Earthquake Felt In West Texas

Photo byWikimedia Commons

West Texas – A 4.9-magnitude earthquake struck West Texas on Monday night, with tremors reaching as far north as Amarillo and as far south as Austin. The earthquake occurred around 10:30 p.m., with the epicenter located about eight miles northeast of Hermleigh in Fisher County, approximately 200 miles west of Fort Worth.

Despite the considerable distance from North Texas, aftershocks were still felt in the region. CBS News Texas Chief Meteorologist Scott Padgett reported that the aftershocks measured around 3.1-magnitude. The United States Geological Survey confirmed the widespread reach of these aftershocks.

In addition to the main earthquake, two other quakes were recorded nearby, with magnitudes of 3.1 and 4.4.

Fisher County, home to about 3,622 residents, reported no damages or injuries. The recent seismic activity has prompted questions about the frequency of earthquakes in Texas. While not common, earthquakes are not unheard of in the state. In May, two earthquakes were recorded in Johnson County near Mansfield, with magnitudes of 3.0 and 3.2.

According to the TexNet Earthquake Catalog, most earthquakes in Texas this year have occurred in the west, near Odessa, and in the south, outside San Antonio.

The strongest earthquakes in Texas history are listed by EarthquakeTrack. The oldest and biggest documented earthquake in the Lone Star State occurred seven miles southwest of Valentine. The locations are listed in the table below based on which communities are closest to the earthquakes.

1. Valentine, Texas (6.5 magnitude in Aug. 16, 1931)

2. Alpine, Texas (5.7 magnitude on April 13, 1995)

3. Mentone, Texas (5.4 magnitude on Nov 16, 2022)

4. Midland, Texas (5.4 magnitude on Dec 16, 2022)

What do you think? Leave your comment below.