Did you feel Alabama’s first earthquake of 2024?

Jessica Camuto
·1 min read
2

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) — Early Thursday morning Alabama experienced its first earthquake of 2024!

Here in the Tennessee Valley, earthquakes don’t occur every day but they are certainly not uncommon. The majority of the time, when an earthquake happens here, the magnitude is low and not felt.

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Around 4:20 Thursday morning a 2.3 magnitude earthquake was detected about 2.5 miles northeast of Stevenson in the Northeast corner of Jackson County. The earthquake had a depth of nearly 11 miles.

According to the United States Geological Survey, there have been no reports of anyone feeling the earthquake or damage occurring. With an earthquake of this magnitude, that is common, people begin to feel the ground shake with a 2.5 magnitude earthquake or higher.

In northern Alabama, earthquakes are associated with the Southern Appalachian Seismic Zone while southern Alabama is impacted by the Bahamas Fracture Seismic Zone. Just to the northwest, there is the New Madrid Fault, which impacts portions of Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, and Tennessee.

Strongest Earthquake in North Alabama:

On April 29th, 2003 North Alabama experienced its strongest earthquake in history.

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This strong earthquake had a 4.6 magnitude and was detected 5 miles south of Valley Head. The epicenter was located near the DeSoto State Park but was felt across much of the southeast United States. According to the United States Geological Survey, approximately 17,000 individuals reported feeling the quake.

Minimal damage was reported near the Fort Payne and Valley Head communities. This limited damage included a sinkhole in one homeowner’s yard and cracked windows in some homes in DeKalb County.

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