Another Earthquake Rattles New Jersey: USGS

NORTH JERSEY, NJ — As Tropical Storm Debby targets the Garden State with possible flooding, tornadoes and power outages Friday, another earthquake rattled New Jersey late on Thursday morning, the U.S. Geological Survey confirmed.

The latest quake was a small one — 1.7 on the Richter scale, the agency said.

The quake was about 5 km, or 3 miles, east southeast of Califon in Hunterdon County, along the Ramapo Fault Line. It was 5.3 km in depth, the agency said.

A larger 2.1 quake was felt in the same area on July 31.

Dozens of minor quakes have been reported in North Jersey since a 4.8 magintude quake was felt on Friday, April 5.

Aftershocks can be felt for months after a major quake, but with less frequency, the USGS says.

On July 16, New Jersey residents reported that they thought they had felt a quake — but NASA determined the shaking and sound were from a meteor that passed over New Jersey.