Only one of these scenarios will occur within the next week. These scenarios include the possibility of earthquakes on and off the San Andreas Fault.
Scenario One (Most likely, about 80% chance): Earthquakes continue but none will be larger than magnitude 5.4 within the next 7 days.
The most likely scenario is that the rate of earthquakes in the swarm will decrease over the next 7 days. Some moderately sized earthquakes may occur (magnitude in the range M4.5-M5.4), which could cause localized damage, particularly in weak structures. Smaller magnitude earthquakes (M3.0+) may be felt by people close to the epicenters.
Scenario Two (Less likely, about 19% chance): A larger earthquake (magnitude 5.5 to 6.9) could occur within the next 7 days.
A less likely scenario is a somewhat larger earthquake (up to a M6.9). Earthquakes of this size could cause damage around the Salton Sea area and would be followed by aftershocks that would increase the number of smaller earthquakes per day.
Scenario Three (Least Likely, approximately 1% chance): A much larger earthquake (magnitude 7 or higher) could occur within the next 7 days.
A much less likely scenario, compared with the previous two scenarios, is that the ongoing swarm could trigger an earthquake significantly larger than the M4.6 that occurred on the 10 August (i.e., M7.0 and above). While this is a very small probability, if such an earthquake were to occur, it would have serious impacts on communities nearby and would be followed by aftershocks that would increase the number of smaller earthquakes per day.
Let’s get it over with. Underground nuclear testing right along the fault. The longer it takes the more severe the damage.
“there is approximately a 1 in 10,000 chance of a magnitude 7+ earthquake”
There are 86,400 seconds /day
in 7 days that = 604,800 seconds
1/10000 chance of 7+ magnitude earthquake
Therefore there is a chance of a 7+ magnitude earthquake every 60 seconds
Possibility #4: We fall right into the frikkin’ sea.