Seismicity in West Virginia and Region

Seismicity in West Virginia and Region

WVGES Home > Seismicity in West Virginia

Did you feel an earthquake? ♦ Latest Earthquakes ♦ Map of Earthquake Epicenters ♦ View Signals for Local Seismic Stations ♦ USGS Info for WV ♦ Recent Significant Earthquakes in Our Region ♦ Neighboring States' Seismic Information

Did you feel an earthquake?

Did you just feel some kind of ground movement? A shaking, jolt, or swaying motion? Report it to the United States Geological Survey for investigation here. In each case, they will record your input. If it's large enough or if a number of people report the same event, the USGS will examine local seismic records to determine a location and magnitude.

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Latest Earthquakes in the State

	Saturday, August 6, 2016, 8:39 AM (EDT) Magnitude: 2.31 Md Hypocentral Depth: 3.97 km (2.9 miles), +/- 2.7 km error USGS Event ID: se6002913 Did You Feel It?: Contact USGS here, http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/se60029113#tellus (Fill out a short form) Further Information (as of 8/10/16): USGS Event Page Download: WVGES Document as seen on the left, (PDF, 708 KB)
	Friday, January 17, 2016, 2:12 PM (EST) Magnitude: 3.0 Ml Hypocentral Depth: 4.74 km (2.9 miles), +/- 3.0 km error USGS Event ID: ld60108801 Did You Feel It?: Contact USGS here, http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/ld60108801#impact_dyfi (Fill out a short form) Further Information (as of 1/22/16): USGS Event Page, Lamont-Doherty Event Page Download: WVGES Document as seen on the left, (PDF, 1.17 MB)
	Friday, June 6, 2014, 6:15 PM (EDT) Magnitude: 2.6 Md Hypocentral Depth: 29.6 km (18.4 miles), +/- 0.9 km error USGS Event ID: se060714a Did You Feel It?: Contact USGS here, http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/se060714a#dyfi_form (Fill out a short form) Further Information (as of 6/9/4): USGS Event Page, CERI Event Page Download: WVGES Document as seen on the left, (PDF, 1.09 KB)
	Sunday, October 19, 2013, 4:41 AM (EDT) Magnitude: 2.2 Md Hypocentral Depth: 8.2 km (5.1 miles), +/- 2.6 km error USGS Event ID: se101913a Did You Feel It?: Contact USGS here, http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/se101913a#dyfi_form (Fill out a short form) Further Information (as of 10/23/13): USGS Event Page Download: WVGES Document as seen on the left, (PDF, 547 KB)
	Sunday, October 13, 2013, 5:20 AM (EDT) Magnitude: 2.2 Md Hypocentral Depth: 2.8 km (1.7 miles), +/- 3.7 km error USGS Event ID: se101313a Did You Feel It?: Contact USGS here, http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/se101313a#dyfi_form (Fill out a short form) Further Information (as of 10/15/13): USGS Event Page, LDEO Event Page Download: WVGES Document as seen on the left, (PDF, 470 KB)
	Download a poster (PDF, 3.55 MB) featuring information of the 7/20/2013, 7/30/2013 and 8/16/2013 earthquakes in Gilmer County.
	Friday, August 16, 2013, 7:02 AM (EDT) Magnitude: 2.6 MbLg Hypocentral Depth: 6.1 km (3.8 miles), +/- 3.4 km error USGS Event ID: se081613a Did You Feel It?: Contact USGS here, http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/se081613a#dyfi_form (Fill out a short form) Further Information (as of 8/1/13): USGS Event Page, LDEO Event Page Download: WVGES Document as seen on the left, (PDF, 1.02 MB)
	Saturday, July 20, 2013, 7:38 AM (EDT) Magnitude: 2.7 Md Hypocentral Depth: 21.2 km (13.2 miles), +/- 2.7 km error USGS Event ID: se072013a Did You Feel It?: Contact USGS here, http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/se072013a#dyfi_form Further Information (as of 8/1/13): USGS Event Page, LDEO Event Page Download: WVGES Document as seen on the left, (PDF, 991 KB)
	Tuesday, July 30, 2013, 2:09 AM (EDT) Magnitude: 2.8 Md Hypocentral Depth: 12.7 km (7.9 miles), +/- 2.6 km error USGS Event ID: se073013a Did You Feel It?: Contact USGS here, http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/se073013a#dyfi_form Further Information (as of 8/1/13): USGS Event Page, LDEO Event Page Download: WVGES Document as seen on the left, (PDF, 990 KB)

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Latest Notable Earthquakes Worldwide

	Thursday, September 1, 2016, Gisbourne, New Zealand - 12:37 PM (EDT) Magnitude: 7.1 Mww Hypocentral Depth: 7.1 Magnitude - 19.0 km (11.8 miles), +/- 1.7 km error USGS Event ID: 7.1 Mag. us10006jbi Further Information (as of 9/02/2016): 7.1 mag. - USGS Event Page Download: WVGES Document as seen on the left, (PDF, 1.17 MB)
	Saturday, September 3, 2016, Pawnee, Oklahoma - 8:02 AM (EDT) Magnitude: 5.6 Mwr Hypocentral Depth: 5.6 Magnitude - 4.5 km (2.8 miles), +/- 4.1 km error USGS Event ID: 5.6 Mag. us10006jxs Further Information (as of 9/06/2016): 5.6 mag. - USGS Event Page Download: WVGES Document as seen on the left, (PDF, 1.32 MB)
	Sunday, September 5, 2016, Nikol'skoye, Russia - 6:54 PM (EDT) Magnitude: 6.3 Mww Hypocentral Depth: 6.3 Magnitude - 12.3 km (7.6 miles), +/- 3.2 km error USGS Event ID: 6.3 Mag. us10006kpq Further Information (as of 9/06/2016): 6.3 mag. - USGS Event Page Download: WVGES Document as seen on the left, (PDF, 739 KB)
	Saturday, September 10, 2016, Moyobamba, Peru - 6:08 AM (EDT) Magnitude: 6.0 Mb Hypocentral Depth: 6.0 Magnitude - 114.4 km (71.1 miles), +/- 6.0 km error USGS Event ID: 6.0 Mag. us10006nkg Further Information (as of 9/12/2016): 6.0 mag. - USGS Event Page Download: WVGES Document as seen on the left, (PDF, 868 KB)
	Tuesday, September 13, 2016, Mutata, Columbia - 9:58 PM (EDT) Magnitude: 6.0 Mww Hypocentral Depth: 6.0 Magnitude - 17.0 km (10.6 miles), +/- 1.8 km error USGS Event ID: 6.0 Mag. us10006pdp Further Information (as of 9/14/2016): 6.0 mag. - USGS Event Page Download: WVGES Document as seen on the left, (PDF, 1.83 MB)
	Tuesday, September 20, 2016, Izu Islands, Japan - 12:21 PM (EDT) NEW! Magnitude: 6.0 Mb Hypocentral Depth: 6.0 Magnitude - 10.0 km (6.2 miles), +/- 1.7 km error USGS Event ID: 6.0 Mag. us10006r42 Further Information (as of 9/20/2016): 6.0 mag. - USGS Event Page Download: WVGES Document as seen on the left, (PDF, 1.86 MB)
	Friday, September 23, 2016, Tamisan, Philippines - 6:53 PM (EDT) NEW! Magnitude: 6.3 Mww Hypocentral Depth: 6.3 Magnitude - 65.0 km (40.4 miles), +/- 1.9 km error USGS Event ID: 6.3 Mag. us10006s4v Further Information (as of 9/26/2016): 6.3 mag. - USGS Event Page Download: WVGES Document as seen on the left, (PDF, 781 KB)
	Saturday, September 24, 2016, Neiafu, Tonga - 5:07 PM (EDT) and Ndoi Island, Fiji - 5:28 PM (EDT) NEW! Magnitude: 6.4 Mww and 6.9 Mww Hypocentral Depth: 6.4 Magnitude - 183.4 km (114 miles), +/- 4.6 km error and 6.9 Magnitude - 596.3 (370.5 miles) +/- 4.2 km error USGS Event ID: 6.4 Mag. us10006scl and 6.9 Mag. us10006scr Further Information (as of 9/26/2016): 6.4 mag. - USGS Event Page and 6.9 mag. - USGS Event Page Download: WVGES Document as seen on the left, (PDF, 1.80 MB)

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Map of Earthquake Epicenters of West Virginia: 1824 through 2016

image of the map of Earthquake Epicenters of West Virginia

Soon to be updated!
Earthquake epicenter data were compiled from several regional "catalogs". These catalogs consist of seismic event information that have been reviewed by seismologists. Unless otherwise noted, earthquake catalogs do not contain readings from "blast" or other related mining activity.

Earthquake records are divided into two types: "historic" ones which were felt or recorded without sophisticated seismic equipment and "instrumental" ones that have data derived from networks of sophisticated equipment.

Download this map:

♦ With data (1.82 MB) here: PDF .
♦ Download a detailed Microsoft Excel workbook that was used to create the map of the earthquake epicenters here: XLSX.

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View Signals for Local Seismic Stations

MCWV Plot Data:

WVGES has an official USGS seismic station with two seismometers on site. Like radio stations with call letters, ours is "MCWV" which is "Mont Chateau West Virginia". Information about the MCWV Station can be found here. As of May 2015, the majority of seismic stations that were part of the Transportable Array Program sponsored by IRIS (Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology) have moved east out of West Virginia. Six seismic stations of the original fourteen have been made part of the Central and Eastern United States Network (CEUSN) operated by the Scripps Institute of Oceanography at the University of California - San Diego. They remain in place and all are currently operational.

View current seismic reading "snapshots" from the links below! Explanation of the signal trace on a seismogram.

♦ Simple (vertical) seismic helicorder plot via USGS here. (USGS Website)

♦ View 24-hour record for the six individual CEUSN Operating Seismic Stations in West Virginia here. NEW!

♦ Current and recent seismic helicorder plots via the Virginia Tech Seismic Observatory (VTSO) here
.

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Information from USGS Concerning Earthquakes in West Virginia and Region

♦ USGS: West Virginia, Earthquake History: http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/states/west_virginia/history.php
♦ USGS: West Virginia, Earthquake Information: http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/states/index.php?regionID=48

Also, see these studies:

Earthquakes in Virginia and Vicinity 1774 - 2004, Arthur C. Tarr and Russell L. Wheeler; (OF 2006-1017)
Earthquakes In and Near the Northeastern United States, 1638 - 1998, Russell L. Wheeler, Nathan K. Trevor, Arthur C. Tarr, and Anthony J. Crone; (I-2737)

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Recent Significant Earthquakes in Our Region

icon of the shape of Ohio Ohio:
December 31, 2011, Magnitude 4.0 - Youngstown-Warren Urban Area, Ohio:
♦ From USGS: http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eqinthenews/2011/usc0007f7s/

Virginia:
August 23, 2011, Magnitude 5.8 - Mineral-Lewis, Virginia:
♦ Compiled by WVGES: VA Quake
♦ From USGS: http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eqinthenews/2011/se082311a/
♦ From USGS; View and download USGS Summary Poster: http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eqarchives/poster/2011/20110823b.php
♦ From Virginia DMME: https://www.dmme.virginia.gov/DGMR/earthquake2011.shtml

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Neighboring States' Seismic Information

Kentucky
Earthquakes and Other Geologic Hazards, (Kentucky Geological Survey).

icon of the shape of Maryland

Maryland
Earthquakes and Maryland, (Maryland Geological Survey).
Maryland Seismic Network, (Maryland Geological Survey).

icon of the shape of Ohio

Ohio
The Ohio Seismic Network, (Ohio DNR, Division of Geological Survey).

icon of the shape of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania
Earthquakes in Pennsylvania, (Pennsylvania Bureau of Topographic and Geologic Survey).

icon of the shape of Virginia

Virginia
Earthquakes, (Virginia DMME, Virginia DMME Division of Geology and Mineral Resources).
Information on the August 23, 2011 1:51 pm; 5.8 Magnitude Earthquake

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Page last revised: September 26, 2016

Please send questions, comments, and/or suggestions to webmaster.

Page created and maintained by:
            West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey
  Address:  Mont Chateau Research Center
            1 Mont Chateau Road
            Morgantown, WV  26508-8079
Telephone:  304-594-2331
      FAX:  304-594-2575
    Hours:  8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. EST, Monday - Friday

Permission to reproduce this material is granted if acknowledgment is given to the West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey.