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The most powerful earthquake to hit North Carolina in more than 100 years shook the state this morning. The 5.1 magnitude quake rattled homes, businesses and residents at around 8 a.m. across the state.
According to the National Weather Service, this is the strongest earthquake to hit North Carolina since 1916. That quake was a 5.2 magnitude and hit Skyland in Buncombe County.
According to the @USGS database, the 5.1 magnitude earthquake near Sparta, NC this morning is the second strongest earthquake to occur in NC since 1900. The strongest was a 5.2 magntitude earthquake near Skyland, NC in February 1916. #ncwx #scwx #gawx
— NWS GSP (@NWSGSP) August 9, 2020
Sparta is located near the North Carolina-Virginia line in Alleghany County. It’s 54 miles from Winston-Salem and 27 miles from Mount Airy.
There were no immediate reports of injuries from this earthquake.
According to officials and social media posts, people felt the effects of the earthquake across the Carolinas, in Virginia, Georgia and Tennessee.
Before the 5.1 earthquake, five other minor earthquakes were measured in the area. At around 1 a.m. Sunday morning, a 2.2 magnitude quake was measured.
The National Weather Service of Raleigh also tweeted there have been reports of three other earthquakes in Guilford, Randolph and Moore counties since 8 a.m.
hey @NWSRaleigh – am I crazy or did we just experience an earthquake???
— Michael (@NCMichael27) August 9, 2020
By WRAL Weather Team
Sparta, N.C. — The most powerful earthquake to hit North Carolina in more than 100 years shook the state this morning. The 5.1 magnitude quake rattled homes, businesses and residents at around 8 a.m. across the state.
According to the National Weather Service, this is the strongest earthquake to hit North Carolina since 1916. That quake was a 5.2 magnitude and hit Skyland in Buncombe County.
Sparta is located near the North Carolina-Virginia line in Alleghany County. It’s 54 miles from Winston-Salem and 27 miles from Mount Airy.
There were no immediate reports of injuries from this earthquake.
Photos from social media also show roads in Sparta were damaged from the quake.
According to officials and social media posts, people felt the effects of the earthquake across the Carolinas, in Virginia, Georgia and Tennessee.
Before the 5.1 earthquake, five other minor earthquakes were measured in the area. At around 1 a.m. Sunday morning, a 2.2 magnitude quake was measured.
The National Weather Service of Raleigh also tweeted there have been reports of three other earthquakes in Guilford, Randolph and Moore counties since 8 a.m.
History of earthquakes in our area
The largest and most recent earthquake that was felt in the Triangle was in 2011 reported in Virginia. That earthquake was a 5.8 magnitude — the biggest quake since Christopher Columbus’ time according to experts.
Parts of the Pentagon, White House and Capitol and the monuments on National Mall were evacuated in Washington, D.C. The quake also panicked the New York Stock Exchange, where the Dow Jones average briefly dropped before rallying to post its biggest gain in two weeks.
News Source: wral.com
Photo Credit: Twitter – @ncwxauthority
