Two 3.5 Magnitude Quakes Shake the Edge of Texoma
By: KFDX Meteorologist Bryan Rupp
Updated: March 19, 2013
Over the past week; last Wednesday the 27th of February and today, March 4th, the state of Oklahoma has been shaken by two earthquakes.
Both quakes had a magnitude of 3.5, considered to be strong for a quake in the state. There were no reports of damage but multiple reports were received by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) across metro OKC saying they felt the quake. The strongest intensity shaking reported to the USGS was a level "V" shaking which is considered to be "Moderate."
One difference between the two quakes is location. The first quake was epicentered near the city of Midwest City, OK, a suburb of Oklahoma City. This quake had an epicenter depth of 5.2km.
The second and most recent temblor occurred well south-southeast of Oklahoma City by 101 miles. The quake occurred at 4:22a.m.. The epicenter was near the city of Tishomingo, OK by four miles. The depth of the quake was 4.9km.
Multiple Oklahomans reported feeling the quake to the USGS with the strongest intensity reported as a "IV" which is considered "light" shaking.
No damage was reported from either quake.
This is an up tick of activity after a relatively quiet period for the beginning of the year 2013, after a very active 2011 and 2012. You might remember back in November of 2.11 the strongest temblor in Oklahoma history happened near Prague, OK at a magnitude of 5.6 which was felt from Wisconsin to New Mexico including throughout Texoma and more specifically Wichita Falls.
There is no evidence according to the USGS that these quakes mean a future increase in activity or intensity is expected. It also doesn't mean that earthquake activity will reduce either.
For more information on these quakes click this sentence.
KFDX Meteorologist Bryan Rupp
Both quakes had a magnitude of 3.5, considered to be strong for a quake in the state. There were no reports of damage but multiple reports were received by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) across metro OKC saying they felt the quake. The strongest intensity shaking reported to the USGS was a level "V" shaking which is considered to be "Moderate."
One difference between the two quakes is location. The first quake was epicentered near the city of Midwest City, OK, a suburb of Oklahoma City. This quake had an epicenter depth of 5.2km.
The second and most recent temblor occurred well south-southeast of Oklahoma City by 101 miles. The quake occurred at 4:22a.m.. The epicenter was near the city of Tishomingo, OK by four miles. The depth of the quake was 4.9km.
Multiple Oklahomans reported feeling the quake to the USGS with the strongest intensity reported as a "IV" which is considered "light" shaking.
No damage was reported from either quake.
This is an up tick of activity after a relatively quiet period for the beginning of the year 2013, after a very active 2011 and 2012. You might remember back in November of 2.11 the strongest temblor in Oklahoma history happened near Prague, OK at a magnitude of 5.6 which was felt from Wisconsin to New Mexico including throughout Texoma and more specifically Wichita Falls.
There is no evidence according to the USGS that these quakes mean a future increase in activity or intensity is expected. It also doesn't mean that earthquake activity will reduce either.
For more information on these quakes click this sentence.
KFDX Meteorologist Bryan Rupp
