Did you hear a boom or did you feel your house shake in the middle of the night?
It was a rare M2.6 earthquake near Archdale, NC at about 12:32 am. Many reported feeling and hearing the quake from their homes in Guilford and Randolph Counties.
The USGS initially reported the earthquake as a 2.2 magnitude. The intensity was revised Tuesday morning upward to 2.6.
The epicenter looks to be near the Guilford/Randolph County border. Some people felt the earthquake as far away as Raleigh and Charlotte according to a USGS map.
Viewers have described a long, booming sound and that it was strong enough to shake the whole house in some cases.
Guilford Metro 911 posted on their Facebook page: “Today, at approximately 12:30 am, we experienced a rapid influx of calls from people reporting a loud “explosion” they heard in their area. It has been determined that this was a result of a 2.6 magnitude earthquake according to the USGS.”
Are earthquakes rare in North Carolina?
Yes, but they can happen occasionally. On average, North Carolina typically sees a handful of earthquakes per year.
Typically, they’re small.
In recent years, similar earthquakes to this one have been reported more commonly in the NC mountains.
How much damage reported with a 2 or higher earthquake?
Typically, earthquakes around this magnitude aren’t strong enough to produce damage.
However, if you felt some significant shaking, it’s best to check to make sure.
Typically, earthquakes weaker than 2.5 do not cause any damage. But they can cause widespread mystery booms and rumblings! [WCNC]
