Somerset County Shakes (Just a Little Bit!)

Well, did you feel it? For some residents in Somerset County, Sunday evening brought a rather unexpected, albeit very brief, jolt. We're talking about a small earthquake, a 1.7 magnitude tremor, that quietly made its presence known just before 7:30 p.m., centered not too far from Bedminster Township. It wasn't the kind of shake that sends things flying off shelves, thank goodness, but for those directly above it, it was certainly a moment that made them wonder, "What on earth was that?"

The U.S. Geological Survey, our go-to for all things seismic, initially pegged it slightly higher, at a 2.0 magnitude, but later refined their assessment to a 1.7. This little rumble originated about 2.5 miles southeast of Peapack, at a relatively shallow depth of 4.7 kilometers. When we talk about earthquakes, a 1.7 is truly on the smaller end of the spectrum. Many folks probably went about their Sunday evenings completely unaware, while others reported feeling a distinct, low-frequency vibration – a quick shudder that passed as quickly as it arrived.

Now, I know what many of you might be thinking: "Oh no, not again! Is this an aftershock from the big one in April?" It's a fair question, especially considering the 4.8 magnitude earthquake that really shook us all on April 5th, centered over near Whitehouse Station. That one was widely felt across multiple states and definitely left an impression. However, according to the USGS's seismic maps, this latest tremor isn't directly linked as an aftershock. It appears to be an independent event, just another reminder that our little corner of New Jersey, while not a major fault line, does experience its fair share of geological murmurs.

Thankfully, there have been no reports of damage whatsoever from this particular Sunday evening event. And really, with a magnitude of 1.7, that's precisely what we'd expect. These minor quakes are actually quite common in the eastern U.S., often going unnoticed by most unless you happen to be right on top of them, or perhaps, like many of us, you've become a bit more attuned to the earth's subtle shifts after our more significant experience earlier this year.

So, while it might have caused a brief moment of curiosity or even a tiny bit of alarm for a few, this recent Somerset County quake was, in the grand scheme of things, just a gentle reminder that the ground beneath our feet is never entirely still. It just goes to show, sometimes the earth whispers before it decides to speak a little louder!