Two unrelated earthquakes struck western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee today; both were weak. According to USGS, the first struck near Lowgap, North Carolina at 7:11 am from a depth of 6.2 km; it was rated a magnitude 2.1 event. Lowgap is between Blacksburg, Virginia and Charlotte, North Carolina near the Blue Ridge Parkway. The second struck near Greenback, Tennessee at 11:53 am from a depth of 12.3 km; it was rated weaker as a magnitude 1.7 event. There were no reports of damage or injuries nor would any be expected at these intensities.
USGS says that earthquakes with a magnitude of 2.0 or less are rarely felt or heard by people, but once they exceed 2.0 , more and more people can feel them. While damage is possible with magnitude 3.0 events or greater, significant damage and casualties usually don’t occur until the magnitude of a seismic event rises to a 5.5 or greater rated event.
Today’s earthquake joins other weak earthquakes that have struck recently in the eastern United States; they include New Jersey Georgia and New Hampshire. None of the earthquakes appear to be directly tied to the others.
Earthquakes are not common in North Carolina, but they do occur, with most being small and not causing damage. While the state isn’t known for frequent or strong seismic activity, occasional tremors can be felt, and some larger earthquakes have been recorded in the past. While the mountains and foothills of western North Carolina are not located along an active tectonic plate boundary, the region still has minor earthquakes linked to old fault lines along the Appalachian Mountains…