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Moderate Quake Shakes New York; 1,500+ Report Feeling it to USGS

by Weatherboy Team Meteorologist - April 24, 2023

The 3.6 earthquake struck in western New York nearby where a weaker earthquake struck on April 14. More than 1,400 people reported feeling Sunday's earthquake. Image: USGS
The 3.6 earthquake struck in western New York nearby where a weaker earthquake struck on April 14. More than 1,500 people reported feeling Sunday’s earthquake. Image: USGS




Another moderate earthquake struck western New York on Sunday; according to USGS, more than 1,000 people reported feeling shaking to their “Did you feel it?” reporting tool on their website.  The magnitude 3.6 event, the second strongest earthquake to strike the area in recent moths, struck at a depth of 8.9 km at 2:10 pm ET just outside of  Watertown near Adams Center.  This is the same general location where a magnitude 2.6 earthquake struck last week on April 14.

Six other earthquakes also struck during the day not far from the largest; all are around Adams Center.  Image: USGS
Six other earthquakes also struck during the day not far from the largest; all are around Adams Center. Image: USGS

Today’s earthquake was the strongest earthquake to strike New York in the last 30 days, but wasn’t as strong as a 3.8 earthquake which struck two months ago in West Seneca. That 3.8 earthquake was the strongest earthquake to hit New York in decades.

While 1,599  people reported feeling shaking in New York today to USGS, there have been no reports of any damage or injuries.

According to the Northeast States Emergency Consortium (NESEC), New York is a state with a very long  history of earthquake activity that has touched all parts of the state.  Since the first earthquake that was recorded in  December 19, 1737, New York has had over 550 earthquakes centered within its state boundaries through 2016. It also has experienced strong ground shaking from earthquakes centered in nearby U.S. states and Canadian provinces.  Most of the earthquakes in New York have taken place in the greater New York City area, in the Adirondack Mountains region, and in the western part of the state.



New York has seen the most number of damaging earthquakes in the northeast in the period 1678-2016. Image: NESEC
New York has seen the most number of damaging earthquakes in the northeast in the period 1678-2016. Image: NESEC

While many of the earthquakes to hit New York are weak or mild like today’s, some have been damaging. Of the 551 earthquakes recorded between 1737 and 2016, 5 were considered “damaging”: 1737, 1929, 1944, 1983, and 2002.

While most of New York’s earthquakes have been in the Upstate, New York City has also seen damaging earthquakes over the years. At about 10:30 pm on December 18, 1737, an earthquake with an unknown epicenter hit New York with an estimated magnitude of 5.2. That quake damaged some chimneys in the city. On August 10, 1884, another 5.2 earthquake struck; this quake cracked chimneys and plaster, broke windows, and objects were thrown from shelves throughout not only New York City, but  surrounding towns in New York and New Jersey too.  The shaking from the 1884 earthquake was felt as far west as Toledo, Ohio and as far east as Penobscot Bay, Maine.  It was also reported felt by some in Baltimore, Maryland.

New York is no stranger to earthquakes; this map shows the epicenter of every earthquake from 1975 to 2017. Image: NESEC
New York is no stranger to earthquakes; this map shows the epicenter of every earthquake from 1975 to 2017. Image: NESEC

 

 

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