ST. GEORGE — Some area residents may have felt the ground tremble Sunday night when an earthquake hit Southern Utah.
A screenshot highlights the regions where residents reported feeling the 4.5 magnitude earthquake | Photo courtesy of the United States Geological Survey, St. George News
The tremor, centered 15 miles from Brian Head and at a depth of 12.2 miles, was felt by residents in four states, according to information posted by the United States Geological Survey. The time of the earthquake was recorded at 11:29 p.m. and reported as a magnitude 4.5 quake. An earthquake of 4.0 magnitude can cause moderate damage, according to the USGS.
The quake could be felt as far north as Idaho Falls, Idaho, according to the USGS “Did You Feel It?” webpage. The quake’s reach extended southward to north Las Vegas, Nevada, and people in Page, Arizona, reported feeling the seismic activity.
St. George News also received emails from residents in St. George and Washington City who reported feeling the quake.
The USGS notes that Sunday night’s earthquake was part of a series of smaller quakes, with magnitudes in the region ranging from 2.0 to 3.5. These varying magnitudes were recorded in several locations within the affected area, providing a comprehensive picture of the earthquake’s widespread effects. The data from these reports helps to map the extent of the seismic activity and understand the distribution of the tremors felt by residents across multiple states.
The earthquake follows the 3.1 magnitude Iron County earthquake that occurred on June 16, as reported by St. George News, and the 2.9 magnitude earthquake approximately 6 miles northwest of Enoch on June 9.
According to the University of Utah, the state experiences roughly 1,500 earthquakes each year, including aftershocks. Of these, around 13 quakes typically register a magnitude of 3.0 or higher. Approximately 2% of the earthquakes are noticeable to people in the area.
Ready.gov advises that individuals should prepare a disaster supplies kit and store it in an easily accessible location for emergencies. Additionally, The Great Utah ShakeOut offers valuable resources and safety tips to help people stay safe during an earthquake.
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A screenshot highlights the regions where residents reported feeling the 4.5 magnitude earthquake | Photo courtesy of the United States Geological Survey, St. George News
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