Rare 2.9 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Near Major U.S. City
An earthquake recently struck near a small town in Colorado, and the shaking could be felt as far as Denver, the state's biggest city by population.
According to Hayley Vawter of Fox Weather, the Friday morning quake hit at 6:08 MT and registered at a magnitude of 2.9, with the epicenter north of Denver and just three miles southwest of Dacono, Colorado. No damage was reported.
The U.S. Geological Survey noted the earthquake was likely felt as a result of how shallow it was (5.09 miles) and because it occurred during the morning and near populated areas.
While Colorado isn't exactly known for earthquakes, they do happen there. Per Earthquake Track, there have been 20 reported cases over the last 365 days, although only one in that span has been bigger than Friday's.
What is rare about this one is that it happened near populated areas.
The last earthquake of magnitude 3 or higher to strike near Denver came in 1981, when a 4.3 magnitude quake hit Northglenn, according to the USGS.
Over the span of the last year, the biggest earthquake to shake Colorado happened on Oct. 26, when a 3.4 magnitude quake struck near Salida.
According to Colorado Geological Survey, the biggest earthquake ever recorded in Colorado came in 1882, when the state was hit with a 6.6 magnitude one.
The state has never had what is considered a "major" earthquake, which is a magnitude 7.0 or higher.