Earthquakes in the Midwest with threats in the Northwest
Randy Mann.
JAKE PARRISH/Press
Residents in the Midwest have been concerned about the recent increase in earthquake activity in southern Illinois. Since the middle of November 2023, there have been three earthquakes measuring from a 2.5 magnitude in early March of this year, to 3.6 magnitude last November.
Scientists say that these types of events, especially within months of one another, are not completely unusual. The region of this activity is north of the infamous New Madrid Seismic Zone, which extends from extreme southern Illinois down into Missouri, Arkansas and western Tennessee. This large fault produced four major earthquakes in 1811-12, ranging from 7.0 to 7.5 magnitude. Since that date, there have been thousands of smaller ones in that part of the country.
Earthquake experts believe the recent increase in earthquakes in southern Illinois is not connected to the New Madrid region, but many are uncertain as to why there has been an increase in activity in this part of the country. However, the region of the three recent earthquakes is approximately 100 miles north of the northern edge of the New Madrid Seismic Zone.
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