Tuesday night, a 5.2 magnitude earthquake struck about 88 miles north of Los Angeles, originating from a fault in the Central Valley that’s yet to be mapped.
While those in Bakersfield and the surrounding areas felt strong jolts, here in L.A., the experiences varied from long, rolling waves to no noticeable movement.
Why you might or might not feel an earthquake
When an earthquake occurs, waves of energy are released and travel through the earth. The larger the quake and the closer it is to the surface, the more likely you are to experience movement nearby.
Back in 1952, the 7.5 magnitude quake in Kern County originated in the same general area as the event last night. But in that quake, buildings were damaged in L.A. and San Diego, and ground motions were felt as far away as Nevada and Arizona, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
Tuesday’s quake, which barely jostled L.A., was 200 times smaller and released 2,818 times less energy than the Kern County temblor.
The path that the energy takes to get to you also makes a difference.