Q: When will the next magnitude 9.0 Cascadia subduction zone earthquake happen?
A: There is currently no way to reliably predict when magnitude 9.0 Cascadia subduction zone earthquake will happen. According to the Oregon Office of Emergency Management, Oregon has the potential for a 9.0+ magnitude earthquake caused by the Cascadia Subduction Zone and a resulting tsunami of up to 100 feet in height that will impact the coastal area.
However, scientists are predicting that there is about a 37% chance that a megathrust earthquake of 7.1+ magnitude in this fault zone will occur in the next 50 years. This event will be felt throughout the Pacific Northwest.
The Cascadia Subduction Zone is a 600-mile fault that runs from northern California up to British Columbia.