Here's How Northeast Quake Stacks Up Against Prior Tremors To Rattle Region

As nerves were still settling following an earthquake that rattled much of the Northeast late Friday morning, April 5, social media was flooded with lifelong residents proclaiming the tremor was the strongest they’d ever felt.

A look at the strongest earthquakes in the Northeast since 2000.
Photo Credit: *AccuWeather.com*

Michael Mashburn

04/07/2024 6:30 a.m.

“That might’ve been the biggest earthquake I’ve ever felt because the whole house was actually shaking. Pretty crazy,” one user posted on X.

Though Friday’s magnitude 4.8 quake was among the largest to hit the Northeast in the last century, it is classified as a "light" quake on the Richter scale, which runs from a 1.0 magnitude (micro) to 9.9 (extreme).

Original Report: 4.8 Magnitude Earthquake Hits New York, Northeast

While certainly rare, New York has experienced its share of noticeable shakers over the years.

The strongest with an epicenter in New York, a magnitude 5.8, occurred in Lawrence County in the town of Massena on Sept. 5, 1944. The quake was felt as far away as New York City and Boston and caused approximately $2 million in damage.

Below are some of the strongest quakes ever felt in the Northeast, according to historical data from the USGS:

5.8 – Louisa County, Virginia on Aug. 23, 2011: This quake was felt throughout New York and Connecticut, and resulted in office buildings being evacuated in New York City.

5.3 – Clinton County, NY near Au Sable Forks on April 4, 2002

5.3 – Tamworth, New Hampshire on Dec. 20, 1940

5.2 – Perth, Canada on Feb. 10, 1914

5.1 – New Jersey on Nov. 30, 1783

4.9 – Adirondack Region, NY on Nov. 4, 1877

4.6 – Lake Champlain area, NY on May 28, 1897

4.0 – Westchester County, NY near Ardsley on Oct. 22, 1985

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