IF AN ASTEROID HIT THE WENATCHEE VALLEY, HOW WOULD IT AFFECT THE REST OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON?

IF AN ASTEROID HIT THE WENATCHEE VALLEY, HOW WOULD IT AFFECT THE REST OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON?

A couple of months ago you might remember that NASA was able to successfully crash their DART (Double Asteroid Redirection Test) spacecraft into the asteroid Dimorphos, which deflected the 530 foot rock off its course. The NASA scientist cried (with joy) like I cried (like a baby who needed their diapers changed) watching the Steve Carell/Keira Knightly romantic/drama, Seeking a Friend for the End of the World. 

Then a couple of weeks ago I found this app that shows you the affects of an asteroid crashing anywhere you choose to have it land on the planet. When I brought up this app on the radio, listeners called in and surprised me saying that they would crash the asteroid into their ex’s house. Ouch! Well. Actually, it’s a massive rock hurling towards the ex’s house at 38,000 mph. That’s gonna be more than just an boo-boo. But, holy crap, people! I even don’t think Johnny Deep would have a boulder the size of an old home from a farmland in Kansas land on Amber Heard leaving behind some red ruby slippers.

When I loaded the app onto my iPhone, I OF COURSE had to crash an asteroid into Wenatchee to see the aftermath. Come on. Admit it. You would too! I found that there are several stages. Depending on the kind of rock (stone asteroid), the size of the rock (1,500 feet), the angle of the impact (45 degrees from the east), there are different scenarios that can happen.

First, there is of course the crater that will take out all of Wenatchee and parts of East Wenatchee. Hang on, those of you who live in Rock Island. There’s the affect of the river waters that would flood sounding areas. Then there’s the fireball that would afflict 3rd degree burns on Leavenworth and Quincy.

The shock wave would cause lung damage and rupture eardrums to anyone in Chelan and Ellensburg. And the 6.0 Earthquake would be felt from Seattle to Spokane, and from Tri-Cities to the Canadian border patrol officers.

The app didn’t take in consideration that we’re up against the Cascades. The results would be slightly different if it landed in Seattle. Wenatchee would feel some wind and heat as it rides up the side of the Cascades and through the canyons that would seep into the Wenatchee Valley. And we would definitely feel the Earthquake. 

Now, that’s if the asteroid hit land. The chances of an asteroid splash landing into the ocean is much greater, but perhaps not less dangerous, and that’s a whole bunch of other stats. You want to see this for yourself, don’t you. Here’s the link for ya. Be kind to your ex.  https://neal.fun/asteroid-launcher/?source=external