M5.6 earthquake in Oklahoma felt across the entire midwest, from North Dakota through Houston

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A M5.6 earthquake struck near Pawnee, Oklahoma on September 3, 2016.

According to press reports the quake was felt virtually across the entire midwest, from North Dakota through Houston. That’s a 1,300 mile stretch!

At 7:02:44 am local time, a major, M5.6 earthquake hit 14km northwest of Pawnee, Oklahoma. It rattled a swath of the Great Plains, from Kansas City, Missouri, to central Oklahoma. It was the strongest quake to hit Oklahoma in years.

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via USGS

Immediate Facebook post reports indicated pictures fell off walls as far away as Tulsa. Others felt it in Norman and Wewoka in Seminole County. It lasted roughly 15 seconds. Saturday morning’s earthquake is the largest in Oklahoma since a 5.6 magnitude quake near Prague. That quake was followed by 10 aftershocks.

According to press reports the quake was felt virtually across the entire midwest, from North Dakota through Houston – a 1,300 mile stretch.

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People as far north as N Dakota all the way down to Houston report feeling earthquake. That’s 1200+ mile distance! via Twitter

Aftershocks lasted for several minutes according to the USGS.

The quake was especially felt in Oklahoma City, while residents as far as Dallas said the shaking continued for at least 10 seconds. The earthquake was shallow, with a focus just 4.1 miles below the surface; such quakes convey more energy to the land surface; as the USGS notes the recent quake in Italy started at a 10km depth.

What is notable about the quake is that in recent months as a result of the decline in fracking, the number of quakes especially in the Dallas region, had declined significantly.

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Since fracking activity went to near zero when oil price crashed very little in quake activity around DFW in 2016. via Twitter

It’s not yet clear whether the earthquake caused any injuries or damage. Earthquakes hit Oklahoma frequently, but they are typically below 4.0 magnitude and rarely are felt in the northeast part of the state, according to Tulsa World.

People in Kansas City, Missouri, Fayetteville, Arkansas, and Norman, Oklahoma, all reported feeling the earthquake at about 7:05 a.m. Saturday.

Another M5.6 quake rattled 103km W of Ferndale, California on September 3, 2016 and a M3.1 tremor hit Nevada a few hours later.

Something big in coming in. Get ready for the worse to come!

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