Small Earthquake Hits Right Outside New York State

Semiologists say that another minor earthquake struck right outside New York state early Wednesday morning. New York and surrounding areas have seen an increase in earthquake activity in recent months.

The United States Geological Survey had previously reports that a small 1.6 earthquake struck near Massina, in St. Lawrence County New York in early December. The tremor caused minimal shaking, according to seismologists.

Yearly Earthquake Statistics 

SI Live had reported that there have been numerous earthquakes in recent years in or near New York state. According to the NESEC, around 551 earthquakes were recorded in New York state from 1737-2016.

See Also: Has New York State Ever Been Hit By a Tsunami?

While earthquakes are not nearly as common in the eastern part of the country as they are in the western United States, they’re not unheard of.

PIX11 had also reported that a small 2.2-magnitude earthquake had struck 8 miles north of Pulteneyville, in Wayne County, New York, back in late October. The United States Geological Survey says that residents “in the area reported feeling weak to light shaking”.

Small Earthquake Hits Right Outside New York State

The United States Geological Survey reports that a small 1.5 magnitude quake struck near Hamilton, Ontario Wednesday morning. The earthquake resulted in minimal shaking over a fairly small area.

44 of Biggest Earthquakes to Shake New York State

New York is no stranger to earthquakes. There have been 44 to hit the state with a magnitude of 3.0 or higher.

Gallery Credit: Credit – Polly McAdams

New York State’s All-Time Most Powerful Earthquake? 

According to the NESEC, the largest earthquake centered in New York state happened on September 5, 1944. The magnitude 5.9 quake, with an epicenter beneath the New York-Canada border, did major damage in the towns of Massena, NY, and Cornwall, Ontario.

Heavy damage was recorded in the town of Massena (St. Lawrence County), with a number of chimneys, windows, housing foundations, and a high school gymnasium reported destroyed.

New York City has suffered two damaging quakes of note. The first was December 18, 1737, when a 5.2 struck in the Greater New York City area. However, since it was so long ago, little is known about the epicenter or the extent of the damage.

Another 5.2 quake struck on August 10, 1884, in Brooklyn, which cracked houses, tossed objects off shelves and shook towns in New York and New Jersey.