At 4:04 p.m. today, a 3.1-magnitude earthquake rattled the Southern Ohio River Valley, with its epicenter just outside Oak Hill, Ohio, about 25 miles north of Ironton. While no damage has been reported, residents may have felt a quick jolt, light shaking, or heard rattling noises as the tremor passed through. The tremors were felt in the SCDN Newsroom in downtown Portsmouth.
What You Might Have Felt
An earthquake in Southern Ohio of this size is typically noticeable but not dangerous. People in the area may have experienced:
- A brief shake or light vibration.
- Rattling windows, dishes, or loose objects.
- Hanging items swaying
- Pets acting strangely or anxious.
Such quakes rarely cause damage, but they can serve as a reminder that Ohio isn’t as geologically quiet as some might think!
Why Do Earthquakes Happen Here?
Unlike California, where quakes are caused by active fault lines, Ohio’s earthquakes stem from ancient cracks in the Earth’s crust. These fault zones were formed over a billion years ago and, while mostly dormant, occasionally release built-up stress—resulting in mild tremors.
Ohio’s Shaky History
Ohio has recorded over 160 felt earthquakes since 1776, with most being minor. However, a few stand out:
1937 – Magnitude 5.4 (Ohio’s strongest quake): Damaged buildings in Anna, Ohio.
1986 – Magnitude 5.0 near Cleveland: Caused minor damage but reminded Ohioans they’re not immune to seismic activity.
2011 – Magnitude 4.0 in Youngstown: Linked to wastewater injection, sparking concerns about human-induced quakes.
Many of you may remember the small earthquake in the early 90s that was felt in Southern Ohio. That quake originated in Kentucky.
While today’s quake was relatively small, it’s another sign that the ground beneath Ohio isn’t as still as you might think!