Aftershocks continue as 2.2-magnitude earthquake shakes up NJ early Wednesday

A 2.2-magnitude earthquake shook up part of New Jersey early Wednesday morning, the strongest tremor to hit the state in the last 30 days and one of numerous aftershocks that have taken place since the 4.8-magnitude quake which rattled residents all over the region earlier this year.

Wednesday morning's 2.2-magnitude quake took place at 1:44 a.m. near Califon, according to the United States Geological Survey website.

This was just the latest in a series of aftershocks that have occurred since the 4.8-magnitude quake near Whitehouse Station on April 5 which was felt all over the region from New Jersey and New York to Washington D.C. and Boston.

According to the USGS, there have been 201 aftershock earthquakes since the mainshock event on April 5.

This month alone there have been six seismic events in New Jersey, including Wednesday morning's tremor.

Five of the six events took place near Califon and ranged from a magnitude of 0.8 to 2.2.

The sixth earthquake took place near New Egypt and was a 2.0.

When will the earthquake aftershocks end in New Jersey?

Several North Jersey residents took to social media with their reactions to Wednesday's early morning earthquake and some didn't feel it at all.

Many are wondering when this series of earthquakes is going to end.

While they are not frequent in the eastern United States, the USGS says that earthquakes are not unexpected. The April 5 event was the largest since 1950.

Per the USGS, aftershock rates "will decrease over time, but may remain elevated over the following year or longer."

Additionally, the larger the main shock, the longer the aftershocks will last.

Following the Whitehouse Station quake on April 5, the USGS deployed five "aftershock kits" in the area to help gather information about aftershocks, their magnitude, where they originate and how long they last. Although the exact time and location of an earthquake is unpredictable, studying aftershocks could help researchers better understand the nature of earthquakes which could, according to the USGS, help us prepare better for future events.

You can check out the USGS aftershock forecast at https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/us7000ma74/oaf/overview to see the likelihood of more tremors in New Jersey in the near future.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Aftershocks continue as 2.2-magnitude earthquake shakes up NJ early Wednesday