Whoa, an Earthquake!

By Jonathan Weber, 7-25-05

Yes, folks, that gently jolting movement of your house this evening a little after 10:00 PM was indeed an earthquake. (As I said to my wife as it happened, I hope that's what it is, and not our house settling). According to KPAX, it was a 5.6, centered 20-odd miles north/northwest of Dillon, and thus far no reports of damage or injuries. Montana is actually a relatively active earthquake area but it's always a surprise to feel the earth move.

Update: We're all posting at once here and getting some great links from readers so Courtney is combining all the info here:

Greg says: At about 10:15 pm, I was having a chat with sbpoet in her living room, when the room began to shake and a large armoire began to sway. Ms. poet was convinced it was nocturnal rambunctiousness on the part of her cats and dogs, but I -- having lived in Los Angeles for three years and never actually experienced one -- was convinced it was my first earthquake. A quick visit to the National Earthquake Information Center confirms it: at 10:08 PM MDT, a magnitude 5.6 earthquake hit near Dillon.

A helpful reader, meshoula, gives us this: "The third recent (and the one we felt) was probably a 5.6 NNW of Dillon. Check out the following links. http://earthquake.usgs.gov/recenteqs/, http://earthquake.usgs.gov/recenteqsUS/Maps/US10/42.52.-115.-105.html, http://earthquake.usgs.gov/recenteqsUS/Maps/US10/42.52.-115.-105_eqs.html

And, reader Paul also gives us those links and this tidbit: "There have been three earthquakes in the region around Yellowstone. 1.2, 2.0 and 5.2, the largest one 13 miles NNE from Dillon."

All Courtney knows is that it was strong enough in Great Falls to wake up her grandma Virginia, and that's a chore. [End of article]