On July 16, 2025, a formidable 7.3‑magnitude tremor rocked the offshore region near Sand Point, Alaska, registering at a depth of approximately 12 miles beneath the seabed WikipediaFOX Weather+14FOX Weather+14YouTube+14. In the quake’s immediate aftermath, the NOAA’s Tsunami Warning Center sprang into action, issuing a tsunami warning stretching from Kennedy Entrance all the way to Unimak Pass—encompassing Kodiak Island, Chignik, and Cold Bay AP News+5FOX Weather+5Diario AS+5.
The U.S. Coast Guard, erring on the side of caution, evacuated personnel at the Kodiak outpost and readied dual air contingents to aid if needed FOX Weather. Analysts initially warned of tsunami surges reaching up to a foot, cautioning that local impacts might ensue FOX Weather. Yet, within just over an hour, the warning was scaled down to an advisory—and shortly thereafter, it was fully revoked when monitoring buoys reported a modest tidal rise of roughly three inches (0.2 feet) at Sand Point FOX 11 Los Angeles+3FOX Weather+3LiveNOW+3.
During a briefing, NOAA’s Tsunami Warning Center affirmed, “A tsunami was generated by this event, but no longer poses a threat,” although they noted minor sea-level variations could still persist FOX Weather. No damage—either seismic or wave-induced—has been detected so far .
Dr. Michael West of the Alaska Earthquake Center remarked on the region’s volatile nature: “The entire southern coast of Alaska is a gigantic earthquake zone,” adding that around 80% of U.S. quakes originate in Alaska AP News+6FOX Weather+6LiveNOW+6. While seismic activity is frequent, tremors of this severity are rarer and noticeably palpable . “Early signs suggest we’re on the lucky side today,” he observed FOX Weather.
Meteorologist Ian Oliver from Fox Weather provided an incisive breakdown: immense crustal upheavals—be it via seismic faulting or submarine landslides—can displace vast volumes of ocean water, birthing waves that rip across coastlines and trigger tsunami waves FOX Weather. Seismologists and tsunami specialists are still analyzing data from the quake, ensuring all protocols were followed and future risks are assessed thoroughly
The Fox Weather article reports that a 7.3-magnitude earthquake struck off Alaska’s coast near Sand Point on July 16, 2025. It prompted initial tsunami warnings across parts of southern Alaska, including Kodiak Island and Cold Bay. The warning was later canceled after only a minor sea level rise was recorded. No significant damage was reported. Experts highlighted Alaska’s seismic vulnerability due to its location on the Pacific Ring of Fire.
