The epicenter of the 3.0 magnitude earthquake was northeast of Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey, in Bergen County, about 10 kilometers below the surface. Late Saturday evening, residents across New Jersey and New York City reported feeling their buildings sway as a small but noticeable earthquake rattled the tri-state area. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the earthquake NJ today registered a magnitude of 3.0 and was centered roughly 6 miles from Hasbrouck Heights NJ, at a shallow depth that made it perceptible in many homes and apartments.
Comparing This Quake with Last Year’s Bigger Shake
If you were reminded of the tremor near Tewksbury last year, you weren’t alone—but there are some key differences. That quake, which struck last April, was a magnitude 4.8, nearly 20 times stronger than Saturday’s event. The Richter scale is logarithmic, meaning a 4.0 quake is ten times stronger than a 3.0—so the seismic energy and potential impact scale up quickly. Moreover, the Tewksbury quake occurred closer to the surface, contributing to more violent shaking and some damage. In contrast, Saturday’s New Jersey earthquake occurred approximately 10 km underground, helping to limit any risk of structural harm despite being felt across a broader area.
Local Impact and Early Aftershocks
Neighbors in Hasbrouck Heights described the experience as brief but distinct. “It felt like a rumble under my feet for a second, then everything settled,” said a resident. Others reported hearing a low rumble akin to a distant truck before noticing the subtle shake.
Meanwhile, New York City emergency officials acknowledged that tremors may have reached locations like the Bronx, Queens, and parts of Manhattan. Thankfully, there were no injuries, and no structural damage has been reported, according to NYC Emergency Management. This recent event follows a cluster of small quakes in mid-July, centered on the Morris Plains, NJ area. The initial shock registered a mild 1.6 magnitude on July 21. That was followed by five aftershocks, the largest of which reached 2.0 on July 22. At the time, little to no impact was reported. Compared to that cluster, Saturday’s tremor was stronger, though still moderate by seismic standards.
Earthquakes in NYC: Rare, But Not Unheard Of
Though the earthquake NYC region doesn’t compare to areas like California in seismic activity, minor earthquakes are certainly not unheard of. The New York earthquake zone lies near crustal boundaries and ancient fault lines that occasionally release energy through small tremors.
Modern history confirms this: the largest quake felt in the region was back in 1884, measuring about 5.5, and caused some structural damage in New York City. More recently, quakes like last year’s near Tewksbury provided reminders that the ground beneath the Northeast isn’t as immobile as it might seem.
This weekend’s nj earthquake near Hasbrouck Heights NJ may not have made history—but it gave many residents a jolt of awareness that seismic activity, even minor, can still be felt in our own neighborhoods.
Whether you’re in Jersey or in NYC, feeling might not mean fear—but it does mean paying attention. Though the shaking subsides quickly, the memory lingers—and the information stays useful for next time.
