Memphis, TN – JonesboroRightNow.com – A stronger-than-usual earthquake rattled parts of the Mid-South early this afternoon, with shaking reported across multiple states.
The 3.9 magnitude earthquake struck at 12:59 p.m., with its epicenter located between Holcomb and Cooter in Missouri’s Bootheel region. The initial magnitude was reported by the University of Memphis Center for Earthquake Research and Information and could be adjusted as additional data is analyzed.
Reports of the quake quickly spread across northeast Arkansas, southeast Missouri, western Tennessee and western Kentucky, with many residents saying they felt a brief but noticeable jolt.
The region sits along the New Madrid Seismic Zone, one of the most active earthquake areas east of the Rocky Mountains. New Madrid Seismic Zone has a long history of seismic activity and produces frequent small tremors.
In fact, earthquakes measuring 2.0 magnitude or less occur regularly—sometimes every couple of days—along the fault system. However, a quake approaching magnitude 4.0 is less common and is more likely to be widely felt across the region.
That appeared to be the case Thursday, as social media quickly filled with reactions. Viewers commenting on K8 Storm Team Chief Meteorologist Ryan Vaughan’s Facebook post described everything from “a quick shake” to “the whole house rattled,” with reports coming in from communities across the region.
While no damage or injuries have been reported, events like this serve as a reminder of the seismic risk tied to the New Madrid fault system. Experts say even modest quakes can be felt over a wide area in the central United States due to the region’s geology.
Seismologists will continue reviewing the data from today’s quake, and the final magnitude and depth could change slightly in the coming hours.