An afternoon earthquake rumbled through New Jersey today, with more than 175 reporting to USGS they felt and/or heard today’s earthquake. According to USGS, a relatively magnitude 2.4 earthquake struck Whitehouse Station from a depth of 8.9 km at 3:43 pm today. People from Califon, Annandale, Chester, Clinton, Far Hills, Glen Gardner, and Lebanon reported feeling the afternoon earthquake, according to USGS.
According to USGS, earthquakes with a magnitude of 2.0 or less are rarely felt or heard by people, but once they exceed 2.0 , more and more people can feel them. While damage is possible with magnitude 3.0 events or greater, significant damage and casualties usually don’t occur until the magnitude of a seismic event rises to a 5.5 or greater rated event.
Today’s earthquake could be an aftershock from a series of earthquakes that began in April 2024. A dramatic New Jersey earthquake sequence began with a 4.8 magnitude event on Friday, April 5, 2024 and produced dozens of noticeable earthquakes in just the first week. There were a total of 53 earthquakes measured from April 5 through to April 12 with hundreds since.
Beyond the magnitude 4.8 earthquake, there were moderate aftershocks too. According to USGS, 3.7 magnitude event struck near Bedminster just before 6 pm on April 5, with 10 other earthquakes measuring as a 2.0 or greater magnitude event.
In addition to shaking up people’s nerves, the earthquake also damaged the contents of homes and businesses. In Berkeley Heights, Union County, New Jersey, the Berkeley Heights Fire Department reported that the foundation of a home there failed and that the primary earthquake on April 5 was a contributing factor. A Brooklyn middle school gym was deemed unsafe after a Department of Buildings inspection found cracks inside; the rest of the school at 370 Fountain Avenue was determined to be safe. Dozens of gas and water leaks were reported in the region, leaving people without utilities like power or water.
Today’s earthquake is the first to strike New Jersey in the last 30 days and the 11th earthquake to hit the Garden State in the last 12 months.
