A tsunami was expected to hit Alaska on Friday morning, with a warning in effect, but was soon cancelled. The U.S. Geological Service issued, and later cancelled the warning for the Aleutian Islands of Alaska.

According to the Associated Press, “a 6.8-magnitude earthquake in the Pacific Ocean prompted a brief tsunami warning early Friday morning for Alaska’s Aleutian Islands.”

Shortly after the quake struck Friday morning, the Alaska Tsunami Warning Center warned the public of possible dangers ahead. “A Tsunami Warning is now in effect which includes the coastal areas of Alaska from Unimak Pass, Alaska (80 miles NE of Dutch Harbor) to Amchitka Pass, Alaska (125 miles W of Adak),” the center said.

Late Friday morning, the local tsunami warning was cancelled. “No destructive tsunami has been recorded, and No tsunami danger exists along the coasts of the U.S. west coast states, Alaska, and British Columbia. Local authorities can assume all clear upon receipt of this message,” the West Coast and Alaska Tsunami Warning Center said.

The AP said the warning was cancelled after only a small wave was recorded in the community of Atka, Alaska.”In Atka, they had a little bump of a wave, but nothing of any kind of a destructive power. Just a wave,” said Jeremy Zidek, a spokesman for the Alaska Department of Homeland Security.Residents were evacuating to higher ground in Atka but then stopped at the cancellation, Zidek told the AP.

According to the United States Geological Survey, the quake caused no injuries or damage. The temblor was so quiet that most people in the city did not realize that a quake had occurred. People in this quake-prone region are more than accustomed to the ground shaking, the Los Angeles Times reported.

On Sunday, an article by the AP reflected on the weather woes the United States has recently faced. “Nature is pummelling the United States this year with extremes.” Record setting heats, droughts, deadly tornadoes, river overflows, blizzards, and a recent tropical storm that cost $35 billion in damages are the events that characterize the U.S. recent weather patterns.

“I’m hoping for a break. I’m tired of working this hard. This is ridiculous,’’ said Jeff Masters, a meteorologist who runs Weather Underground, a meteorology service that tracks strange and extreme weather.

“I’m not used to seeing all these extremes all at once in one year.’’  While the quake in Alaska Friday turned out to be minor and a tsunami never developed, it’s still another weather incident to add to the U.S.’s action packed year of weather.

gmwnz / Shutterstock.com

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About the author

Mary Duke
My interests are publishing, literature, storytelling, current events and multimedia. I am concerned with issues of social justice and encouraging community engagement. I am pursuing a Master's in arts administration. I enjoy reading, writing and hiking.