An earthquake occurred this morning in southern New Hampshire, close to the Massachusetts border north of Boston. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) registered the incident at 10:13 AM, noting it was a low-magnitude earthquake measuring 1.8 on the Richter scale and originating from a depth of 5.0 km. While classified as weak, nearly two dozen individuals reported feeling or hearing the quake using the USGS “Did you feel it?” website.
USGS indicates that earthquakes of magnitude 2.0 or lower are typically not felt or heard by the general population, but the felt reports tend to increase significantly when the magnitude rises above that threshold. Damage is primarily associated with seismic events of magnitude 3.0 and above, while considerable damage and loss of life generally occur only when earthquakes reach a magnitude of 5.5 or greater.
Today’s earthquake adds to the list of minor tremors that have shaken the eastern United States recently, including events in New Jersey, Georgia, and Tennessee in the days leading up to this incident. According to current reports, these earthquakes are not believed to be interconnected.
Historically, New England has experienced a variety of small earthquakes since colonial times, with larger quakes resulting in occasional damage. The region can expect a moderate earthquake every few decades, while minor tremors are felt approximately twice a year. Notable historical quakes include those that affected the Boston area three times between the mid-1700s, and incidents that impacted New York City in 1737 and 1884. The largest earthquakes in New England’s recorded history were a 6.5 magnitude quake in Vermont or New Hampshire in 1638 and a 5.8 magnitude quake in 1755 off the coast of Cape Ann, which caused significant damage in Boston. The last occurrence in the region to lead to moderate damage was a 5.6 magnitude earthquake in 1940 in central New Hampshire.
According to the Northeast States Emergency Consortium, a total of 320 earthquakes have been documented in New England between 1638 and 2016, with the major earthquakes noted in 1638 and 1940 leading to consequential damage. This historical context underscores the region’s geological activity and the importance of preparedness should stronger seismic events occur in the future.