WHITEHOUSE STATION, NJ – A small earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 2.4 struck near Whitehouse Station in Hunterdon County early Friday morning, according to data from the U.S. Geological Survey.
The quake occurred at a depth of about 8 kilometers.
Residents across parts of Hunterdon and Somerset Counties reported feeling a brief rumble, though no damage or injuries were reported. Seismologists described the tremor as weak, typical for minor quakes that are often felt only near the epicenter.
This latest event adds to a string of small earthquakes recorded across the tri-state region in recent months, including a 1.8-magnitude quake near Bedminster two months ago and a 1.5-magnitude tremor near Chappaqua, New York, last month.
New Jersey has experienced mild but persistent seismic activity throughout its history, with over 98 felt earthquakes centered in the state since 1783. Most are minor, though the region has seen occasional moderate events. A 5.2-magnitude quake in 1884 caused structural damage, including toppled chimneys, while a 4.8-magnitude earthquake centered near Lebanon on April 5, 2024, was felt across the tri-state area and marked the strongest in New Jersey since the 18th century.
Historic and geological context indicates that most of New Jersey’s tremors originate along ancient fault lines, particularly the Ramapo Fault System in the northern part of the state. The dense rock of the eastern U.S. allows even low-magnitude quakes to be felt across wider areas than comparable events on the West Coast.
• Magnitude 2.4 quake recorded near Whitehouse Station, NJ
• No injuries or damage reported
• Quake part of a pattern of minor seismic activity across the state
Experts from the New Jersey Geological Survey note that while damaging earthquakes are rare, small-magnitude tremors occur regularly as natural stress releases along old fault systems embedded within the Appalachian geological structure.