

• San Francisco Bay Area
• Los Angeles Area
• Long Valley Area
• Parkfield Area

• Intermountain West

• Utah/Yellowstone
• Yellowstone National Park

Related Links:

• Strong Quake Strikes Offshore N California
  Volcanoes
  Earthquakes
  FEWW Volcano Links
  California Earthquake Forecast – Update 3