3.7-magnitude earthquake rattles western Montana, USGS says

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A 3.7-magnitude earthquake shook western Montana north of Missoula on Wednesday morning, the US Geological Survey reports. US Geological Survey

A 3.7-magnitude earthquake shook western Montana north of Missoula on the morning of Wednesday, Nov. 16, the US Geological Survey reports.

The 7.4-mile deep quake hit in Ravalli at 6:47 am, according to the USGS. About 36 miles south, people near Missoula reported feeling the tremor to the agency. Others in Kalispell and Whitefish also felt it.

Most reported feeling it near Polson, the nearest community to the quake. Polson’s population was about 5,357 people in 2021.

People took to Twitter to share their shock at the location, especially those who had just experienced their first earthquake.

“Umm, did we just have an earthquake in Montana?” one user asked.

“Wow! 4.2 earthquake 30 miles north of Missoula, Montana! Unusual location for an earthquake,” another said.

It was originally reported as a 4.2-magnitude earthquake but was later downgraded to 3.7, USGS reported.

Magnitude measures the energy released at the source of the earthquake, the US Geological Survey says. It replaces the old Richter scale.

Quakes between 2.5 and 5.4 magnitude are often felt but rarely cause much damage, according to Michigan Tech. Quakes below 2.5 magnitude are seldom felt by most people.

This story was originally published November 16, 2022 9:50 AM.

Brooke (she/them) is a McClatchy Real-Time reporter who covers LGBTQ+ news and national parks out west. They studied journalism at the University of Florida, and previously covered LGBTQ+ news for the South Florida Sun Sentinel. When they’re not writing stories, they enjoy hanging out with their cats, riding horses, or spending time outdoors.

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