A 5.1-magnitude earthquake with its epicenter in Ojai, between Santa Barbara and Ventura, struck Southern California. A new term—the amalgamation of two extreme weather phenomena—emerged as a result of the recent weather events in California.
The hashtag #Hurriquake began trending on X (previously Twitter) after Hurricane Hilary caused an earthquake. Even Merriam-Webster acknowledged that it was a “new one for them”. Between Santa Barbara and Ventura, near Ojai, was where the earthquake’s epicenter was located.
At 2:41PM, a magnitude 5.1 earthquake occurred Southeast of Ojai on the Sisar fault. Numerous additional aftershocks have and will continue to occur. There are no immediate reports of damage at this time. For additional information, please visit https://t.co/ZPS6VFnTCp
— Ventura County Sheriff (@VENTURASHERIFF) August 20, 2023
The earthquake occurred near the Sisar fault. There were no initial reports of damage, the Ventura County Sheriff said in a social media post. Social media users were quick to point out that a storm and an earthquake are rare phenomena in the modern era.
Following the quake, #Hurriquake started to trend on X. According to seismologist Dr. Lucy Jones, there is a 5% probability that Los Angeles will experience a greater earthquake in the near future. Merriam-Webster stated on X after the term “Hurriquake” was developed, “‘Hurriquake’ is a new one for us, too.”
‘Hurriquake’ is a new one for us, too.
— Merriam-Webster (@MerriamWebster) August 20, 2023
Before moving into Nevada on Monday, Tropical Storm Hilary soaked Southern California with unprecedented rainfall, closing down schools, roadways, and businesses.
Flash flood warnings were in place until Monday morning in parts of the generally dry region, where California Governor Gavin Newsom has proclaimed a state of emergency. Multiple daily rainfall records were broken in the area, according to the Los Angeles office of the National Weather Service.
A 5.1-magnitude earthquake rattled the southern California town of Ojai, but there were no early reports of damage or injuries. People were already on edge before the storm arrived. Hilary’s floodwaters inundated roads, turning highways into rivers and leaving some drivers stranded.
Several school districts, including San Diego, Los Angeles, Pasadena, and Palmdale, postponed classes on the first day of the new academic year.
Hilary entered Mexico as a Category 4 hurricane, the second-strongest on the five-step Saffir-Simpson scale, but when it approached the United States, it was downgraded to a tropical storm and eventually to a post-tropical cyclone.
Please click on this link for further information if you’re interested:
- Hurricane Hilary Path: Warning as California Braces for Heavy Rain
- Hurricane Hilary Tracker Map: Live Updates, Rainfall Totals and More
President Joe Biden Issues Statement
According to Deadline, President Joe Biden commented on Hilary in a statement, stating:
“As soon as Tropical Storm Hilary’s path became clear, my Administration took immediate action to prepare. At my direction, FEMA deployed to California federal personnel and supplies that can be surged to impacted communities. The U.S. Coast Guard pre-positioned aircraft to allow for rapid response and search-and-rescue efforts. My Administration also deployed federal personnel to Nevada to ensure the state has additional support, and we will continue to coordinate with California, Nevada, and Arizona on any resources they might need.”
He added:
“This afternoon I spoke to California Governor Gavin Newsom about the emergency preparedness measures in place, and the initial response to Tropical Storm Hilary. I continue to be briefed on our preparedness efforts, and the storm’s potential impact – including flooding. My Administration stands ready to provide additional assistance as requested. I urge people to take this storm seriously, and listen to state and local officials.”
Joe continued by saying that the Southern California earthquake is being attentively watched. The National Weather Service reports that numerous daily rainfall records were broken in Los Angeles.
These are Palmdale Airport (2.95 inches), Lancaster (2.72 inches), Long Beach Airport (1.56 inches), Hollywood Burbank Airport (1.61 inches), Sandberg (1.52 inches), Oxnard (.77 inches), and Santa Barbara Airport (.06 inches). In California, Hilary has also raised river levels.
