This morning at 11:49 am, a powerful 1.7 magnitude earthquake shook the North Carolina Mountains near Ashville, about 100 miles west of Charlotte.
According to the USGS, the quake had an epicenter of 35.304°N 82.998°W and a depth of 4.8 km.
Earthquakes have been increasing in frequency around the Charlotte region over the past few years. Last year, we experienced the largest earthquake in over 100 years when a 5.1 magnitude quake hit Sparta, NC, and since then, dozens of aftershocks have continued to rattle our state.
According to USGS.gov, “Moderately damaging earthquakes strike the inland Carolinas every few decades, and smaller earthquakes are felt about once each year or two.”
Have you felt any of the quakes?