RANDOLPH, N.J. — Here’s today’s Morris County breakdown.
Two minor earthquakes struck Morris County within 24 hours on Monday, according to data from the U.S. Geological Survey. The event happened the same day as former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie traveled to Trenton to view the unveiling of a painting at the New Jersey Statehouse featuring his former Lt. Governor, Kim Guadagno.
The two events are unrelated.
The first quake, a 1.6 magnitude tremor, occurred Sunday near Morris Plains at a depth of 5 kilometers. The second, slightly stronger at 2.0 magnitude, struck early Monday near Randolph, also at a depth of 5 kilometers.
There were no reports of injuries or significant damage from either event. The USGS confirmed both were shallow earthquakes, which are more likely to be felt on the surface even at low magnitudes.
Seismic activity in New Jersey is uncommon but not unprecedented. The last notable quake in the region occurred last April when a 4.8 magnitude event centered in Hunterdon County was felt across several states.
Residents in the Morris County area reported brief rumbling sounds and light shaking. “It felt like a heavy truck passed by the house,” said one Randolph resident in a report submitted to the USGS.
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection continues to monitor seismic activity through its partnership with the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory at Columbia University.
The two minor earthquakes follow a pattern of small, infrequent tremors typical of the intraplate seismic zone beneath New Jersey.
Lt. Governor Portraits in the Statehouse
In other Morris County news, Christie met with Phil Murphy and other dignitaries to view the unveiling of official state portraits of Lt. Governors Kim Guadagno, Tahesha Way, and Sheila Oliver.
That’s your Morris County rundown for today.