4.2-magnitude earthquake jolts Northern California just after midnight, geologists say
A 4.2-magnitude earthquake shook Northern California, the U.S. Geological Survey reported.
The 15-mile deep quake hit about 10 miles southwest of Weitchpec one minute after midnight Friday, Jan. 20, according to the USGS.
Hundreds of people from as far away as the southern coast of Oregon and Fortuna reported feeling the tremor to the agency. By 8:30 a.m. Friday, more than 430 people reported feeling the earthquake.
It’s the latest in a series of tremors to hit near Humboldt County recently, Newsweek reported.
Weitchpec is an unincorporated community within the Yurok reservation in Humboldt County with a population of 69. It’s northwest of Eureka.
Magnitude measures the energy released at the source of the earthquake, the U.S. 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 January 20, 2023 at 8:49 AM with the headline "4.2-magnitude earthquake jolts Northern California just after midnight, geologists say."
