M 4.8 - 2024 Tewksbury, New Jersey Earthquake

  • 2024-04-05 14:23:20 (UTC)
  • 40.696°N 74.760°W
  • 2.6 km depth

On 4-22-2024, the USGS changed the name of this earthquake from "Whitehouse Station" to "Tewksbury" to be more in line with local geography. The decision was made in consultation with local experts.

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  • PAGERGREEN
    Economic Alert Histogram
    Estimated Economic Losses
    Fatality Alert Histogram
    Estimated Fatalities
  • Ground Failure
    Landslide Estimate

    Little or no area affected

    Little or no population exposed

    Liquefaction Estimate

    Little or no area affected

    Little or no population exposed

  • Aftershock Forecast
    According to our forecast, the chance of at least one aftershock within the next year:
    M 7+
    < 1%
    M 6+
    < 1%
    M 5+
    < 1%
    M 4+
    < 1%
    M 3+
    7%
  • Origin
    Review Status
    REVIEWED
    Magnitude
    4.8 mwr
    Depth
    2.6 km
    Time
    2024-04-05 14:23:20 UTC
  • Contributors

    US

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    USGS National Earthquake Information Center, PDE
    Authoritative Network

Tectonic Summary

The April 5, 2024, M 4.8 earthquake near Whitehouse Station, New Jersey, occurred as a result of oblique reverse and strike-slip faulting at shallow depths in the crust. Although this event did not occur near a plate boundary, such “intraplate” earthquakes can and do occur. While this earthquake is relatively small globally, earthquakes of this magnitude are commonly widely felt in the eastern United States because of efficient seismic wave propagation in the region.

Earthquakes in the eastern US are infrequent but not unexpected. Since 1950, 40 other earthquakes of magnitude 3 and larger have occurred within 250 km of today’s earthquake. In that time range, the April 5, 2024, earthquake is the largest. Within 500 km of the April 5th earthquake, 13 earthquakes M 4.5 and larger have been recorded since 1950, the largest being the August 23, 2011, M 5.8 Mineral Virginia earthquake which caused substantial damage and was felt throughout the eastern US. The April 5, 2024, earthquake occurred in a region where faults have been previously identified and may be reactivated at any time.

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