Small earthquake shakes beneath Whatcom County waters
A small earthquake struck Monday afternoon in Whatcom County waters just south of Point Roberts, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
The quake, which struck at 4:16 p.m. April 4, was initially measured with a 2.9 magnitude, according to a U.S. Geological Survey report, but that was later downgraded to a magnitude of 2.7. The epicenter was approximately four miles south northwest of Point Roberts, according to the USGS, making it approximately 11 miles west of Semiahmoo and approximately 30 miles northwest of Bellingham.
The quake was relatively shallow, as the USGS reported it was 18.6 kilometers beneath the earth’s surface.
As of Thursday morning, 10 eastern Whatcom County residents reported feeling the shaking on the USGS’ “Did you Feel It” page.
Quakes of less than magnitude 3.0 are common, and tens of thousands are reported worldwide every year, according to the USGS. A quake of magnitude 1.0 to 3.0 is not felt except by a very few under especially favorable conditions, according to the USGS.
